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A short-term, evidence-supported approach as a potential option for people with depression, PTSD, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an emerging treatment approach that brings together two elements: the rapid neurochemical effects of ketamine and the grounding, reflective work of therapy. Research suggests that this combination may help shift mood, ease emotional distress, and support new ways of understanding long-standing patterns that often feel difficult to change.
Ketamine has been safely used in medical settings for more than fifty years. At lower doses, it can create a temporary altered state of consciousness, often experienced as calming, spacious, or gently introspective. In this state, many people find it easier to observe their emotions or memories with a bit more distance and compassion.
Across published studies and structured clinical programs, KAP sessions take place in controlled environments with medical professionals overseeing the medication component and trained therapists guiding preparation and integration. The process is intentional, paced, and designed with psychological safety at the center.
Stress, trauma, and ongoing depressive or anxious cycles can make a person’s internal world feel narrow or unchangeable, even after trying multiple therapies or medications. Research suggests that ketamine may temporarily increase neuroplasticity, loosening entrenched patterns and opening a short window when the brain is more able to form new connections.
During this period, people often notice shifts such as:
Therapy after the ketamine session—known as integration—is essential. It helps individuals make sense of what they experienced and translate insights into steps that support real daily-life change. This integration phase is one of the defining features that distinguishes KAP from ketamine administered without psychotherapy. The benefits of ketamine without psychotherapy are often only temporary.
While KAP is still developing, the research base has grown steadily. Studies have shown:
Across much of the literature, researchers note that combining ketamine with structured therapy may enhance and extend the benefits compared to ketamine alone. Current studies continue to explore long-term outcomes, ideal dosing approaches, and the lasting impact of integration-focused psychotherapy.
University of Ottawa is partnering with Behavioural Wellness Clinic and Field Trip in a research study to better understand how KAP can help people with depression. To learn more about this, visit the University of Ottawa’s webpage about the study.
People often consider KAP when:
KAP is not suitable for everyone, and determining fit requires a careful assessment by qualified medical and mental-health professionals.
Clinicians at the Behavioural Wellness Clinic have extensive experience in the therapeutic components that support high-quality KAP models, including:
Disclaimer
This page is for educational purposes only.
Calabrese, L. (2019). Titrated Serial Ketamine Infusions Stop Outpatient Suicidality and Avert ER Visits and Hospitalizations. International Journal of Psychiatry Research, 2(6), 1-12. http://scivisionpub.com/pdfs/titrated-serial-ketamine-infusions-stop-outpatient-suicidality-and-avert-er-visits-and-hospitalizations-918.pdf
Sanacora, G., Frye, M. A., McDonald, W., Mathew, S. J., Turner M. S., Schatzberg, A. F., Summergrad, P., Nemeroff C. B., American Psychiatric Association (APA) Council of Research Task Force on Novel Biomarkers and Treatments. (2017). A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(4), 399-405. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0080.