What Is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?
Addiction, depression, trauma, anxiety: these experiences can leave people caught in a web of confusing and painful emotions, along with negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself, other people, and the world. Traditional talk therapy and medication help many people, but some find they need something more to break through entrenched patterns. That is where Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) comes in.
KAP combines the therapeutic potential of medically supervised ketamine treatments with structured psychotherapy to create a deeper, more accelerated path toward healing. Rather than treating the ketamine infusion and the therapy as separate experiences, KAP integrates them into a single cohesive process, allowing you to access and work through material that may be difficult to reach in conventional therapy alone.
At AHWI Psychology Group, we partner with the Charlottesville Ketamine Center for all medical aspects of treatment, while our clinical team provides the psychotherapeutic preparation, in-session support, and post-session integration that make the experience meaningful and lasting.
How KAP Works with the THRIVE Model
Our approach to KAP is guided by the evidence-based THRIVE Model of Psychedelic Integration, a six-dimensional framework published in Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry (Springer, 2025). Rather than treating ketamine as a standalone intervention, we use THRIVE to structure every phase of your experience: preparation, the session itself, and the integration work that follows.
The ketamine space can bring up strong images, emotions, and somatic sensations. During a KAP session, your therapist holds space for you in a safe and supportive way while you sit with and process what unfolds. Afterward, your therapist works with you to record observations, feelings, experiences, and revelations that arose during the infusion.
Using the THRIVE framework, we help you set intentions and goals related to growth, healing, and personal development, then map the insights from each session onto the six dimensions of your life: your relationship with nature and the outdoors, your physical health, your relationships, your inner self, your values, and your sense of meaning. This structured approach ensures that the benefits of each session carry forward into your daily life rather than fading after the experience ends.
Conditions Treated with Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy has shown promise for individuals who have not responded fully to traditional treatments. Research supports its use for a range of conditions, particularly when combined with structured psychotherapy.
- Treatment-resistant depression that has not responded adequately to conventional antidepressants
- PTSD and complex trauma, including developmental trauma and moral injury
- Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and existential distress
- Substance use and addiction, where ketamine can help interrupt deeply ingrained patterns
- Chronic pain conditions with psychological components, where the mind-body connection plays a central role
- End-of-life distress and existential suffering in the context of serious illness
KAP is not appropriate for everyone. All clients undergo a thorough medical and psychological screening before beginning treatment to ensure safety and suitability.
What to Expect During Treatment
Preparation Sessions (1-2 sessions)
Before your first ketamine treatment, you will meet with your KAP therapist to establish a therapeutic relationship, discuss your history, and set clear intentions for what you hope to explore or address. These sessions lay the groundwork for a safe and productive experience.
Ketamine Sessions (3-6 sessions)
During each ketamine session, you receive a controlled infusion at the Charlottesville Ketamine Center while your KAP therapist is present to hold space for you. The ketamine experience can bring up strong images, emotions, and body sensations. Your therapist supports you through whatever arises and helps you begin processing the experience as it unfolds.
Integration Sessions
A few days after each ketamine treatment, you meet with your therapist for post-session integration. These sessions are where the real therapeutic work takes hold. You explore the challenges, insights, feelings, and sensations that surfaced during the infusion and, guided by the THRIVE framework, translate them into meaningful changes in your daily life.
Investment per Session
- Preparation Sessions (1-2): 60 minutes, $200/session
- Ketamine Sessions (3-6): 120 minutes, $175/session + $475/infusion
- Integration Sessions: 60 minutes, $250/session (reduced-cost packages available)
For a full 3-6 session program including preparation and integration, total costs typically range from $2,000 to $7,000. Some insurance companies may cover a portion of costs when ketamine is used off-label for treatment-resistant depression or other psychiatric conditions.
Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?
KAP is not just about temporary relief. It is about empowering individuals on their journey toward lasting healing. Under the guidance of our experienced and compassionate team, clients receive a controlled infusion of ketamine in a supportive environment that allows for deep introspection and breakthroughs, enhancing the effectiveness of ongoing therapy.
KAP is not a replacement for existing therapies but a bridge, connecting breakthrough research with the foundations of traditional psychology. Your KAP therapist can also work closely with any other mental health professional you are seeing to enhance your well-being and help you carry forward the insights you have gained. The intention is to deepen your experience so you receive all the benefits this treatment modality can offer.
If you have been struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, or addiction and feel that traditional approaches have not fully addressed your needs, KAP may be worth exploring. Book a consultation today and take your first step toward unlocking new hope and profound healing.