A New Patient’s Guide to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Los Angeles
In recent years, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) has emerged as a promising treatment for various mental health conditions, offering new hope to individuals who have not found relief through conventional therapies. This innovative approach combines the therapeutic effects of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, with psychotherapy to address a range of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and cancer-induced distress. This guide explains what the process involves, who might be eligible, and how care is monitored.
Understanding Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a medication primarily used for anesthesia and pain management. Researchers have discovered its potential as a rapid-acting antidepressant and anxiolytic agent in response to observations that people who received ketamine as an anesthetic also reported rapid improvements to their mood. Ketamine works by modulating the activity of the glutamate neurotransmitter system in the brain, leading to profound changes in mood and perception.
How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Work?
KAP combines medically supervised ketamine at sub-anesthetic doses with specialty psychotherapy. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which may take weeks to months to produce noticeable effects, ketamine often induces rapid and robust improvements in mood and cognition within hours or days. Ketamine has been used safely as a medicine for decades and can create a temporary altered state during the time immediately following the administration. For some people, this state increases shifts in perspective, loosens rigid negative thinking and supports rapid shifts in mood.
There is some emerging evidence that beyond the acute shifts mentioned above, ketamine may create a period when the brain is more open to change, making it easier to shift long-standing thought patterns when paired with therapy. Pairing this medication with psychotherapy may take advantage of this neuroplastic state to turn the psychedelic experiences into lasting behavioral or cognitive changes. KAP is most often used for depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and certain forms of existential or illness-related distress
What to Expect During Treatment
Your Initial Assessment
Your treatment begins with a meeting with our clinical team. We will talk with you about your symptoms, personal history, current concerns, goals, and hopes for treatment. This helps us understand whether ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may be a good fit for you and allows us to create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.
Preparing for Your Session
Before your ketamine session, we will help you understand what to expect and how to prepare. We will review safety guidelines, answer your questions, and discuss ways to support your experience, such as relaxation, mindfulness, or intention-setting. We will also go over practical details, including transportation home, support after the session, and any aftercare needs.
Your Ketamine Session
Your ketamine session takes place in a private, comfortable setting with clinical supervision. Ketamine is administered by trained medical staff, and your safety is monitored throughout the session. Eye shades and headphones are offered to help you turn your attention inward. A therapist will be present to provide support as needed. Each person’s experience is different. Some people notice subtle changes, while others may have vivid emotions, memories, images, or shifts in perspective.
After Your Session
Once the psychoactive effects of ketamine have worn off, your therapist will help you reflect on your experience, explore any insights that came up, and integrate them into your daily life. After the session is complete, you will have time to rest and recover in the clinic’s recovery area. KAP requires a series of sessions for optional outcomes, typically 2 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Additional follow-up appointments may be recommended to monitor your progress, adjust your treatment plan if needed, and provide continued support.
Potential Benefits and Risks
Potential benefits:
- Rapid symptom relief for mood or trauma symptoms
- Improved hopefulness, motivation, and emotional access
- Increased flexibility with patterns like rumination, irritability or avoidance
- Better capacity to engage in behavioral changes
Potential risks and side effects:
- Temporary effects like dissociation, nausea, dizziness, or double vision
- Short-term increases in blood pressure
- Variable responses (some patients improve significantly while others don't)
- Misuse potential, though this risk is much lower in a supervised medical setting
Is KAP Right for You?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can be a life-changing treatment option for individuals struggling with severe or treatment-resistant mental health conditions. However, it is essential to weigh the potential benefits against the risks and consider whether this approach aligns with your treatment preferences and goals. Before starting ketamine therapy, discuss your options with a qualified healthcare provider who can provide personalized guidance based on your unique needs and circumstances.
PSI's clinical team in Los Angeles offers a structured evaluation process to help you understand your options, with no pressure and no commitment. If you're living with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, or OCD and haven't found relief through conventional care, we'd like to talk.
FAQs
What is ketamine and how does it work in the brain?
Ketamine is a medication primarily used for anesthesia and pain management. Researchers discovered its mental health potential after noticing that people who received ketamine as an anesthetic also reported rapid improvements in mood. It works by affecting the glutamate system in the brain, which can lead to meaningful shifts in mood and perception.
How is KAP different from traditional antidepressants?
Traditional antidepressants may take weeks or months to produce noticeable effects. With KAP, some people notice meaningful shifts in mood or thinking within hours or days of a session. There is also emerging evidence that ketamine may create a period when the brain is more open to change, making it easier to shift long-standing thought patterns when paired with therapy.
What are the steps involved in KAP treatment?
Treatment at PSI follows four phases: an initial assessment to explore your symptoms, history, and goals; a preparation session to set expectations and build trust with your care team; the ketamine dosing session itself in a supervised clinical setting with medical monitoring and therapeutic support; and integration therapy afterward to reflect on your experience and develop aftercare strategies.
What are the potential benefits and risks of KAP?
Potential benefits include rapid relief from mood or trauma symptoms, improved hopefulness and motivation, and greater flexibility with patterns like rumination or avoidance. Risks include temporary effects like dissociation, nausea, or dizziness, short-term increases in blood pressure, and variable responses, some people improve significantly while others do not. All treatment is conducted under medical supervision to minimize risk.
How do I know if KAP is the right option for me?
KAP is most often considered for people living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, or certain forms of illness-related distress, particularly those who haven't found adequate relief through conventional treatments. PSI's clinical team conducts a thorough evaluation at the start of treatment to determine whether KAP is a well-matched option based on your individual history, symptoms, and goals.
Last updated: February 25, 2026
