Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy FAQ

Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Right For Me?

KAP isn’t just about healing the past—it’s about unlocking your fullest potential, improving your relationships, enhancing motivation, and stepping into the most empowered version of yourself. If you can answer yes to most of these questions, KAP may be the right path for you:

• Are you motivated to break free from old patterns and create lasting change in your life?

• Are you ready to heal emotional wounds that may be holding you back in your relationships, career, or self-worth?

• Do you feel stuck in self-doubt, procrastination, or fear, and want to tap into greater confidence and drive?

• Are you willing to face your shadow self and work through deeper emotions that may be shaping your decisions and behaviors?

• Do you want to feel more connected and fulfilled in your love life, friendships, or family relationships?

• Are you ready to liberate your inner child and break free from patterns of perfectionism, self-criticism, or feeling “not enough”?

• Are you committed to making mental, emotional, and lifestyle shifts that will elevate your success, wealth, and overall well-being?

If you’re ready to step into your highest potential, create deeper connections, and experience more clarity, energy, and abundance, KAP can be a powerful catalyst for transformation.

What Conditions Can Ketamine Treat?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a powerful tool for those seeking relief from emotional, cognitive, and relational challenges that may feel overwhelming or resistant to traditional therapy. By shifting deeply ingrained patterns and opening new pathways for growth, KAP can support individuals struggling with:

• Depression, including treatment-resistant cases

• Anxiety, chronic stress, and panic disorders

• PTSD and past trauma, including C-PTSD

• OCD and phobias

• Grief, including complicated and traumatic loss

• Persistent negative thought patterns, such as perfectionism, self-criticism, and low self-esteem

• Attachment and intimacy challenges

• Existential distress and self-sabotage

If you’re navigating any of these challenges, KAP offers a pathway to clarity, emotional freedom, and deep personal transformation.

While Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy can be a powerful tool for transformation, certain conditions may require additional medical or psychological support before starting treatment. In some cases, KAP may be contraindicated altogether.

KAP may not be suitable or may require medical clearance and additional precautions if you have:

• Bipolar disorder with recent hospitalization or medication adjustments. Stable, well-managed bipolar is assessed case by case.

• Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders

• A history of mania or dissociation that is currently unregulated

• Severe personality disorders that impair reality testing or mood stability

• Unmanaged hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Significant cardiovascular conditions, such as a history of stroke or unstable heart disease

• A history of substance abuse where ketamine misuse is a concern

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding, as ketamine’s effects on fetal and infant health are not well studied

If you have any of these conditions, it doesn’t necessarily mean KAP is off-limits, but a careful evaluation and additional medical or therapeutic support may be required. If you're unsure whether KAP is safe for you, I’m happy to discuss your specific circumstances and options.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an immersive experience designed to unlock deep healing, break through limitations, and catalyze profound transformation. This is not just medication—it’s a guided therapeutic process that merges the power of ketamine with expert therapy, ensuring that your insights lead to real, lasting change. Here’s what to expect:

Step 1: Free Consultation

Your journey starts with a free, no-pressure consultation where we explore your mental health history, current challenges, and therapy goals. This is your chance to ask questions, express concerns, and determine if KAP is the right fit for you.

Step 2: Medical Evaluation with Journey Clinical

If you decide to move forward, you’ll meet with a Journey Clinical medical provider via Zoom for a thorough evaluation. They will:
✔ Review your medical and psychiatric history
✔ Provide education on KAP and its effects
✔ Determine if KAP is appropriate for you

If approved, they’ll craft a personalized treatment plan and prescribe a small supply of ketamine lozenges (enough for your first two sessions). You’ll also receive guidance on tracking vitals and self-administration before your sessions.

Step 3: Intake & Intention-Setting

Before your first session, we’ll meet for at least one 50-minute intake and intention-setting session. This is where we:
✔ Explore your mental health history and past therapy experiences
✔ Clarify your goals and set a powerful intention for your journey
✔ Address any concerns, fears, or expectations about KAP

This is more than preparation—it’s about aligning your mind, heart, and intentions to ensure your experience is profoundly meaningful, personalized, and effective. Clients are encouraged to schedule as many intention-setting sessions as needed to establish a grounded foundation for a meaningful and anxiety-free KAP experience.

