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Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAP) in pasadena & online in California
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What it is / How it works / Benefits
stuck in patterns you can’t break?
It’s time for something radically different. Ketamine therapy can help you pave a new path forward.
Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that induces a trance-like state with pain relief, sedation, and a sense of detachment from the body or environment. While this may sound anxiety-inducing at first Ketamine induces the ideal somatic state for deep trauma processing. In lower, sub-anesthetic doses (like those used in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, or KAP), it produces altered states of consciousness that can support therapeutic work—especially with conditions like treatment-resistant depression, intense PTSD, chronic anxiety, and torturous rumination.
journey inward, heal forward
Ketamine therapy is an integrative approach to trauma healing.
Ketamine can offer a way to break free from deeply ingrained patterns, allowing you to access new possibilities for change. Ketamine often creates a shift in perception, softening mental defenses that keep us stuck, and opening space for reflection, insight, and emotional processing. Many people describe a sense of curiosity, clarity, or connection during their journey—sometimes even encountering parts of themselves they’ve long been disconnected from (so cool!). Ketamine can also help you access deeper layers of your inner world—especially the parts that live beneath language (pre-verbal traumas).
How it works
What Does Ketamine Therapy Treat?
Anxiety Disorders
(treatment-resistant) Depression
PTSD & Complex Trauma
Chronic Stress & Burnout
Overwhelm & Dysregulation
Negative Self-Talk
Limiting Beliefs
Insecurity & Low Self-Worth
Feeling “Stuck” or Disconnected
Grief, Loss, & moving forward
Insecurity around Major decisions
Chronic Pain & physical Symptoms
How Does Ketamine Therapy Work?
Ketamine-assisted therapy is available to:
CURRENT THERAPY CLIENTS
NEW THERAPY CLIENTS INTERESTED IN KAP / STARTING THERAPY WITH ME
CLIENTS WORKING WITH ANOTHER THERAPIST WHO WANT KAP
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If you’re not already a therapy client, we will meet for a free 15-minute phone consultation to explore whether you may be a good fit for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP).
If we decide to move forward, you’ll be referred to a licensed psychiatrist from Journey Clinical for a medical intake via Zoom. During this appointment, they’ll review your medical and psychiatric history, provide education about ketamine, and determine your eligibility for treatment.
If approved, a prescription for oral ketamine will be sent to your home in lozenge form—enough for your first 2-3 KAP sessions. Journey Clinical’s medical team will guide you through how to monitor your vitals and self-administer the medication safely prior to your first session.
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Once your ketamine lozenges arrive, we’ll schedule your preparation, dosing, and integration sessions together. Preparation sessions are scheduled just like regular therapy sessions and take place before your first dosing session. These sessions are an opportunity to align on the process, clarify expectations, and set meaningful intentions for your KAP experience. Most clients benefit from one preparation session, though additional sessions can be scheduled if needed.
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Depending on your dosage, a typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1 to 3 hours and can take place either in-person at my office or remotely via secure telehealth.
You’ll self-administer your prescribed ketamine lozenge while in a comfortable, reclined position—often with an eye mask and calming music to support a deeper inward experience. Although KAP sessions are primarily internal and introspective, I’ll be present with you throughout the entire experience, offering a grounded and supportive therapeutic presence for whatever comes up. My role is to hold a safe, attuned container and offer guidance or reassurance as needed.
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After your KAP dosing session, we’ll meet for integration therapy to process the thoughts, emotions, imagery, and insights that emerged during your journey. These sessions help you make meaning of the experience, anchor new perspectives, and translate them into real-life shifts. Integration is a vital part of ketamine-assisted therapy, supporting long-term healing and preparing you for any future dosing sessions.
THE PROCESS
THE BENEFITS
How Can Ketamine Help TRAUMA HEALING?
Ketamine-assisted therapy offers a powerful and supportive pathway for those seeking meaningful mental health support and emotional healing. It can help you:
Gently explore and process difficult emotions, memories, or limiting beliefs
Feel more emotionally grounded, resilient, and confident
Reconnect with your body, intuition, and sense of self
Deepen your capacity for connection, presence, and healing
Enhance focus, motivation, and mental clarity
FAQs
you’ve got questions - I've got answers
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Ketamine is a legal, safe, and fast-acting medication originally developed as an anesthetic. Today, it’s widely used in mental health treatment for conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Unlike traditional antidepressants that may take weeks to work, ketamine can begin reducing symptoms within 1–2 hours, with effects often lasting up to two weeks.
Ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors and stimulating AMPA receptors in the brain, which helps form new neural connections and enhances neuroplasticity—your brain’s ability to adapt, heal, and change. This can support lasting shifts in mood, perception, and emotional resilience.
Ketamine can be administered in various ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, nasal spray, and sublingual lozenges. In my practice, through a partnership with Journey Clinical, we use the sublingual lozenge form only, which is safe, effective, and ideal for use in both in-person and virtual therapy settings.
