Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in New York City
Embark on a Holistic, Research-Backed Healing Journey
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) at Gateway to Solutions offers a unique & transformational approach to help you reach your therapy goals. Combining the healing power of psychedelic medicine with that of your therapeutic relationship, KAP is an innovative, evidence-based modality that is used to enhance neuroplasticity, improve mood, gain perspective, and expand your healing potential.
Located in downtown Manhattan, our Financial District office provides a safe-haven for your guided, one-on-one therapy sessions under the supervision of one of our KAP-certified therapists. We offer both in-person and virtual sessions to ensure your KAP experience is as seamless, accessible, and comfortable as possible.
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a therapeutic treatment modality that uses the psychedelic properties of ketamine to enhance individual psychotherapy sessions. Used as a treatment for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD, ketamine has shown to reduce symptoms by enhancing neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s flexibility & ability to develop new neural pathways. As the brain forms new neural connections, clients gain new insights & capacities for emotional processing. When used in conjunction with therapy, ketamine can create a transformative therapeutic experience.
What makes Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy an effective treatment?
[text] Ketamine as a substance was originally developed in 1962 for use as a medical anesthetic. It is an FDA-approved medicine and is often prescribed off-label by medical professionals for the treatment of anxiety, PTSD, and some mood disorders. It is known for its dissociative effects, and at lower doses, it has been proven to enhance neuroplasticity by impacting glutamate in the brain. Research has demonstrated a rapid relief from symptoms of depression & anxiety, in large part due to three distinct mechanisms that are unique to KAP:
| Neurobiological | Psychological | Experiential |
| New & restored neural connections help “reset” neurotransmitters & neural pathways, leading to rapidly improved mood & mindset | With the support of a trusted psychotherapist, dissociative properties offer opportunities for deeper perspective, new insights, and increased comfort with difficult memories or emotions in-session | Integration during & after sessions helps apply insights into daily life for long-lasting change, hope, and perspective |
How do I know if KAP is right for me?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is often used for treatment of chronic mental health diagnoses such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, chronic pain, and some substance use disorders. For clients for whom other traditional treatments have failed, KAP can offer significant improvements in mood & cognition more quickly, and it fosters long-term healing when maintained consistently. Many clients report helpful effects such as:
Inner peace, joy, & connectedness “Ego death” & feeling reborn
Trauma reprocessing Accessing meaningful life memories
A deep sense of understanding A feeling of transcendence & “wholeness”
An out-of-body experience Emotional intensity & safety
Increased energy Enhanced motivation
However, it is important to note that ketamine is not recommended for everyone, and close medical & psychiatric evaluation will be necessary to determine any contraindications for treatment. Some medical conditions that require close medical monitoring include hypertension, heart disease, liver or kidney diseases, amongst others. Individuals who are actively experiencing psychosis, are at risk for a manic episode, or are actively using substances are not considered candidates for KAP until stabilized.
What to Expect from Your KAP Sessions with Gateway to Solutions
At Gateway to Solutions, we aim to make your ketamine therapy experience as seamless as possible. Whether you prefer in-person or virtual sessions, our KAP-certified therapists ensure you receive personalized care and treatment planning at every step of the way.
Step 1: Therapeutic Onboarding, Assessment, and Evaluation
Whether you are a new client or have been working with your GTS therapist for many months now, you & your therapist will work together to understand your treatment needs & therapeutic goals before discussing a recommendation to explore Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
Step 2: Medical Assessment & Collaboration
In partnership with a medication provider, our team closely collaborates with your prescribing doctor, who will assess your medical history & eligibility to begin ketamine treatment. Your provider will conduct a thorough medical assessment and will coordinate a prescription for your medication upon approval.
Step 3: Preparation
Prior to your first session, you & your therapist will work closely to discuss how to feel best prepared mentally & physically for your first KAP experience. You will also work together to set intentions for your first session to help guide your journey.
Step 4: The First Dosing Session
You & your therapist will meet in a calm, relaxing environment to maximize your comfort throughout the session. Your medication provider will brief you on protocol for administering the medication, and your therapist will sit with you for the duration of your journey. You can expect the “acute” experience of the ketamine’s effects to last an average of 30-60 minutes, when you may enter a relaxed & introspective state. Our bodies metabolize ketamine quickly, and you will be pleased to find that you feel fully back in your mind & body within an hour or two!
Step 5: Integration
During and after your session, your therapist will help guide you through new insights & perspectives that you’ve gained from your experience. You will be encouraged to integrate your learnings into your daily life so as to encourage lasting change. Your brain’s neuroplasticity “window” will remain heightened in the days after, which is crucial for reinforcing your new insights & desired outcomes.
Step 6: Continuation of Care
You and your therapist will continue working toward your therapy goals during the weeks between your KAP dosing sessions. You may continue to explore new ways of thinking, more sustainable lifestyle changes, and more helpful belief systems that reinforce your long-term healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Q: What are the benefits of KAP?
