Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Integrative Medical and Depth-Oriented Psychological Support to Overcome Treatment-Resistant Patterns
An Integrative Approach to Treatment-Resistant Patterns
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) integrates the administration of ketamine with depth-oriented psychotherapy. This approach provides a specialized intervention for individuals navigating treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, or entrenched behavioral patterns that have not responded to standard therapeutic or psychiatric models. KAP can also be useful for clients who are generally doing well in life but are looking for new perspective, personal insights and/or a greater sense of ease and well-being.
Research indicates that the psychotherapy component of KAP is essential to its efficacy, distinguishing it from stand-alone ketamine infusions. Our depth-oriented clinicians facilitate this process to help clients safely explore the material that arises during the ketamine state. This dedicated clinical support increases insight and translates a temporary neurochemical shift into sustained emotional, cognitive and behavioral changes.
While KAP is a highly specialized offering within our broader practice, it serves as a precise tool to disrupt rigid neural networks, helping clients approach long-standing challenges from a new, more flexible perspective.
Explore KAP as a Next Step
Reach out to our intake coordinator, Carrie Simpson, M.A., to see if Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy aligns with your clinical goals.
How KAP Works
Ketamine temporarily quiets the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN)—a set of interconnected brain regions responsible for rigid, ruminative thought and personality patterns. Simultaneously, it promotes neuroplasticity, disrupting entrenched neural circuits and allowing the brain to form new connections.
When paired with psychological support, KAP often yields concrete results for clients navigating:
- Treatment-resistant or chronic depression
- PTSD and complex trauma
- Psychological rigidity, anxiety, and OCD
-
Long-standing behavioral and personality patterns
(including borderline and depressive personality organizations, though simultaneous psychotherapy is essential for these shifts) -
Existential, spiritual, and personal growth work
(where the mystical and insight-promoting experiences common in KAP act as a central mechanism for change)
What to Expect During KAP Treatment
Clinical Intake & Medical Clearance
The process begins with two intake sessions with your KAP therapist to map your clinical history, set treatment goals, and ensure psychological readiness. Following these psychotherapy intakes, you will complete a single consultation with our prescribing psychiatrist to receive medical clearance before beginning treatment.
Administration and Dosing Sessions
We utilize oral ketamine lozenges, which generally provide a smoother, less overwhelming state shift than intramuscular injections or IV drips. We typically recommend a protocol of weekly or twice/month sessions, though occasionally twice weekly is indicated. These dosing sessions are scheduled for two and a half hours, providing ample space for the medicine to take effect, followed immediately by therapeutic processing with your clinician.
Psychological Integration
Integration is what translates a temporary neurochemical shift into sustainable change. Our clients journal after their dosing sessions to capture the experience while the insights are fresh. Following this, they complete dedicated integration work with their KAP facilitator or an outside individual therapist if integration work is in their wheelhouse. We are also always open to coordinating with your primary individual therapist for long-term support.
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
― Carl Jung
The Importance of Depth-Oriented, Doctoral-Level Support
At Denver DBT and Psychotherapy, the clinical relationship is the foundation of our KAP model. While standard infusion clinics often administer ketamine without dedicated therapeutic processing, navigating non-ordinary states of consciousness without clinical guidance limits the potential for insight and subsequent change; it can also be unsettling if a client enters a distressing state.
Working with our team of depth-oriented psychotherapists ensures you have the structural support required to explore complex material safely. When clients encounter the existential or mystical experiences that can be common during KAP, we do not view them as side effects. Instead, we work to deeply understand and process through both literal and metaphorical aspects of the session; the result is an increased capacity for psychological shifts, disruption of entrenched self-destructive habits, working through challenging emotions and constructing new, more flexible ways of thinking.
FAQs:
When would Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy be contraindicated?
KAP is not an appropriate treatment for individuals experiencing active psychosis, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, active mania, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular instability, or uncontrolled thyroid disease. During our intake process, we carefully assess your history to ensure this treatment is clinically appropriate and safe.
Is KAP safe if I have a history of complex trauma?
Yes, when properly supported, though careful assessment is required. For clients with severe PTSD, non-ordinary states of consciousness can sometimes be destabilizing. Our intake process evaluates your psychological foundation. Working with depth-oriented, doctoral-level clinicians ensures you have the structure needed to approach difficult memories in a safe environment with clinicians who can offer the right coping skills should they be necessary.
Why do you use lozenges instead of IV or injections?
We use oral ketamine lozenges because they typically provide a smoother, less overwhelming experience than intramuscular (IM) shots or intravenous (IV) drips. Lozenges in combination with a thoughtful analysis around dosing have the potential to reduce the risk of a destabilizing experience.
Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy covered by insurance?
Most insurance plans will not reimburse for the time the ketamine is actively being administered (approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes of the session). However, we can provide a receipt (superbill) for potential out-of-network reimbursement for your initial intake sessions and the therapeutic processing portion of your dosing session.
Do I need to leave my current therapist to do KAP?
No. If you work with a primary therapist outside of our practice, we support collaborative care. You can complete your KAP sessions with our specialized clinicians and we will coordinate with your primary therapist so you can continue your long-term integration work with them.
Our KAP Provider
Dr. Nikki Kraslin is a licensed clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, and the founder of Denver DBT & Psychotherapy. By integrating depth-oriented therapeutic principals with a trauma-informed lens and DBT/mindfulness techniques and theories, she works with you to navigate non-ordinary states and disrupt entrenched thought and personality patterns. This approach provides a supportive foundation to help you gain insight and create practical tools to function better.
Our KAP Provider
Dr. Nikki Kraslin is a licensed clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, and the founder of Denver DBT & Psychotherapy. By integrating depth-oriented therapeutic principals with a trauma-informed lens and DBT/mindfulness techniques and theories, she works with you to navigate non-ordinary states and disrupt entrenched thought and personality patterns. This approach provides a supportive foundation to help you gain insight and create practical tools to function better.
Explore the Potential for Lasting Change
Reach out today to speak with our intake coordinator and discuss whether Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is the right next step for you.