A Different Way to Approach Healing at Resolve Behavioral Health Services
Sometimes traditional therapy and medication are not enough to create lasting change. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) combines psychotherapy with the unique therapeutic window that ketamine may create.
At Resolve Behavioral Health Services, KAP is approached as a collaborative, intentional process that includes assessment, preparation, therapeutic support during medicine sessions, and integration. Ketamine itself is only one part of the treatment. The therapeutic work before and after treatment helps individuals make meaning of their experiences and translate insights into meaningful, lasting change.
KAP is not a quick fix or a standalone medication experience. It is a structured therapeutic process designed to support individuals seeking deeper healing and meaningful change.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is available only to established therapy clients at Resolve Behavioral Health Services. Before referral to a ketamine prescribing provider, clients complete a diagnostic assessment and at least one preparation session, with additional preparation recommended based on individual needs.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is not a replacement for emergency psychiatric care. If you are experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, suicidal intent, thoughts of harming yourself or others, severe psychiatric symptoms, or an emergency medical concern, emergency services or crisis resources should be contacted instead of waiting for a KAP appointment.
What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy combines psychotherapy with ketamine treatment prescribed and managed by a qualified medical provider.
Resolve Behavioral Health Services provides the psychotherapy component of KAP. Medical evaluation, prescribing, medication management, and physical monitoring are provided by an independent licensed medical provider or ketamine clinic.
The therapeutic process may include:
- Assessment of clinical appropriateness
- Preparation sessions before ketamine treatment
- Identifying goals and intentions
- Developing grounding and coping skills
- Creating a plan for navigating the ketamine experience
- Therapeutic support during the medicine session
- Processing emotions, memories, and insights that arise
- Integration sessions following treatment
Ketamine can create an opportunity for new perspectives and increased psychological flexibility. Integration therapy helps individuals explore those experiences and apply meaningful changes to everyday life.
Training and Scope of Practice
Specialized KAP Training
The therapists at Resolve Behavioral Health Services have completed over 100 hours of advanced and experiential training in psychedelic-assisted therapy through Voyager Psychedelic Therapy in collaboration with Rivus Wellness Institute and Palo Santo Therapy.
This training includes education and experiential learning related to psychedelic-assisted therapy principles, preparation and integration practices, therapeutic presence, harm reduction, ethical considerations, safety, and supporting clients through non-ordinary states of consciousness.
Our approach to KAP is grounded in evidence-informed psychotherapy practices, trauma-informed care, ethical clinical decision-making, and respect for each client’s individual goals, values, and lived experiences.
Scope of Practice
Resolve Behavioral Health Services provides psychotherapy services, including assessment, preparation, therapeutic support during medicine sessions, and integration therapy.
Resolve Behavioral Health Services does not:
- Prescribe ketamine or any other medication
- Determine medical eligibility for ketamine treatment
- Provide medical evaluations or physical health monitoring
- Administer ketamine
- Determine medication dosage or treatment protocols
- Replace the role of a medical provider or ketamine clinic
Ketamine treatment, including medical screening, prescribing, medication management, and medical monitoring, remains the responsibility of the client’s licensed medical provider or ketamine treatment clinic.
During supported medicine sessions, the client self-administers ketamine according to the instructions provided by their prescribing medical provider. The therapist provides a safe and supportive therapeutic presence throughout the experience, helps maintain emotional safety, and documents relevant themes, emotions, observations, and experiences that may be explored during later integration sessions.
With the client’s written permission, Resolve Behavioral Health Services may collaborate with the client’s prescribing provider or treatment team to support coordinated care.
Who May Benefit From KAP?
KAP may be appropriate for adults experiencing concerns such as:
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Trauma and PTSD
- Grief and life transitions
- Chronic stress and burnout
- Negative self-beliefs
- Difficulty changing long-standing emotional patterns
- Feeling stuck despite previous treatment efforts
KAP is not about avoiding difficult emotions. Instead, it can provide an opportunity to explore thoughts, emotions, and experiences from a new perspective while supported by a trained therapist.
Potential Benefits of KAP
Every person’s experience is different, but potential benefits may include:
- Reduced symptoms of depression
- Decreased anxiety symptoms
- Increased emotional flexibility
- Greater self-compassion
- New perspectives on painful experiences
- Increased openness to therapeutic work
- Improved ability to process trauma
- Greater connection with personal values and goals
- Increased ability to make meaningful behavioral changes
Some individuals notice meaningful changes quickly, while others benefit from multiple treatments combined with ongoing therapy.