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Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that has been safely used in human medicine since the 1970s—for surgery, pain management, and more recently, mental health treatment. While it’s true that ketamine is sometimes used in veterinary medicine (like many other medications), the form and dosage used in ketamine-assisted therapy are specifically tailored for humans under medical supervision. In this context, it’s a safe, legal, and effective tool for healing emotional and psychological pain.
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The effects of ketamine typically last around 45 minutes and are generally experienced as calming, expansive, and introspective. Many clients describe feeling “far from” their bodies or disconnected from everyday thought patterns, which can allow for powerful shifts in perception and emotional insight.
During the experience, your motor and verbal abilities will be limited, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable, supported position—often with an eye mask and music to help you journey inward.
As the effects wear off, we’ll use the remaining time in session to gently process what arose. Even if the experience is hard to put into words, many clients report that the insights gained are deeply felt and meaningful. Research shows that ketamine’s positive impact on mood and neuroplasticity can last up to two weeks after a session.
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A “K-hole” refers to a high-dose recreational experience with ketamine that can be intense, disorienting, and typically occurs without therapeutic support or intention. In ketamine-assisted therapy, the dosage is carefully prescribed by a licensed medical provider and tailored to your body and needs—so, NO you will not go into a ‘k-hole.’
The goal is not to dissociate or escape, but to gently enter an altered state that allows for insight, healing, and emotional processing. You’ll be in a safe, supported setting—with a trained therapist present the entire time to hold space and guide the process. Most clients describe the experience as calming, spacious, and meaningful—not overwhelming.
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Yes—when administered under the care of trained professionals, ketamine-assisted therapy is considered safe. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived but may include dissociation, elevated heart rate, or changes in perception. A thorough medical screening with our partners at Journey Clinical ensures ketamine is a safe option for you. The setting, dose, and therapeutic support all play essential roles in safety and effectiveness.
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Ketamine-assisted therapy has shown strong results for:
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD)
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
PTSD and complex trauma
It also shows promise for anxiety disorders, OCD, and bipolar depression. KAP may be especially helpful when traditional treatments haven’t worked or when deeper emotional processing is needed.
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Common short-term side effects include:
Dissociation or altered perception
Mild hallucinations
Nausea
Elevated heart rate or blood pressure
These effects usually wear off as the medicine metabolizes. Rarely, people may experience anxiety or discomfort during the experience—this is why therapeutic support and proper screening are so important.
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Because ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a multi-phase therapeutic process that includes meeting with a psychiatrist, then engaging in preparation, dosing, and integration sessions, the cost is higher than a standard therapy session or medical ketamine infusion alone.
However, many clients find the depth and lasting impact of KAP to be a worthwhile investment in their healing.
While medical intakes, follow-ups, and integration sessions are not typically covered by insurance, they are often eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. I’m also happy to discuss payment plans to make treatment more accessible.
Estimated Total Cost: $1350 ±
$340 – Psychiatric Evaluation & Prescription
Conducted via Zoom with a licensed prescriber through Journey Clinical
(Often partially or fully reimbursed by insurance)$995 – Therapy Package
Includes:50-minute preparation session
3-hour ketamine dosing session
50-minute integration session
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KAP may not be appropriate for individuals with:
A history of psychosis or schizophrenia
Uncontrolled hypertension or serious cardiovascular issues
Active substance use disorder involving ketamine or dissociatives
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
A licensed clinician from Journey Clinical will conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether ketamine is a safe option for you.
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The number of ketamine-assisted therapy sessions varies by individual. Many clients begin with 2–6 dosing sessions, spaced out over several weeks, with integration therapy in between. Some may continue with maintenance sessions depending on their needs, goals, and how they respond to the treatment. We'll collaboratively determine what feels right for you.
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Yes—ketamine-assisted psychotherapy combines the medicine with therapeutic support to help you process, integrate, and apply insights that arise during the experience. KAP is not just about the substance—it’s about how the experience is held and integrated. If you already have a therapist, I can collaborate with them. If not, I offer full support from preparation through integration.
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Ketamine is the only psychedelic legally available for therapeutic use in the U.S. It is short-acting, well-studied, and known for its rapid antidepressant effects. Unlike classic psychedelics (like psilocybin or LSD), ketamine does not typically produce strong visual hallucinations and is dissociative in nature, which means it may feel more spacious or removed from typical emotional processing.
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No. Due to ketamine’s effects on motor function and perception, you should not drive after a session. If your session is in-person, you'll need a ride home or to arrange a pick-up. If you're doing your session from home via telehealth, plan to rest afterward and avoid driving or operating machinery for the rest of the day.
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Yes. Ketamine induces an altered, dreamlike state, but you will remain conscious and aware. Most clients describe it as a deeply inward and reflective experience. You may feel less verbal or disconnected from your body, but you are not asleep or unconscious.
in-person
online
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Near me?
I offer ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP) both in person in Pasadena, CA (on weekends) and online via secure telehealth for clients located anywhere in California. Preparation and integration sessions can be scheduled on weekdays, while dosing sessions are held exclusively on weekends to allow for dedicated time and support.