How to Prepare for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Preparing for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a structured, collaborative process designed to support safety, build mental clarity, and create the conditions for meaningful therapeutic work. At PSI’s TRIP Clinics in Santa Monica and Hollywood, preparation spans multiple dimensions - physical, psychological, and relational - and is guided by a licensed multidisciplinary team at every step. 

Schedule a consultation to learn if KAP is right for you.

Core Elements of the Process

‍1. Comprehensive Initial Assessment

The journey starts with a thorough intake involving a multidisciplinary team including a licensed medical provider and a licensed mental health clinician. This assessment includes a structured interview about current symptoms, biographical history, and treatment goals to establish a foundation. It covers biological, psychological, and social factors, including safety risks and medical history to make sure KAP is safe and appropriate for you.

‍2. Informed Consent

The treatment team provides education on the risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy - including what the ketamine experience may feel like, how long sessions typically last, and what to expect in the hours following treatment. Any questions are addressed before consent is obtained.

‍3. Setting Realistic Expectations

To address any questions or concerns, a therapist will explain what to expect from the ketamine experience. 

The subjective experience: potential cognitive, sensory, and emotional shifts
Logistics: session duration and therapeutic approaches used
Aftercare:  what to expect in the hours and days following treatment

4. Establishing Trust and Psychological Safety

The therapeutic alliance is one of the strongest predictors of success in any psychotherapy. Building a trusting therapeutic relationship is an essential preparatory step in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Time is spent in advance of the treatment to co-create a safe, culturally relevant and supportive environment comfortable for expressing experiences and emotions.

5. Managing Anxiety 

Feeling nervous before a psychedelic experience is completely natural. The therapist helps address any anxiety or apprehension about upcoming ketamine experiences. This may involve the use of guided or self-guided relaxation techniques, mindfulness or grounding practices. Psychoeducation is provided and any concerns about the therapeutic process are addressed.   

6. Clarifying Intentions (Set and Setting)

Time is spent attending to both the physical setting and to the patient’s mindset, aligning on  intentions and goals for the treatment. This may involve exploring hopes and goals for the experience or identifying areas of focus for therapeutic work.

Curiosity is encouraged when considering intentions. The goal is to hold intentions lightly, not to abandon hope for relief, but to allow the experience to unfold without pressure. Symptom reduction, greater clarity, or a shift in how you relate to your experience are all meaningful goals. Approaching them with openness, rather than rigidity, tends to support better outcomes.

‍7. Preparing for Integration

Integration is the process of synthesizing and contextualizing lived experiences and ideas from ketamine treatments into daily life. Familiar and/or novel strategies for integration emphasize the importance of ongoing therapeutic work outside of the ketamine sessions where neurogeneration and plasticity continue long after the treatment ends.

‍8. Safety Precautions

Early and frequent review of safety protocols is essential, including measures to prevent potential adverse reactions to ketamine and procedures for managing any unexpected challenges that may arise from the treatment.  

‍9. Mobilizing a Support System

Healing doesn't happen in isolation. Whenever possible, identification of a support system of friends, family members, or other trusted individuals who can provide support before, during, and after ketamine-assisted therapy is explored.  This can be a professional treatment team if family or friends are not available. 

Overall, the preparation for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a multi-factorial, collaborative process aimed at ensuring a safe, supportive, and therapeutic experience that reduces risk and supports benefits.

FAQs

Q: What happens during the initial assessment for ketamine therapy?

The assessment at PSI is a comprehensive intake conducted by a licensed medical provider and a licensed mental health clinician. It covers your current symptoms, personal and medical history, treatment goals, and any safety considerations to confirm that KAP is clinically appropriate for you. Both biological and psychological factors are reviewed as part of this process.

Q: What is included in the informed consent process for KAP?

The treatment team provides education on the risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, including what the ketamine experience may feel like, how long sessions typically last, and what to expect in the hours following treatment. Any questions are addressed before consent is obtained.

Q: What should I expect during a ketamine therapy session?

Your therapist will explain what to expect before your first session, including potential cognitive, sensory, and emotional shifts during the experience, the logistics of session duration and therapeutic approaches used, and aftercare guidance for the hours and days following treatment.

Q: Is it normal to feel anxious before a ketamine therapy session?

Yes, and it's expected. PSI's therapists work directly with pre-treatment anxiety as part of the preparation process, using guided relaxation, mindfulness practices, and psychoeducation to help you feel grounded before your session. Addressing anxiety ahead of treatment is a standard part of KAP preparation, not a barrier to it.

Q: How do I set intentions for ketamine therapy?

Preparation includes time spent attending to both your physical setting and your mindset, exploring hopes, goals, and areas of focus for your treatment. The goal is to hold intentions lightly. Symptom reduction, greater clarity, or a shift in how you relate to your experience are all meaningful goals. Approaching them with openness, rather than rigidity, tends to support better outcomes.

Q: What is integration therapy and why is it part of KAP preparation?

Integration therapy is the process of making meaning from your ketamine experience and translating insights into lasting change in daily life. At PSI, integration planning begins before the first session because neuroplasticity continues long after treatment ends, and having a framework in place supports better outcomes. Learn more about integration therapy at PSI.

Q: Do I need someone to support me on the day of a ketamine session?

Whenever possible, PSI recommends identifying a trusted support person, such as a friend, family member, or other individual, who can be available before, during, and after your session. If that isn't possible, PSI's clinical team can provide professional support as part of your care plan.

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