What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy? A Simple Guide

What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy page updated 6-15-25 ~ Written by Lucrezia Mangione, LPC, LCPC, NCC, BC-TMH, DCEP

Are you feeling like talk therapy alone may not be enough?

Sometimes it isn't. Many people reach a point where traditional therapy can only take them so far. This may especially be true if you're suffering from chronic anxiety, depression, or PTSD. That's where Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) comes in. And it may help fill this gap.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a treatment that combines the fast-acting effects of ketamine with the support of therapy. It's a structured process designed to help people who feel emotionally stuck—especially when other treatments haven't worked.

KAP is offered virtually or in-person. The setting is calm, supportive, and designed to help you feel emotionally and physically safe. A licensed mental health therapist is present in every session and guides the process.

This guide answers common questions about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)—including what it is, who it helps, and how it works. You’ll also learn how KAP supports healing for anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

👉 Want to understand the potential risks and benefits before going further? Read this compassionate guide to ketamine’s risks and benefits, safety and effectiveness. It’s grounded in science and designed to help contribute to making an informed choice for you.

Quick Answers: Explore Common Questions About KAP

“What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?” You're not alone in wondering about it. Many people are asking the same question as they look for new, effective ways to feel better and support their mental health and wellness, holistically.

What is the history and development of ketamine assisted psychotherapy?

Ketamine was first discovered in 1962 and used as an anesthetic. Later, doctors and researchers noticed its effects on mood and emotional well-being. By the early 2000s, therapists began pairing it with psychotherapy to help people process emotions more deeply.

How does ketamine affect the brain?

Ketamine supports neuroplasticity. That's your brain's natural ability to form new connections. Ketamine helps interrupt old thought loops tied to anxiety or depression and opens space for healing.

What can I expect during a ketamine assisted psychotherapy session, including duration?

Each KAP session lasts about 2 hours. The ketamine experience itself typically lasts around 45–60 minutes. You'll start with a check-in and time to settle in. Then, you take the prescribed ketamine.

During the session, you may feel more open, emotionally connected, relaxed, or gently detached from your usual thoughts. This state helps deeper insights surface.

After the experience, there's time to reflect and begin integration. Then, you apply what came up to your day-to-day life.

The space, whether at home or in an office, is designed to feel physically and emotionally safe. You're guided and supported by a licensed therapist trained in this specialization.

Who might benefit from ketamine assisted psychotherapy?

KAP may be helpful if you:

• Struggle with anxiety, depression, or PTSD
• Feel emotionally stuck or overwhelmed
• Identify as highly sensitive and want a gentler approach
• Are you looking for a therapy that helps you connect more deeply with yourself

Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is especially helpful if talk therapy alone hasn't brought more lasting relief.

Curious whether this therapy fits your needs?

Who Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy May Not Be Right For

KAP can be life-changing for many. That said, it’s not the best fit for everyone. What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy? It begins with a medical screening and assessment to determine if it’s safe for you.

Generally, you meet with a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy provider who refers you to a medical prescriber. The prescriber conducts a full medical assessment.

Even though KAP offers real benefits, understanding what Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is—and isn’t—is important.

It may not be appropriate if you:

• Have a history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or untreated bipolar disorder
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure or serious heart conditions
• Struggle with substance misuse that hasn’t been addressed
• Are looking for a quick fix without support for integration
• Are not currently working with a licensed prescriber and a therapist trained in KAP

Personalized, thoughtful care is important. At Mind Body Well Therapy, it’s foundational to our work. If KAP isn’t a good fit for your current needs, you’ll be guided toward other supportive options.

What are the benefits of ketamine assisted psychotherapy?

What are the potential ketamine side effects in humans in KAP? How are they managed?

Side effects like nausea, dizziness, or a floaty feeling can happen. They are usually mild and pass within an hour. More information about ketamine risks and benefits can be found here.

During your session, your safety and comfort are top priority. The environment can be adjusted to meet your needs.

After each session, you have time to rest and reflect at your own pace. 

What are the Risks and Benefits of Ketamine?

Interested in learning more about the safety of ketamine therapy? Read about what the research says on the legal and medicinal use of ketamine with our guide, Ketamine Risks and Benefits: A Compassionate Guide to Healing. It covers safety, effectiveness, and ethical care that's evidenced based.

How does ketamine assisted psychotherapy compare to talk therapy alone?

Talk therapy may take weeks or months to show results. KAP often brings faster shifts in mood and insight.

It doesn't replace talk therapy—it enhances it.

Ketamine helps access memories and emotions that can feel out of reach. Many describe it as a "reset" that allows them to return to themselves with clarity and compassion.

