Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, often called KAP, is an innovative treatment approach that combines the medical use of ketamine with psychotherapy. For some individuals, ketamine may help create a temporary shift in mood, perception, and emotional openness, allowing deeper therapeutic work to take place. KAP may be considered for clients struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, PTSD, emotional numbness, grief, or patterns that have not fully improved with traditional therapy alone.

KAP Modalities

​At the Association for Multicultural Behavioral Health, we provide the psychotherapy component of KAP in a safe, supportive, and culturally responsive environment. KAP may be offered in an individual, couples, or group format, depending on the client’s needs, treatment goals, and clinical appropriateness. Our role is to help clients prepare for the experience, identify treatment intentions, process emotions and memories that may emerge, and integrate insights into daily life.

Our services may include preparation sessions, therapist-supported medicine sessions, and integration therapy. During therapist-supported medicine sessions, a trained therapist may be present to provide emotional support, grounding, and trauma-informed care while the medication is administered under the direction of a qualified medical provider.​

Preparation and Integration

​Preparation helps clients understand what to expect, clarify therapeutic goals, develop emotional grounding tools, and create a safe plan for the medicine session. Integration therapy is especially important because it helps clients make meaning of the experience and translate insights into lasting changes in relationships, coping, self-understanding, and daily functioning.

Important Note About Medical Care

AMBH does not prescribe ketamine or provide medical management of ketamine treatment. Clients who are interested in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy must first be evaluated by an appropriately licensed medical provider to determine whether ketamine is safe and clinically appropriate for them. When appropriate, we may coordinate care with the client’s prescribing provider or medical ketamine clinic.

​Our role is to provide the psychotherapy component of KAP, including preparation, emotional support, trauma-informed care, and integration therapy before and after ketamine experiences.

​Who May Benefit

​Our Approach
KAP may be considered for adults experiencing treatment-resistant depression, trauma-related symptoms, anxiety, emotional disconnection, grief, or difficulty making progress in traditional therapy. It is not appropriate for everyone. A medical provider must review health history, current medications, mental health symptoms, substance use history, blood pressure concerns, and other safety factors before treatment begins.
Our approach to KAP is grounded, ethical, trauma-informed, and relational. We do not view ketamine as a stand-alone cure. Instead, we see it as a possible tool that may support deeper psychotherapy when used responsibly. We focus on preparation, emotional safety, integration, and long-term healing so that clients can make sense of their experience and apply new insights in a meaningful way.