Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, often called KAP, combines prescribed ketamine with preparation, therapeutic support, and integration.

At lower doses, ketamine may temporarily change a person’s awareness, perception, emotions, physical sensations, or relationship to familiar thoughts. Psychotherapy helps place that experience within a structured process focused on reflection, emotional processing, and meaningful change.

The medication is only one part of KAP. Preparation, professional support, integration, and continued therapy are central to the overall process.

The process generally includes:

1. An initial consultation and intake assessment with Alex
2. A separate medical evaluation with the prescribing clinician
3. Two or more preparation sessions
4. Supervised medication sessions with Alex present
5. Integration following each medication experience
6. Continued therapy to support longer-term change

Screening and preparation help determine whether KAP is appropriate and allow time to discuss expectations, safety, intentions, and practical instructions.

You take medication prescribed specifically for you after completing the required medical evaluation.

Alex remains present during the therapeutic portion of the session to provide support, grounding, reassurance, and guidance when helpful.

Some people spend much of the session quietly focused inward. Other sessions involve more conversation or emotional processing. There is no single correct way to experience ketamine.

Plan for approximately 2.5 to 3 hours for each medication session.

This allows time to settle in, receive the medication, experience its effects, begin processing what arose, and ensure that you are ready to leave with your designated transportation.

You should not drive yourself home after a medication session. Follow all transportation and safety instructions provided by the prescribing clinician.

Integration is the process of reflecting on the medication experience and connecting it to your broader therapeutic goals.

Integration may involve exploring emotions, memories, images, internal parts, relationship patterns, or new perspectives that emerged during the session.

Alex generally schedules integration within 24 to 48 hours after a medication session. The current package includes a 30-minute integration session following each medication experience.

The goal is not to interpret everything literally. It is to identify what feels meaningful and determine how it may inform continued therapeutic work.

The appropriate number of sessions depends on your goals, response to treatment, medical guidance, and the concern being addressed.

Alex generally recommends beginning with a three-session package rather than relying on one isolated experience. Some people later add three more sessions to complete a six-session course.

Individual booster sessions may also be considered for people who have previously completed an intensive KAP process.

The current package includes:

• Two preparation sessions lasting approximately 75–90 minutes each
• Three medication sessions lasting approximately three hours each
• Three 30-minute integration sessions

Pricing is subject to change. Confirm current fees with Alex before beginning treatment.

Yes. The KAP package does not currently include:

• Required medical evaluation and clearance: approximately $300
• Prescribed medication: approximately $50–$60

Additional KAP sessions are currently listed at $450 per session. Each additional session includes a 30-minute integration appointment.

All fees are subject to change and should be confirmed before scheduling.

Ketamine is used off-label for psychiatric treatment, and KAP is generally not covered as an in-network insurance service.

Alex may provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reimbursement depends entirely on your individual plan and cannot be guaranteed.

Contact your insurance company directly and ask about out-of-network mental-health benefits before beginning.

Alex strongly prefers that clients have an established therapeutic relationship before beginning KAP and continue therapy after completing the medication sessions.

Continued therapy provides space to process the experience, monitor changes, and translate insight into everyday life.

You do not need to be an existing therapy client of Alex’s. He can collaborate with your current therapist and other healthcare providers when appropriate.

KAP may be considered by people who have not experienced enough improvement from standard treatments, feel stuck despite meaningful therapeutic work, or are seeking a different way to approach persistent emotional patterns.

Ketamine has been studied in connection with concerns including:

• Depression
• Persistent suicidal thinking
• Post-traumatic stress symptoms
• Anxiety
• Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
• Eating disorders
• Substance-use concerns
• End-of-life and existential distress

Evidence is not equally strong for every condition, and inclusion on this list does not mean KAP is appropriate for every person with that concern.

Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. It is not FDA-approved for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

When ketamine is prescribed for depression, anxiety, trauma-related concerns, or other mental-health conditions, it is being used off-label. Off-label prescribing is a recognized medical practice, but it requires careful clinical judgment and informed consent.

Spravato, or esketamine, is a different medication and treatment protocol. It has FDA approval for specific depression indications in adults and should not be confused with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

No. KAP requires both psychological screening and a separate medical evaluation.

The prescribing clinician will review factors such as your physical health, blood pressure, medications, psychiatric history, substance-use history, pregnancy status, and other possible risks.

Ketamine may cause temporary dissociation, sedation, dizziness, nausea, anxiety, changes in blood pressure, perceptual changes, and impaired coordination. It also carries misuse and abuse risks.

Medical eligibility and prescribing decisions are made by the qualified prescribing clinician—not by Alex alone.

Ketamine treatment for an adolescent requires especially careful, individualized consideration.

The evidence base for adolescents is more limited than it is for adults, and ketamine is not FDA-approved for psychiatric treatment in either population. Spravato is also not approved for pediatric patients.

Any adolescent case requires appropriate medical evaluation, guardian involvement, informed consent and assent, coordination with existing providers, and a clear determination that the potential benefits justify the risks and demands of treatment.

Alex is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who completed the nine-month Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research certificate program through the California Institute of Integral Studies.

His work focuses on preparation, support during the medication experience, integration, and collaboration with the prescribing psychiatrist and other members of the client’s treatment team.

Begin by contacting Alex for a consultation.

You can discuss why you are considering KAP, ask questions about the process, and determine whether moving forward with formal screening and medical evaluation makes sense.

Reaching out does not obligate you to proceed with treatment.

Schedule an initial conversation →