Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
in San Jose, CA
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a healing approach that combines the medicine, ketamine, with talk therapy to access deeper parts of the mind and emotions. KAP isn’t a quick fix, but it can create powerful breakthroughs when people feel stuck in the therapy process or if traditional medication has not been helpful. Clients generally seek Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, or deep emotional pain.
Ketamine can create a relaxed, open, and reflective state, allowing the exploration of feelings and memories that may be hard to reach in traditional talk therapy. During treatment, clients may feel detached from their bodies, allowing for a shift in perspective that can facilitate profound emotional breakthroughs.
KAP can help shift long-standing patterns to increase self-compassion and create room for personal growth, as well as provide relief from burnout, trauma, or existential distress. It works by quieting the inner critic and opening access to emotions and memories that may be hard to reach.
Treatment involves combining Ketamine experiences with talk therapy for integration. The medicine can create breakthroughs, and the talk-therapy component helps with understanding and integrating whatever comes up while medicated, leading to real, lasting change.
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What To Expect During Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
When the therapist and client decide to use KAP, preparations will begin. We move at our client’s pace as their emotional safety and growth are always prioritized. The preparation work involves discussing goals, expectations, and intentions of ketamine therapy, like working through struggles with anxiety and PTSD or addressing treatment-resistant depression. This helps pave the way for a successful experience and integration of whatever is learned or gained while medicated.
After the client meets their Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist, the client is referred to a medical provider to receive a medical evaluation, and a ketamine prescription. After a client takes the medication, within 10-15 minutes, the client will begin to experience the effects of Ketamine. One of the valuable components of Ketamine is that it promotes neural growth after it is taken. We use sublingual troches for easy, controlled dosing. There may not be much discussion happening while under the effect of the drug. Clients might listen to music while they have an internal experience, or they may want to interact with their therapist, describing any feelings, thoughts, or even images that come to mind.
From start to finish, KAP sessions last about two to three hours, including time for preparation, taking the medication, feeling the effects, and then integrating the experience during a post-medicated discussion. Many clients leave sessions feeling more clarity, inner peace, and motivation to make meaningful life changes. The integration process helps turn these experiences into lasting growth, improved relationships, and healthier coping strategies.
Ketamine Experiences Vary And Enhance Neuroplasticity
Ketamine administered in a therapeutic setting is a very different experience from taking it socially or recreationally. Similar to other psychedelic medications, people respond differently to Ketamine, some more beneficially than others.
For the first two days to even a week after taking Ketamine, neuroplasticity is very present, and the aspects of the client’s life may impact them more profoundly. They should take time to reflect and journal any experiences beyond the KAP session so they can integrate them during therapy. We like to schedule another session the next day or a few days after KAP to take advantage of this time, as integration is the most important part of the process during the moments when neuroplasticity is at its highest. Neuroplasticity in the context of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy refers to how the brain reorganizes and forms new neural connections in reaction to the effects of ketamine, which can temporarily enhance this capacity.
At Relucent Psychology Group, We’re Committed To Offering Innovative, Effective Care
I’m Dr. Shereen Mohsen, Clinical Psychologist and owner of Relucent Psychology Group. I decided to offer Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy because it is a powerful tool for those seeking deep healing when traditional therapy hasn’t been enough.
I received my training through Journey Clinical, a service that provides guidance and best practices for offering psychedelics like Ketamine to clients in need of something groundbreaking that makes a difference. Their training enabled me to provide safe and effective KAP in the therapy setting, providing a more comprehensive experience for those who are curious to try new and alternative ways to treat their struggles during their healing journey.
I have had personal experience with the therapeutic use of Ketamine and found it to be transformative and revelatory. It has the capacity to help people reach breakthroughs when they’re feeling especially stuck and potentially find spiritual connection within themselves and existential meaning.
Even if you’ve felt stuck for a long time, healing is possible. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can open new doors to relief, insight, and hope—often when nothing else has worked. You’re not broken, just in need of a new way forward. This process can help you reconnect with yourself and build a more fulfilling, peaceful life—step by step.
Are You Ready To Heal?
Reach out through our contact form or call us at (408) 680-4114 to discuss Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy with our intake coordinator and for a free, 15-minute consultation with our KAP therapist.
For more information on KAP:
https://townsendletter.com/ketamine-for-depression-and-mood-disorders-by-zelfand/