What is ketamine assisted therapy?
An innovative and holistic Approach to Rewiring the Mind & Healing Emotional Wounds
First of all…what is ketamine?
Ketamine is a powerful psychedelic medicine that has been used for decades in medical settings. In therapy, it is administered at low, carefully considered doses to create a state of consciousness where deep healing can occur.
On a biological level, ketamine supports neurogenesis—the creation of new neural pathways in the brain. At the same time, it temporarily softens the default mode network, the brain system responsible for identity and self-narratives. This allows the rigid stories we tell ourselves—“I’m not good enough,” “I don’t deserve love,”—to quiet down.
While the version used in therapy is synthesized in a lab, ketamine is chemically related to compounds found naturally in the plant world—including in certain trees and even in Ayahuasca brews.
In Western medicine, ketamine is classified by the FDA as a “dissociative anesthetic.” It’s long been used in hospitals as a painkiller or procedural sedative, and over the last decade, it’s also been prescribed “off-label” for depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and as a psychospiritual tool. But its deepest healing potential goes beyond symptom relief.
Why would someone use Ketamine as a tool for therapy?
In my practice, ketamine therapy is never about chasing a “quick fix.” Instead, it’s about entering a space where healing can accelerate—where the subconscious opens and insights arise that might otherwise take years to uncover.
When paired with an integrative approach that includes psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and spiritual practices, ketamine becomes a bridge between mind, body, and spirit. It can invite forward the parts of you that had to hide, and allow them to be safely witnessed and integrated.
Ketamine is a natural neurogensis, meaning it helps you create new neural networks in the break. So that creating new habits, including new coping habits, become more accessible. At the same time thats happening, your default mode network (the part of your brain responsible for identity) softens. So the part of you that says “I’m not enough” “I’m not lovable” is dampened. And your mind is opens to newness:
a new perspective
a new belief
a new sense of Self
a new way to cope with stress
a new way to be in relationship others
a new prospective on your trauma
a new way to open your heart & connect with the worlds and others
The world becomes your oyster when you open your heart and your mind to the world of limitless possibliities. And that’s what ketamine is CHEMICALLY doing to your brain. When you couple this with psychotherapy, you fast track your progress but months, maybe even years.
Childhood Trauma That Wasn’t Seen as Trauma
Not all trauma involves visible harm. For many, it’s the quieter absence: parents who were emotionally immature, unpredictable, or unable to meet your emotional needs.
If you grew up being the one who avoided conflict, silenced your needs, or became hyper-independent, you may have never labeled this as trauma. But those experiences shape how you love, trust, and see yourself.
Ketamine therapy creates the conditions to revisit these experiences—not by reliving them, but by viewing them through an expanded lens. Clients often describe this process as being able to witness their childhood with compassion, rather than judgment or shame. When paired with psychotherapy, ketamine creates a neurobiological and spiritual state where old patterns soften and new insights emerge. It opens a space where the parts of you that had to hide, people-please, or perform can finally be seen, felt, and integrated.
Clients often report that ketamine helps them:
Reconnect with the buried emotions they weren’t allowed to feel as children
Witness their past from a wiser, more compassionate lens
Reclaim a sense of inner safety and worth, not based on achievement or approval
Begin trusting their inner voice instead of doubting it
It’s not about “fixing” yourself. It’s about meeting the parts of you that adapted for survival—and showing them they’re safe to rest now. That they no longer need to carry the belief that they are not enough.
Ketamine therapy won’t erase the past. But it can change how the past lives in you.
My Approach: Mind, Body, and Spirit
What differentiates my work is the shamanic and spiritual lens I bring into therapy. While many approaches focus on the cognitive or behavioral aspects of change, I weave in practices that honor the Spirit—the part of you that longs for meaning, connection, and belonging.
This may include:
Guided hypnotherapy journeys
Nature-based practices (walk & talk sessions in Northern Westchester)
Rituals of release and renewal
Mindfulness and breathwork
Integration of dreams, symbols, and ancestral wisdom
I believe true healing happens when we honor all parts of our being—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
What to Expect: The Intake Process
Starting ketamine therapy is an intimate process, and it’s important that we’re the right fit. That’s why I offer a free 15-minute phone call. This call gives us a chance to connect, talk about what you’re seeking, explain the process more in-depth, and answer any initial questions.
I strive to make our intro call as causal and comfortable as possible while ensure that we both feel comfortable moving forward together.
If we both feel aligned, we’ll move forward into your first session. From there, therapy unfolds at your pace.
What to Expect After Care is Established
Once we begin ketamine therapy together, we will start the preparation process to get us ready for the first ketamine session. In these initial preparation sessions, we:
Explore your intention for ketamine therapy
Discuss how to prepare your mind and body for our first medicine ceremony
Begin to build a relationship before we go into the vulnerable space of ketamine
If ketamine therapy feels like the right fit for you, we will thoughtfully prepare for each dosing session. Integration work is just as important as the medicine itself, which means after each session we’ll return to psychotherapy to ground your insights into daily life.
Are there risks to ketamine therapy?
Ketamine is considered to be extremely safe for eligible individuals when administered in a controlled, therapeutic setting. In fact, many physicians prefer ketamine over other anesthetics—especially for children—because of its low risk profile. The most common side effects include temporary dizziness, nausea, or mild confusion, but these typically pass within an hour.
Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?
Ketamine therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Every person’s healing journey is unique, and not everyone will feel called to this modality. Some clients begin with talk therapy or hypnotherapy before considering ketamine; others arrive already curious about psychedelic-assisted healing.
The best way to know if it’s right for you is to schedule a free 15-minute intro call where we can explore your questions together.
Insurance and Accessibility
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy can be financed through CareCredit. I am an out-of-network provider (OON). I provide superbills and can help you submit claims to your insurance for potential reimbursement.
Sessions are offered online throughout NY and NJ, and in-person is available in Westchester, NY
Closing: A Path Toward Wholeness
Ketamine therapy is not about erasing your past—it’s about rewriting your relationship with it. By engaging your subconcious mind, body, and spirit, you can begin to release old stories and step into a fuller version of yourself.
If you’ve felt unseen, unheard, or “not enough” for most of your life, there is a different way forward. Healing is possible.