Eligibility and Treatment Structure
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy at Resolve Behavioral Health Services is provided within an ongoing therapeutic relationship.
KAP is not offered as a standalone medicine session or as a service for individuals seeking only the ketamine experience.
Clients must be established therapy clients with Resolve Behavioral Health Services before beginning the KAP process. This allows for appropriate assessment, development of therapeutic rapport, understanding of clinical history, and determination of whether KAP is clinically appropriate.
Before being referred to a ketamine prescribing provider, clients must complete at least one preparation session. Additional preparation sessions may be recommended depending on individual needs, treatment goals, clinical history, and readiness.
Preparation sessions help clients:
- Understand the KAP process
- Identify treatment intentions
- Explore expectations and concerns
- Develop grounding and emotional regulation skills
- Discuss safety considerations
- Determine whether ketamine treatment aligns with their therapeutic goals
Following preparation, clients may be referred to an appropriate medical provider or ketamine clinic for medical evaluation and determination of whether ketamine treatment is medically appropriate.
The KAP Process
Preparation Sessions
Preparation helps create safety, clarity, and intention before ketamine treatment.
Preparation sessions may include:
- Exploring your goals for treatment
- Discussing expectations and concerns
- Building grounding and coping skills
- Identifying supportive resources
- Developing a plan for navigating the experience
Ketamine Medicine Sessions
Ketamine medicine sessions occur through a qualified medical provider or ketamine clinic that has evaluated, prescribed, and provided the medication according to their medical protocols.
During a medicine session, the client self-administers ketamine as directed by their prescribing medical provider.
The therapist’s role is to provide a supportive therapeutic presence throughout the experience, help maintain emotional safety, and document relevant observations, themes, emotions, and experiences that may be explored during later integration sessions.
Medical care, including prescribing, medication administration, monitoring, and treatment decisions, remains the responsibility of your prescribing medical provider or ketamine clinic.
Integration Sessions
Integration is where many individuals begin connecting their experiences to meaningful change.
Integration sessions may explore:
- What stood out during your experience
- Emotions or memories that surfaced
- New perspectives that emerged
- Patterns that became clearer
- How to apply insights to everyday life
Together, we will work toward turning your experience into practical steps that support your long-term goals.
Already Receiving Spravato® or IV Ketamine?
You do not need to receive ketamine through Resolve Behavioral Health Services to benefit from preparation and integration therapy.
Many clients receive ketamine through:
- Spravato® certified treatment programs
- IV ketamine clinics
- Intramuscular (IM) ketamine providers
Preparation therapy can help you approach treatment with greater understanding, intention, and emotional readiness. Integration therapy can help you process your experience and apply meaningful insights to your daily life.
Resolve Behavioral Health Services can collaborate with your prescribing provider or treatment team to support coordinated care.
Research and Current Evidence for KAP
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an emerging treatment approach that combines ketamine treatment with structured psychotherapy before, during, and after the medication experience.
Research on ketamine alone has demonstrated rapid improvements for some individuals with treatment-resistant depression. Early research on combining ketamine with psychotherapy suggests potential benefits for depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. However, KAP protocols vary, and additional research is ongoing to better understand which approaches are most effective for specific conditions and populations.
Depression
Ketamine has been studied extensively for treatment-resistant depression. Research has demonstrated that ketamine may provide rapid reductions in depressive symptoms for some individuals, including individuals who have not responded adequately to traditional treatments.
Emerging KAP research suggests that combining ketamine treatment with preparation, therapeutic support, and integration may help individuals create meaningful changes beyond the immediate medication experience.
Anxiety
Early research suggests that ketamine combined with psychotherapy may reduce anxiety symptoms for some individuals. Therapeutic support before and after treatment may help individuals process experiences, develop new perspectives, and integrate changes into daily life.
Additional research is needed to better understand which anxiety disorders respond best and which individuals are most likely to benefit.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Emerging research suggests ketamine may reduce PTSD symptoms for some individuals. When combined with structured psychotherapy, preparation, and integration, ketamine treatment may provide opportunities for processing difficult experiences and developing new relationships with trauma-related thoughts and emotions.
Researchers continue to evaluate optimal treatment approaches, long-term outcomes, and which individuals are most likely to benefit.
Important Considerations
KAP is not a guaranteed treatment and outcomes vary from person to person.
