Ketamine is a widely-used, FDA-approved medicine with a long track record of clinical safety. Beyond its original use as an anesthetic and analgesic, ketamine is also prescribed off-label for the treatment of depression and anxiety and other mental health challenges.

Ketamine's rapid antidepressant and mood-enhancing properties are complemented by its ability to enhance neuroplasticity and foster new synaptic connections, leading to a more resilient and healthier brain over time.

Think brain fertilizer! It's thought to foster growth in the brain in areas where stress has eaten away and made it much harder to make new connections and new pathways that are necessary in creating change.

For example, when you're learning to drive it's often uncomfortable and scary, we feel nervous and are very attentive to what we are doing. As we get used to the experience we stop thinking about it so much and we go where we need to go and we adapt quickly if any challenges arise. Now imagine if while you're learning to drive you have someone criticizing you constantly, judging everything you do and it never stops... you might never feel confident getting behind the wheel, you might get distracted by the criticism and do things that make you wonder if you should even be driving and maybe one day you stop.

This is what we do a lot of the time when we are wanting to grow and learn how to change negative thought or behavior patterns. Our inner dialogue can be harsh and it feels like it's hard to enjoy or notice the successes we do have. With brain fertilizer we have an extra boost in clearing new pathways, connecting to new perspectives and building on these. Plus, each Ketamine dosing session is said to have a cumulative effect so scheduling 6-8 sessions significantly enhances the window of opportunity for new learning.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an evidence-based form of psychedelic-assisted therapy. KAP pairs ketamine treatment with ongoing psychotherapy with a licensed mental health professional, giving eligible clients the opportunity to experience more powerful breakthroughs in therapy.

The therapeutic alliance is the unique relationship between you and your therapist. The trust and safety of this therapeutic container creates the conditions needed for you to be able to unfold deeper content in your KAP sessions, leading to more frequent breakthroughs and longer-term improvement in clinical outcomes.

Services are provided remotely through telehealth.

KAP treatment consists of 2 parts: medical treatment and psychotherapy.

I collaboratively work with Isha Health and the Wilshire Institute for Interventional Psychiatry for all medical aspects of KAP.

Step 1: Establish Therapy

If you are a new client, please schedule a consultation phone call by selecting the ‘contact’ tab above. During this call we will set up an initial appointment. If it continues to feel like a positive therapeutic fit, you'll leave this session with a treatment plan and a referral to the medical team.

If you are already engaged in treatment, let me know at your earliest convenience that you'd like to learn more about KAP!

Step 2: Medical Treatment

You’ll schedule an initial consult with a medical provider either at Isha Health or the Wilshire Institute to determine your medical eligibility for a Ketamine prescription. If eligible they will organize the best way to recieve your medication. If you are determined to be medically ineligible you'll have the option to continue general therapeutic services with me if you choose.

Step 3: Psychotherapy Sessions

We will complete 4 or more preparation sessions, the exact quantity of these sessions is determined by your unique treatment plan. Preparation sessions include thoroughly reviewing the informed consent, openly addressing any concerns, aligning on the KAP process and setting intentions for our work together. Preparation sessions are scheduled just like regular therapy sessions.

Once completed you'll enter into the dosing and integration phase of treatment.

A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-3 hours. During a remote dosing session, you'll self-administer your ketamine lozenge using the swish and spit method. During an in person dosing session you will use a nasal administration with a medical provider present. During the Ketamine experience you'll be in a comfortable, reclined position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although a KAP dosing session is largely an internal experience, as your therapist, I am present the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed. There are usually 6-8 dosing sessions depending on your treatment plan.

After every KAP dosing session, we'll meet for 1-2 integration therapy sessions to reflect and process your experience, identify and build on your insights, maximize the benefits, integrate your intentions and explore sustainable change.

Step 4: Ongoing outcome monitoring

If desired, following KAP we can discuss ongoing care plans & therapeutic options that feel like a good fit for you.

Your medical team will schedule follow up appointments as needed.

I have provided clinical therapy since 2009, licensed in WA in 2015 and CA in 2016 and I have been a therapist across a variety of settings! You can review my CV here.

I have received my KAP certification after undergoing 25+ hours of training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy taught by one of the national leading educators, Fluence Psychedelic Training. I have completed additional training on protocols for KAP including in depth requirements for patient eligibility, roles and responsibilities, and the dosing journey. I have participated in shadow sessions, consultation, and, since beginning my offering, I have provided many successful KAP sessions to clients. I feel competent and confident in my ability to provide the therapeutic aspects of KAP.

I also understand that to grow it's very important to be continually open to learning, so I welcome, and I am excited, to engage in new training, consultation and learning opportunities as they arise.

The effects of ketamine, which most people find to be pleasant, last for approximately 45-60 minutes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body, and facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience. Once these effects subside, we’ll spend the remainder of our appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happens during the experience, people often feel like the insights gained are clear.

I would recommend this treatment to anyone who is feeling particularly stuck, is experiencing treatment resistant symptoms, or who is interested in exploring a new treatment option. In particular, my specialties include trauma recovery, anxiety & stress reduction, and grief & loss. I also work closely with people experiencing depression, maneuvering life transitions or with those who want to focus more generally on emotional wellness and growth. I am not available to assist with those experiencing active substance use disorders, psychosis or acute risk issues at this time. 

Clients will complete an evaluation with a medical provider to determine eligibility for a Ketamine prescription.