Unlock new pathways to healing with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an innovative therapeutic approach combining low-dose ketamine with talk therapy to facilitate deeper emotional processing and healing. KAP can help treat conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. By promoting neuroplasticity—your brain’s ability to form new connections—ketamine allows for a heightened state of emotional openness and healing under the guidance of a trained therapist.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a research-backed treatment that was originally developed as an anesthetic and has since shown remarkable benefits in mental health care. It’s now used to treat depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions that haven’t responded to traditional therapies.
Ketamine works differently from typical medications—it acts on the glutamate system, which is involved in how the brain forms new connections and processes emotions. This helps open a window for deeper therapeutic work by making the brain more flexible and responsive to new ways of thinking and feeling.
A Disruptive, Yet Benevolent Medicine
Ketamine is known as a dissociative anesthetic, meaning it temporarily disconnects us from our usual ways of thinking and feeling. But what does this actually mean?
Think of it this way: In everyday life, we all have defenses—mental patterns and coping strategies that protect us, but sometimes keep us stuck in painful cycles. Ketamine temporarily unhooks us from those defenses, allowing us to access emotions, memories, and insights that are typically out of reach.
During a KAP session, the medicine takes you where you need to go, whether that’s into deep emotional processing, forgotten memories, or even abstract, otherworldly experiences. Some describe it as feeling like they’ve traveled through space, time, or even outer space—all within a safe therapeutic environment.
While this experience can feel disruptive, it’s also benevolent and healing. Ketamine creates a unique window for therapeutic breakthroughs, making it possible to explore areas of your psyche that might otherwise remain closed off.
What to Expect from Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP)
At Sights Center for Integrative Psychotherapy, we offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) as a guided therapeutic experience to help clients access deeper emotional processing and healing. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you understand how KAP works, what to expect during sessions, and how to prepare.
How it Works
KAP combines the use of low-dose ketamine with talk therapy to facilitate deeper emotional exploration and promote neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections). Ketamine reduces psychological barriers, making it easier to process challenging emotions and experiences in a safe, supportive environment.
At Sights Center, each session is thoughtfully planned to ensure you feel comfortable and supported before, during, and after your KAP experience.
Step-by-Step Process
Here’s what you can expect when starting KAP with us:
Step 1: Initial Consultation
Schedule an initial consultation with Alnora Sights, LPC, where we’ll assess if KAP is a suitable option for you.Step 2: Medical Evaluation
You’ll meet with our collaborating prescribing physician, Dr. Clarice Baumgartner, for a medical evaluation and to receive your ketamine prescription.Step 3: KAP Sessions
Begin your KAP sessions, each lasting about two hours. These sessions are conducted in a safe, supportive environment with a focus on your emotional well-being.
What to Expect During a KAP Session
KAP sessions are a safe and supportive space for emotional exploration. You’ll begin by taking your prescribed ketamine, with your therapist present to guide you through the experience. Sessions last about two hours, allowing time to explore thoughts, emotions, and insights that arise.
Before each session, you’ll be encouraged to set an intention for what you’d like to process. Afterward, you’ll have time to reflect and begin integrating your experience. Insights often continue to surface in the following days, and we’ll support you in making sense of them through ongoing therapy.
What Makes Our KAP Approach Unique?
What Makes Our KAP Approach Unique?
1. Culturally-Responsive, Trauma-Informed Care
We specialize in working with Latinx, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and military communities. Our approach honors your cultural background, identity, and lived experiences. We understand how trauma impacts individuals differently, and we tailor our therapy to meet you where you are, with a deep understanding of cultural nuances that affect mental health.
Why this matters:
Many clients feel unseen or misunderstood in traditional mental health settings. Our culturally-sensitive approach ensures that your unique story is respected and valued.
2. Bilingual Services (Spanish and English)
We are one of the few KAP providers offering sessions in both Spanish and English. For many clients, being able to express emotions and process deeply in their preferred language leads to more effective and meaningful therapy.
Why this matters:
Language is a powerful tool in therapy. Being able to communicate in your native language allows for a deeper emotional connection and helps clients feel more comfortable and understood.
3. Mind-Body (Somatic) Focus
Our sessions include a somatic approach, helping clients connect with their physical sensations during KAP. Ketamine allows for emotional exploration, and we guide clients to remain grounded in their bodies throughout the experience. This is particularly helpful for clients with trauma histories.
Why this matters:
Trauma is stored in the body as well as the mind. Our somatic focus helps clients release emotional blockages and achieve a more holistic healing experience.
4. Collaborative Care Model
We work closely with Dr. Clarice Baumgartner, our collaborating prescribing physician. This ensures that you receive medical oversight for your ketamine prescription and that the process is seamless from start to finish.
Why this matters:
Having both a medical provider and a psychotherapist on your care team ensures your safety and well-being throughout the entire KAP process.
5. Integration-Focused Therapy
We emphasize the importance of integration sessions—the work that happens after your KAP experience. These sessions help clients make sense of the insights they gain during KAP and turn those insights into actionable, lasting change.
Why this matters:
While ketamine can open new pathways for healing, it’s the integration work that leads to sustainable growth. We’re here to support you in making those changes part of your everyday life.
Our approach to KAP is centered on your unique journey. By integrating cultural sensitivity, mind-body connection, and personalized care, we create a space where deep healing and lasting transformation can occur.
Pricing
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Sessions
We offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) sessions exclusively in person at our Denver offices to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
KAP Session Fee: $330 per session (approximately 120 minutes)
Please note that insurance does not cover Ketamine therapy, but you can use HSA/FSA cards for payment.
Integration Sessions
Following your KAP session, integration sessions are an essential part of the process to help you process and apply insights gained during therapy.
In-Person Integration Session Fee: $165 per session (standard therapy rate)
Virtual Integration Sessions: These can be billed to insurance (United Healthcare, Aetna) if you're covered.
If you have questions about payment options, insurance, or scheduling, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
FAQs
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Ketamine influences the brain’s glutamate system, promoting new neural connections and helping to "rewire" negative thought patterns. This mechanism can rapidly improve mood and aid in trauma recovery, while therapy during and after the session helps clients integrate these new insights into their everyday life.
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Sessions last around 2 hours, with additional integration sessions following to discuss the experience and its impact. The effects of ketamine generally wear off within a few hours, but it's important to plan time for rest and recovery after.
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The number of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) sessions you’ll need depends on your individual goals and progress. Typically, clients start with an initial series of 3 to 6 sessions, spread out over several weeks.
Sessions are usually scheduled every 2 to 3 weeks to allow time for integration between sessions, where you process insights gained from the experience. The frequency may vary based on your specific needs and therapeutic goals.
After the initial series, some clients choose to continue with maintenance sessions every few months, while others transition fully to traditional therapy.
We’ll work together to determine what’s best for you based on how you respond to the treatment and your personal healing process.
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Common side effects may include temporary dissociation, nausea, dizziness, or mild headaches. These effects typically wear off as the ketamine fades. It’s important to undergo KAP under medical supervision to ensure safety.
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KAP is generally not recommended for individuals with uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, or severe liver/kidney disease. A full medical evaluation will determine whether KAP is right for you.