Ketamine is not intended to replace ongoing therapeutic work. The potential benefits of KAP are best understood as part of a larger treatment process that includes preparation, appropriate medical oversight, therapeutic support, and integration.
Risks and Limitations
Like any medical or mental health treatment, ketamine has potential risks and limitations.
Possible side effects may include:
- Temporary increases in blood pressure or heart rate
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Dissociation
- Anxiety during the experience
- Confusion
- Fatigue afterward
- Emotional intensity
- Temporary changes in perception or awareness
Not everyone experiences lasting improvement. Some individuals may require different or additional treatment approaches.
Ketamine should always be prescribed and monitored by an appropriately qualified medical provider.
Who May Not Be a Good Candidate?
Certain medical or psychiatric conditions may increase the risks associated with ketamine treatment.
KAP may not be appropriate, or may require additional medical evaluation, for individuals with:
Certain Psychiatric Conditions
- Active psychosis
- Schizophrenia spectrum disorders
- Untreated mania
- Bipolar I disorder with recent manic episodes
- Severe psychiatric instability that would interfere with safe treatment
- Active substance use disorders that are not appropriately managed
Certain Medical Conditions
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Serious cardiovascular disease
- Recent heart attack or stroke
- Certain aneurysms or vascular disorders
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Significant liver disease
- Pregnancy, unless specifically recommended by your medical team
Having one of these conditions does not automatically mean ketamine treatment is impossible. Your medical provider will determine whether ketamine can be used safely, and we will determine together whether KAP is an appropriate therapeutic approach.
Cost of KAP Services
Psychotherapy Services
- Assessment, preparation, and integration: $165/session*
- May be covered by insurance
Medicine Session Support
- Three-hour session: $300*
- Two-hour low-dose session: $200*
Medication, prescribing, medical evaluation, administration, and monitoring are provided by your medical provider or ketamine clinic and are billed separately. Resolve Behavioral Health Services does not receive payment for those medical services.
*Pricing Disclaimer: Fees are subject to change at any time. Clients will be notified of current rates before beginning services or continuing services under updated pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy legal?
Yes, ketamine treatment is a legal medical treatment when prescribed and provided within appropriate medical guidelines.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication that has been used in medical settings for many years. Certain ketamine treatments, including Spravato® (esketamine), have specific FDA approvals, while other forms of ketamine treatment may be prescribed by qualified medical providers for conditions and uses determined appropriate by the provider.
Ketamine laws, prescribing practices, and clinic requirements vary by location and provider. Resolve Behavioral Health Services does not prescribe ketamine or provide medical treatment. All medication decisions, prescribing, and medical oversight are handled by the client’s licensed medical provider.
Can KAP lead to addiction?
Ketamine has the potential for misuse, particularly when used without appropriate medical oversight or therapeutic structure.
This is one reason why careful screening, medical evaluation, appropriate dosing, and ongoing therapeutic support are important parts of responsible ketamine treatment.
When used within a structured treatment plan with appropriate medical oversight, ketamine-assisted treatment is different from recreational use. Your clinical history, including any history of substance use concerns, will be considered when determining whether KAP is an appropriate option.
KAP is not appropriate for everyone, and safety always comes before beginning treatment.
Do I have to receive ketamine through Resolve Behavioral Health Services?
No. Many clients receive ketamine through outside medical providers, including Spravato® programs, IV ketamine clinics, or other licensed ketamine providers.
Resolve Behavioral Health Services provides psychotherapy support before, during, and after the ketamine experience. Medication, prescribing, and medical monitoring remain the responsibility of the outside medical provider.
Do you prescribe ketamine?
No. Resolve Behavioral Health Services does not prescribe, dispense, or administer ketamine.
Medical evaluation, prescribing, medication decisions, and monitoring are provided by qualified medical professionals.
Will I lose control during ketamine treatment?
Most people remain aware of their surroundings, although their perception, emotions, and thoughts may feel different during the experience.
Your medical provider will discuss what to expect based on the medication type, dose, and treatment protocol.
Can I drive afterward?
No. Transportation requirements after ketamine treatment will be reviewed by your medical provider before treatment.
Clients should plan to have a responsible adult available for transportation when required.
How do I know if KAP is right for me?
The first step is scheduling an initial consultation.
We will discuss your goals, mental health history, previous treatments, and whether KAP may be an appropriate option.
If KAP appears clinically appropriate, we will begin preparation work and coordinate with a medical provider for ketamine evaluation when appropriate.