What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy? A Plain-Language Guide

You may have heard about ketamine as a treatment for depression, especially treatment-resistant depression. What is less commonly understood is the difference between a ketamine infusion clinic -- where ketamine is administered as a medical intervention -- and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), which integrates the medicine with therapeutic support before, during, and after sessions.

SHARE is in the process of developing a KAP program. This post is our attempt to give a clear, honest overview of what KAP involves and who it may be appropriate for.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has been used in medical settings since the 1960s. In lower doses, it can produce altered states of consciousness that some people describe as expansive, dreamlike, or quieting. Research over the past two decades has documented rapid antidepressant effects for people who have not responded to traditional medications.

How KAP is different from a ketamine clinic

A ketamine infusion clinic focuses on the medical administration of the drug -- IV infusions in a clinical setting, monitored by a medical team. It is a medication treatment.

KAP adds therapy to that process. A trained therapist works with you in three phases: preparation (exploring intentions, building safety, understanding the experience), the session itself (therapeutic presence during the medicine experience), and integration (processing what emerged and anchoring it to your life). The research and the clinical wisdom from psychedelic-informed traditions both suggest that what you do with the experience matters as much as the experience itself.

Who might KAP be appropriate for?

• Adults with treatment-resistant depression who have not found adequate relief from other approaches.
• People with chronic PTSD who have worked in talk therapy but feel stuck.
• Individuals who are curious about psychedelic-informed approaches and have the support structure to engage with the integration process.

Who it is not for

KAP is not a match for everyone. Contraindications include certain cardiac conditions, a history of psychosis, active substance use disorders, and other factors that a prescribing medical provider would screen for. KAP also requires a level of psychological readiness and support -- it is not a quick fix, and it works best when someone is in a stable enough place to engage meaningfully with the integration work.

SHARE's approach

We are building our KAP program thoughtfully and in collaboration with prescribing medical partners. If you are interested in learning more -- whether for yourself or just to understand the landscape -- please reach out. We are happy to have that conversation.