Ketamine-Assisted Therapy in Summit County CO
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a therapeutic approach that combines prescribed ketamine with guided psychotherapy to support emotional healing and deeper psychological insight. This safe and legal treatment has been shown to be effective for depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, and other mental health conditions, especially when traditional therapy alone hasn’t created the change you’re looking for.
KAP may be a helpful option if you’re feeling stuck, seeking deeper healing, or interested in exploring psychological, emotional, or spiritual transformation. With professional support, ketamine can open space for expanded awareness, reduced emotional reactivity, and meaningful shifts in long-standing patterns.
Ketamine and its Psychedelic Potential
Ketamine is a dissociative medication with a 50-year history of safe use as an anesthetic in medical settings. In recent years, it has gained attention for its significant potential as an off-label treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health challenges.
For therapeutic purposes, the dose is much smaller—typically 10–25% of what’s used for anesthesia. At these lower doses, ketamine can create a dissociative or psychedelic-like state that allows clients to access deeper emotional insight, reduce rigid thinking patterns, and process experiences in new ways.
Ketamine is fast-acting and metabolizes quickly, which makes it well suited for 2–3 hour ketamine therapy sessions. Many clients find that even a single session can open space for meaningful emotional shifts and accelerated healing when combined with psychotherapy.
How Ketamine Works
Ketamine works by influencing the brain’s glutamate system, which plays a key role in how neurons communicate. This shift in signaling supports neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new neural connections and strengthen existing ones.
In the context of ketamine therapy, increased neuroplasticity can help the brain break out of rigid, unhelpful patterns and create healthier, more adaptive pathways. This makes ketamine especially effective for challenges such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma, where old patterns can feel deeply ingrained. By opening a window for change, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can support faster emotional healing and meaningful long-term improvement.
Want to know exactly what the KAP process will look like? Explore below.
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If you aren’t already a client of mine, we will do a standard therapy intake and talk about your goals for ketamine-assisted therapy.
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You’ll meet with a ketamine prescriber to ensure ketamine is safe for you. The prescriber and I work closely throughout your treatment process.
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We will do as many preparation sessions as needed to get ready for the ketamine journey. 1-3 are typically recommended.
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You’ll ingest the ketamine and have an experience while lying down with eye shades on and music playing. I’ll make sure you’re safe, guide you in exploring your inner healing, and help you process what comes up.
These sessions are typically 2-3 hours. We may do 4-6 medicine sessions, with integration sessions in between.
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I’ll guide you in exploring what you felt, learned, and discovered, and applying these insights to create meaningful, lasting change in your daily life.
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We’ll conclude our work together by summarizing the insights you’ve gained and exploring practical ways to bring these changes into your daily life. If you’re a regular client, we’ll continue integrating your KAP experiences while working toward your broader treatment goals.
More FAQs
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KAP has shown effectiveness in treating depression (including treatment-resistant depression), OCD, anxiety, PTSD/trauma, and chronic pain.
KAP also may be beneficial for anyone who wants to explore deeper healing, such as those seeking to process trauma, uncover emotional or psychological patterns, or explore existential or spiritual questions.
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There are some people for whom ketamine is contraindicated. These conditions are not all necessarily preclusive, but they are considerations to be discussed thoroughly with your medical provider.
Medical conditions including uncontrolled hypertension, severe heart or liver disease, chronic migraines, sleep apnea, respiratory disorders
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Certain medications (benzodiazepines, opioids)
Psychiatric conditions like active psychosis, personality disorders, active substance use, and acute suicidal ideation
Ketamine allergy
History of ketamine addiction
Those without a stable support system
Those without the ability to engage in therapy
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KAP packages start at $2,300, depending on the number of sessions and the specific structure of care. I recognize that this is a meaningful investment. Research consistently shows that a series of sessions is significantly more effective than a single-dose experience. For that reason, a package is required to begin KAP if you are not already an established client. Please get in touch to learn more or to discuss what might be the best fit for your needs.
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Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is the use of prescribed ketamine as an addition to psychotherapy sessions. Other ketamine treatments, such as IV infusions, focus primarily on ketamine's biochemical effects to alleviate symptoms like depression or chronic pain. These treatments are more medicalized, without accompanying psychotherapy or integration support to process the experience.
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Ketamine often feels like a dream-like state, with a sense of floating or detachment from your body and surroundings. It can bring emotional relief, altered perceptions, and heightened introspection, sometimes accompanied by a peaceful or expansive feeling. Experiences can range from calm and introspective to deeply immersive, and higher doses may lead to profound dissociation or a sense of merging with everything around you. Often in sessions, certain ideas or memories will surface, leading to new perspectives or emotional insights.
For many, the ketamine experience can feel ineffable, meaning it is challenging to fully describe in words. The altered sense of self, time, and reality, combined with vivid inner experiences, can make it difficult to convey the sensations and insights to others. This ineffability is often part of what makes the experience profound, as it transcends ordinary ways of thinking and perceiving the world.
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Ketamine is not physically addictive. However, recreational users may develop a psychological dependence with frequent, repeated use due to its euphoric and dissociative effects. In a therapeutic setting like KAP, ketamine is administered at controlled doses under professional supervision, with sessions spaced out to reduce the risk of dependence. The focus is on healing and integration, making the risk of psychological dependence minimal when used responsibly.
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Ketamine can produce altered states of consciousness, but the environment and guidance of the therapist are designed to help you feel safe and supported during the experience.
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Common side effects include mild nausea, dizziness, or dissociation, which typically subside quickly. Rare side effects can include elevated heart rate or blood pressure.
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No, you will need a trusted person to take you home, as the medication can impair motor skills and judgment.
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Comfortable clothing, a journal for notes, and anything that helps you feel relaxed, like a blanket or pillow.
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We’ll talk more specifics in your preparation sessions, but general recommendations include setting an intention, avoiding substances like alcohol beforehand, fasting for several hours before, and ensuring you have time to rest afterward.
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While many people experience meaningful changes, it’s important to understand this treatment is not a magical cure or a quick fix. Integration is crucial to make the most of the neuroplasticity, continued ongoing therapy is usually necessary, and growth happens gradually over time.