Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is an emerging, evidence-informed approach to mental health treatment that combines the use of ketamine, under medical supervision, with structured psychotherapy. For some individuals, it offers new possibilities when traditional talk therapy or medication alone has not provided enough relief. While it is not appropriate for everyone, it is gaining attention as a supportive option for certain treatment-resistant conditions.
Dr. Layla Jillood, PsyD, offers psychotherapy services in Santa Monica, CA, helping clients explore a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to their needs.
What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a treatment model that integrates the effects of ketamine with guided therapeutic work. Ketamine is administered in a controlled, clinical setting, and its effects are used to support deeper emotional processing during psychotherapy sessions. The medication itself is not the sole treatment—rather, it acts as a tool that may enhance the therapeutic experience.
How Ketamine Works in the Brain
Ketamine affects neurotransmitter systems involved in mood regulation, particularly glutamate pathways. This can temporarily reduce rigid or repetitive thought patterns and may increase emotional openness and cognitive flexibility. In a therapeutic context, this shift can help individuals access thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to reach in traditional talk therapy alone.
What Happens During Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a structured, multi-step process designed to ensure safety, emotional support, and meaningful therapeutic outcomes. Each phase of treatment plays an important role in helping clients prepare for, experience, and integrate their sessions.
Preparation Sessions
Before any ketamine experience, clients typically participate in preparation sessions. These meetings focus on understanding goals, reviewing mental and physical health history, and establishing trust with the therapist. Intentions for the therapeutic process are also explored to create a grounded framework for the experience.
Ketamine Sessions
During ketamine sessions, individuals are supported in a safe and supervised clinical environment. The focus is on internal experience, with the therapist present to provide emotional safety and guidance as needed. Clients may experience shifts in perception, emotion, or thought patterns during this time.
Integration Therapy
Integration is a crucial part of KAP. After the ketamine experience, psychotherapy sessions help clients process insights, emotions, or memories that arose. This stage supports turning experiences into meaningful, lasting changes in daily life.
Who May Benefit from KAP?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may be considered for individuals experiencing treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, or a sense of emotional “stuckness.” However, a careful clinical evaluation is always necessary to determine whether it is an appropriate option.
The Role of Psychotherapy in Healing
While ketamine may create openings for emotional insight, psychotherapy is essential for making sense of those experiences. Integration work helps translate insights into real-life behavioral and emotional shifts, supporting long-term healing rather than short-term relief.
Take the Next Step Toward Support
If you are in Santa Monica, CA, and curious about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, you are invited to schedule a consultation with Dr. Layla Jillood, PsyD. I provide a compassionate, individualized approach to care and help clients explore whether this treatment may be a good fit.
I also offer online psychotherapy sessions to individuals throughout California, making it easier to access support wherever you are. Reaching out is a meaningful first step toward understanding your options and moving toward lasting emotional change.