Step 4: Preparation Session

Once your prescription arrives, we’ll have a dedicated preparation session to help you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically ready. We’ll review what to expect, refine your intention, and ensure you enter the session grounded and open to the process.

Step 5: The KAP Experience

✔ A ketamine dosing session lasts 2-3 hours and is designed to facilitate a profound internal exploration:

✔ You’ll self-administer your ketamine lozenge in a comfortable, reclining position.

✔ You’ll wear an eye mask and listen to curated, calming music to support your experience.

✔ The ketamine journey is introspective and deeply personal, but I will be present the entire time to provide support and guidance as needed.

✔ You’ll remain conscious during dosing, but your awareness will shift into a dreamlike, dissociative state, offering new perspectives and emotional detachment from everyday concerns.

✔ While not vividly hallucinogenic like LSD or psilocybin, ketamine may cause visual distortions, expanded awareness, or symbolic imagery, which can lead to valuable therapeutic insights.

✔ Once the effects subside, we’ll debrief your experience, exploring the emotions, insights, and sensations that arose.

Step 6: Integration

After each dosing session, we’ll meet for integration therapy, where we process what emerged during your experience and translate it into meaningful, real-world change. This is where the magic happens—insights become clarity, momentum, and transformation. Clients are encouraged to move at their own pace, scheduling as many integration sessions as needed to fully process their ketamine experience and navigate intentional, lasting life changes.

Step 7: Ongoing Support & Follow-Ups

Every individual’s healing journey is unique, and the ideal number of sessions depends on factors such as your treatment goals, response to ketamine, and overall mental health needs. During our work together, we will regularly assess your progress and determine the best treatment for you. Most people start with two dosing sessions to gauge their response and experience the initial benefits. However, research and clinical experience suggest that more potent and longer-lasting effects are typically seen with 6 to 8 dosing sessions over time.

Your evolution doesn’t stop with the sessions. Journey Clinical’s medical team will schedule regular follow-ups to monitor your progress and, if appropriate, prescribe additional ketamine lozenges. These check-ins occur at least once per quarter, ensuring your treatment remains personalized, effective, and aligned with your growth.

A Fully Supported Path to Transformation

KAP isn’t just about accessing altered states—it’s about stepping into the most whole version of yourself with expert guidance, deep therapeutic support, and a structured process that ensures you don’t just experience change—you embody it.

You’re ready to break free from old patterns and reclaim your power. Let’s take the first step together.

Is Ketamine safe?

Yes, ketamine is a safe and well-researched treatment when used appropriately under medical supervision. It has been used in medical settings for decades and is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. In recent years, extensive research has shown its effectiveness in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions.

At Red Maple Wellness, we partner with Journey Clinical, a team of medical professionals who carefully assess each client’s eligibility and provide personalized treatment plans, dosing guidance, and ongoing monitoring to ensure safety throughout the process.

While ketamine is generally well-tolerated, some temporary effects, such as dizziness and mild nausea, may occur during the session. These effects typically subside within an hour. Our therapy-guided approach ensures you are in a safe, comfortable environment with professional support throughout your experience.

Can I drive or go to work after a dosing session?

No, you cannot drive, ride a bike, or operate heavy machinery until the next day. Ketamine temporarily impairs motor coordination and cognitive function, so you must arrange for a ride home after each session. You should also ensure that you have the day off work, and help coordinating childcare if applicable.

Permit yourself to rest. While you may feel clear after the ketamine fully leaves your system, take the rest of the day for self-care, reflection, and gentle, nourishing activities rather than returning to other responsibilities, and avoid intense social interactions or stressful environments if possible. While you can resume normal activities the next day—or even later the same day if you feel up to it—take your time and protect your energy, allowing the insights from your session to settle without external pressure.