What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, or KAP, is an emerging mental health treatment that utilizes the administration of ketamine alongside therapy sessions. KAP allows patients to explore further topics or areas of their lives that contribute to pervasive mental health concerns such as treatment-resistant depression or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

For more information about what KAP is, click here.

What do KAP sessions look like?

Each patient's treatment schedule may be different and dependent on their individual needs. This is assessed by a qualified psychiatric provider. If deemed an appropriate fit for ketamine treatment, ketamine may be administered via the FDA-approved nasal spray, Spravato, or by IV as an infusion.

The treatment protocol often starts with the patient receiving twice-weekly ketamine sessions for 4 weeks. This can help establish significant changes in mood, thought patterns, and emotional processing.

After the initial 4 weeks, the treatment shifts to a once-weekly schedule for another 4 weeks. The patient continues to receive support and weekly KAP therapy sessions to solidify and maintain the progress made during the initial phase.

While the once-weekly maintenance phase may be sufficient for many patients, treatment can continue beyond 8 weeks if necessary and deemed appropriate by the psychiatric provider. The goal is to adapt the treatment plan to the patient's needs, ensuring ongoing symptom management and emotional well-being.

On average, the KAP process is about 2 hours long. Ketamine is administered and monitored within the first 45 minutes to an hour. Then, for the remaining time, the patient will engage in a therapy session once-weekly.

During the therapy session portion of the KAP treatment, we will explore what arose during the first part of the treatment, challenges being faced, and other areas of concern. I typically incorporate aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other trauma-informed frameworks.

Due to the dissociative nature of ketamine, it is required that someone transport you to and from your sessions as well as wait on site. 

Where can I get KAP?

I specifically provide KAP services at Michigan Advanced Psychiatry of Troy in Michigan. KAP sessions with me are in person at MAP and for Michigan residents only.

The address is 1700 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 300, Troy, MI 48084.

I'm interested in receiving KAP. How can I get started?

For more information on how to get started with KAP, contact me or Michigan Advanced Psychiatry.

KAP services are also in partnership with KindMind Counseling.

As a KAP therapist, I lead patients through treatment, but I do not prescribe the ketamine involved in treatment.