Unlock The Power of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Healing
Exploring Ketamine-Assisted Therapy in New York City
At the end of last year, I did a 3-week ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) program as a client. If you don’t know much about KAP, read this post by Julie Goldberg first!
I had always been interested in the healing benefits of psychedelics, having experienced profound moments when recreationally partaking. I also wanted to do something ceremonial and spiritual to shepherd in this new phase of my life: a move, relationship change, a shift in home, expected plans and identity. Thirdly, I love that this career allows me to be a lifelong learner. I am curious about adding ketamine-assisted therapy into my practice and wanted to get a client-facing understanding of the discipline before I commit to an expensive training.
The Science Behind Ketamine: A Gateway to Neuroplasticity
Ketamine-assisted therapy is emerging as a groundbreaking tool in mental health, offering rapid relief for depression, anxiety and trauma. But what makes it truly revolutionary is the window of neuroplasticity it opens—an optimal period when the brain is more flexible and receptive to change. This is why psychedelic therapy is gaining traction, helping individuals break free from long-standing patterns and integrate new ways of being through somatic healing.
Unlike traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks or months to show results, ketamine works within hours. Research shows that ketamine rapidly increases the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that enhances neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new neural connections. This means that during and after a ketamine session, individuals have a unique opportunity to rewire old patterns, making it an ideal time for therapy, self-reflection, and deep healing.
A 2021 study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that 70% of participants with treatment-resistant depression experienced significant symptom relief after just one ketamine session. By leveraging this window of neuroplasticity with somatic healing practices in NYC, individuals can integrate their insights more effectively, fostering lasting change.
My Experience with Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
My process began with a 30-minute virtual medical intake in which I was given a 6-month prescription for ketamine. Then, there were two preparatory sessions of rapport-building with the other group members and intention-setting — one in person and one virtual. Following those two sessions, we did the actual journeying (aka taking the ketamine) as a group in person, led by two therapists and then followed that up with a virtual meeting a few days after, where we discussed how to integrate our experiences into our regular lives.
The initial rapport and intention meetings were helpful as they gave me an opportunity to meet the other two group members and facilitators. It also gave me some time to think through how I actually felt about doing this, if there were any fears or expectations that I was bringing into the experience and if I had any intentions for what I wanted to get out of it.
Why Integration Matters: Making the Most of Your Ketamine Experience
While ketamine opens a powerful window of neuroplasticity, the real work happens in how we integrate those experiences into daily life. This is where psychedelic therapy and somatic healing come in. By engaging in ongoing therapy, body-based practices, and mindfulness techniques, individuals can solidify the shifts made during their ketamine sessions.
For me, the next few days following the journey were particularly interesting as the effects of the treatment continued to unfurl over 48 hours. One of the most fascinating aspects of ketamine is its ability to promote neuroplasticity, which allows the brain to reshape its connections and adapt to new tasks or stressors. I was instructed to move slowly over the next few days as my brain was in this highly impressionable state.
This was the most interesting part of the experience for me. So often in human behavior, we have such strong beliefs about the way things are or the way things have to be. This experience put a pause in that rigid way of thinking and, for a short moment, allowed my mind to be open to what might be instead of what I believed must be. It gave me a moment to change habits, to turn left when I would’ve turned right, to do something different, to be open to what I may not know.
Who Can Benefit from Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
Ketamine-assisted therapy has shown promising results for individuals struggling with:
Chronic depression and anxiety
PTSD and complex trauma
Self-limiting beliefs and emotional blocks
A desire for deep transformation and healing
Additionally, therapists and mental health professionals curious about incorporating ketamine into their clinical work may find it invaluable to experience the effects firsthand. Understanding ketamine’s impact on consciousness, emotions, and body awareness can enhance their ability to support clients who undergo psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Join Our April Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Group
If you're ready to experience the transformative potential of ketamine therapy in a supportive group setting, I invite you to join my April Ketamine Therapy Group. with Third Nature Therapy’s Julie Goldberg. This small, intimate group offers guided experiences, expert facilitation, and structured integration practices to help you navigate your journey.
Whether you're seeking personal healing or are a therapist interested in exploring ketamine-assisted therapy for yourself, this group offers a unique opportunity to step into deep transformation. Click here to learn more.
➡️ Spots are limited— sign up today to schedule your free consult and begin your healing journey!