KAP is an evidence-based treatment that provides rapid relief from depression, anxiety, and PTSD trauma symptoms. Clients often report improved mood, healthier thought patterns, and greater life satisfaction after just one session. It is an especially excellent treatment option for treatment-resistant symptoms.
Q: What are the risks of KAP?
KAP can often cause temporary side effects during dosing sessions, including dissociation, nausea, increased blood pressure, drowsiness, and dizziness. You may feel some anxiety, disorientation, or fear during initial sessions, which is why feeling safe in your relationship with your therapist is crucial to the success of your treatment, too. Some people may have the potential for substance misuse or dependence, which your medical doctor will monitor over the duration of your care. Any physical symptoms from dosing sessions should subside within 1-2 hours after your session.
Q: Is KAP safe?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a safe treatment modality when practiced under the supervision of a medical professional & KAP-trained psychotherapist. It is crucial that you stay under professional supervision throughout the course of your treatment to ensure you reap the maximum benefits of treatment, and you must maintain monitoring for any potential medical or psychiatric risks during treatment. Ketamine may cause temporary cardiovascular effects, such as higher blood pressure & heart rate, and your doctor will assess for any potential drug interactions if you are on other medications. Your therapist will be with you throughout your dosing sessions to support with any discomfort or physiological effects.
Q: Is KAP effective?
A growing research base about ketamine & ketamine-assisted psychotherapy points to a high efficacy of the medication in the treatment of many mental health conditions. Of course, each person may respond differently to treatment, and treatments are most effective when used in conjunction with psychotherapy & integration practices. Please find more information on KAP-specific research below.
Q: How will I prepare for my first session?
You and your therapist will work closely together before your first session to ensure you feel adequately prepared & at ease in advance of your session. You will collaborate to establish a positive mindset & atmosphere in preparation for your session, set intentions for your session & discuss guidelines to ensure the most seamless experience possible beforehand. You are encouraged to share any hesitations, nervousness, or other symptoms with your therapist before beginning, too.
Q: What will my first KAP session feel like?
Each KAP session can look different for any given person, and most people can expect their full KAP journey to last anywhere from 30-60 minutes. You will feel the effects of the medication about 10-15 minutes after administration, and you will return to feeling fully oriented by the end of your session with your therapist. Common effects include deep relaxation, feeling heavy in your body, visual patterns, new or heightened states of thinking, feeling separate from your body, and/or recalling places from your past. You and your therapist will spend some time before & after your journey to allow space for processing & integration too, so you can plan to reserve about 2.5 to 3 hours for your full KAP dosing session.
Q: What if I have a “bad trip”?
Evidence suggests that the likelihood of a “bad trip” is quite low when clients ensure that 1) they have a positive mindset when beginning the experience and 2) are in a safe & comfortable environment. You and your therapist can discuss any potential “bad trips” as considerations for your integration sessions, which still can lead to helpful insights & takeaways when properly supported.
Q: How does dosing work?
Therapeutic ketamine is offered in various forms, including injection, IV infusion, nasal sprays, and sublingual tablets. Different practices may offer various administration routes, and in partnership with a medication provider, Gateway to Solutions offers Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy via the route prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will work with you individually to determine the optimal dosage to prescribe for your sessions.
Q: Is KAP legal?
Ketamine is an FDA-approved controlled substance. It is legal when prescribed and administered by a licensed healthcare provider for medical purposes only.
Q: How many sessions does KAP usually take?
While the number and frequency of your sessions will vary based on individual symptoms & treatment needs, most clients report rapid relief from symptoms after their first session. To ensure sustained results from ketamine treatment, you and your therapist will work over many weeks to continue dosing & integrate sessions for one full “round” of treatment. It is crucial to ensure you maintain consistent care throughout the process as recommended by your providers. Most people are prescribed an average of 6-8 initial dosing sessions, and then you, your therapist, and your doctor will work together to assess treatment response & maintenance.
Q: How much does KAP cost?
The cost of your KAP treatment will depend largely on the length, frequency, and duration of treatment. For more information on costs of medical care & medication evaluation, please refer to your medication provider, as costs may vary. While some insurance policies may offer partial reimbursement for psychotherapy & integration sessions, dosing sessions are an out-of-pocket expense.
Q: How is KAP different from recreational ketamine?
Medical treatment & administration of ketamine differs from recreational use in many ways, including in dosing, regulation, administration, and medical supervision. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a professional treatment modality that is practiced under the supervision of licensed healthcare professionals and allows space for enhanced insight, therapeutic processing, and medical monitoring.
Q: Where can I find out more about the research on KAP?
Journey Clinical, a well-known KAP organization, offers an excellent psychoeducation & research library for those curious to learn more about the science behind ketamine as a therapeutic treatment modality.