What are the qualifications and training required for therapists to administer ketamine assisted psychotherapy safely and effectively?

Your therapist needs to be licensed in your state as a mental health provider such as an LPC, LCPC, LMFT, LSCW, PhD. Additionally, they have received specialized psychedelic training to work with altered states of awareness.

KAP providers are not medical prescribers. KAP providers work in collaboration with a licensed prescriber.

What are the success rates or outcomes for patients who have undergone ketamine assisted psychotherapy?

What are the costs for ketamine assisted psychotherapy? Does insurance cover this?

The cost per KAP session usually ranges from $400 to $800, depending on the structure,  length of the session and location in the U.S.

Insurance coverage is limited. However, some clients use out-of-network benefits or health savings accounts (HSAs). Check with your tax advisor about your HSA and KAP eligibility.

Ask your provider if they can give you a superbill—a document to submit for possible reimbursement.

Always check with your insurance company to confirm your options.

Is ketamine assisted psychotherapy legal in the U.S.?

Yes. Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic and is legally prescribed off-label for mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Before beginning KAP, you'll meet with a licensed prescriber for a full health screening. If it's a good fit, they write a prescription.

You'll then use that prescription in sessions with a licensed therapist. When provided by a psychedelic-trained, qualified licensed professional counselor or other licensed mental health provider and paired with safety protocols, KAP is legal in the U.S.

What is ketamine assisted psychotherapy's role in modern mental health treatment?

KAP is part of a new wave of mental health care. It blends therapy, medical science, and brain health understandings to accelerate healing.

This kind of care has always been central at Mind Body Well Therapy, PLLC, long before it became popular. Holistic awareness, compassion, mind-body, nervous system support, and science-backed healing are core to our approach.

KAP offers a way to:

• Break old patterns
• Reconnect with yourself
• Create new pathways to clarity and calm.

This is especially meaningful for those seeking more than symptom relief. It's for people who want to grow in resilience, self-awareness, and cultivate more peace.

KAP supports your brain, body, mind, heart and spirit. It helps you feel more like yourself again.

Next Steps

References and Resources

This page,What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?, was based on the following peer-reviewed research and these credible resources.

1. Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics. (n.d.). Massachusetts General Hospital. https://www.massgeneral.org/psychiatry/treatments-and-services/center-for-the-neuroscience-of-psychedelics
2. Dore, J., Turnipseed, B., Dwyer, S., Turnipseed, A., Andries, J., Ascani, G., … Wolfson, P. (2019). Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51(2), 189–198. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1587556
   
3. Drozdz, S. J., Goel, A., McGarr, M. W., Katz, J., Ritvo, P., Mattina, G. F., Bhat, V., Diep, C., & Ladha, K. S. (2022). Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature. Journal of pain research, 15, 1691–1706. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S360733
4. Esketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression. (2023, November 1). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/esketamine-for-treatment-resistant-depression
5. Hull, T. D., Malgaroli, M., Gazzaley, A., Akiki, T. J., Madan, A., Vando, L., Arden, K., Swain, J., Klotz, M., & Paleos, C. (2022). At-home, sublingual ketamine telehealth is a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe anxiety and depression: Findings from a large, prospective, open-label effectiveness trial. Journal of affective disorders, 314, 59–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.004
6. Oliver, P. A., Snyder, A. D., Feinn, R., Malov, S., McDiarmid, G., & Arias, A. J. (2022). Clinical Effectiveness of Intravenous Racemic Ketamine Infusions in a Large Community Sample of Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression, Suicidal Ideation, and Generalized Anxiety Symptoms: A Retrospective Chart Review. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 83(6), 21m14336. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.21m14336
7. Wu, H., Savalia, N. K., & Kwan, A. C. (2021). Ketamine for a Boost of Neural Plasticity: How, but Also When?. Biological psychiatry, 89(11), 1030–1032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.03.014
8. Imagery Note: Illustrations on this page were created using AI-based tools and are used for educational and aesthetic purposes only.

Writing & Authorship Disclosure

This content of What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy was authored by Lucrezia Mangione, LCPC, LPC, NCC, BC-TMH, DCEP. AI-assisted tools were used during the writing process to support clarity and organization. All professional insights and conclusions reflect her research on the subject, clinical training and experience.

Back to Top

Lucrezia Mangione supports anxious, highly sensitive women in fine-tuning focus, building emotional steadiness, and embracing the strengths of sensitivity. She also partners with therapists and helping professionals to offer brain-based care for clients who feel stuck or stalled. Her integrative approach helps clients feel calm, steady, and spacious—living and working on their own terms.