Ketamine Assisted Therapy in Seattle, WA
Ketamine Therapy can Help you Experience Relief from Relational Trauma, Depression, and Anxiety
How Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Can Support Relational Healing
Many struggles such as depression, anxiety, and relational trauma are not simply individual problems inside a person. Often they develop in the context of relationships, especially when you’ve had experiences involving disconnection, neglect, criticism, loss, or emotional pain that you managed alone.
Over time, the nervous system adapts to those experiences. You might notice patterns like:
feeling stuck in cycles of depression or hopelessness
chronic anxiety or hyper-vigilance in relationships
difficulty trusting others or feeling safe being vulnerable
strong self-criticism or shame
feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
These patterns are not signs that something is “wrong” with you. They are often protective adaptations your mind and nervous system developed in order to cope.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can help create the conditions for these patterns to shift.
Ketamine Opens a Window for New Emotional Learning
Ketamine appears to temporarily increase the brain’s capacity for change and flexibility (sometimes called neuroplasticity). It helps the mind become less rigidly locked into familiar patterns of thinking and feeling.
For some people, this can allow new perspectives to emerge, such as:
seeing long-standing struggles with greater compassion
recognizing how earlier experiences shaped current patterns
feeling less trapped in cycles of anxiety, depression, and traumatic memories
reconnecting with emotions that may have been difficult to access
The medicine does not “fix” problems on its own. Instead, it can create a window where new emotional experiences and insights become more possible.
Accessing Deeper Layers of Experience
Many relational wounds live below the level of conscious thought. They can show up as emotional states, body sensations, or deeply held beliefs about oneself and others.
During ketamine sessions, people can experience:
meaningful imagery or memories
shifts in how they see their life story
contact with emotions that have been held for a long time
moments of self-understanding or compassion
These experiences can help bring important material into awareness so it can be processed and integrated in therapy.
The Importance of a Safe Therapeutic Relationship
Ketamine is only one part of the process. The therapeutic relationship is central.
Ketamine can temporarily soften the protective patterns that normally keep painful feelings at a distance. When those experiences are met with safety, care, and attuned support, it can create opportunities for new relational experiences, such as:
feeling seen without judgment
expressing vulnerable emotions safely
experiencing support while exploring difficult memories
developing greater trust in oneself and others
These experiences can gradually help reshape how a person relates to themselves and to the people in their lives.
Psychedelic Integration: Bringing the Experience Into Everyday Life
After a ketamine session, integration sessions help make sense of what emerged and connect it to your life.
Together we might explore:
what insights or emotions surfaced
how they relate to patterns of depression, anxiety, relational pain, or trauma
what new possibilities may be opening in your relationships and inner life
Over time, this process can support greater emotional flexibility, self-understanding, and capacity for connection.
A Collaborative and Careful Process
Ketamine-assisted therapy is approached thoughtfully and collaboratively. Preparation, safety, and integration are all essential parts of the work.
For many people, this approach can create a supportive space to explore the deeper roots of depression, anxiety, and relational trauma — and to begin developing new ways of relating to themselves and others.
Frequently asked Questions about Ketamine-Assisted Therapy and Psychedelic Integration in Seattle
-
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is a legal, off label approach that pairs ketamine with supportive therapy for people who feel stuck with trauma, anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm. Ketamine can gently open up new perspective, and therapy helps you make sense of what comes up and apply it to real life. I support you through the therapy and integration process, and I partner with a medical team that handles prescribing and monitoring so you feel cared for and supported throughout.
-
Ketamine is an effective medication that has been used safely in medical settings for decades and is now widely used in mental health care for depression, anxiety, and trauma related symptoms. Unlike traditional antidepressants that can take weeks to work, ketamine often acts more quickly, with many people noticing shifts in mood, perspective, or emotional flexibility within hours or days.
-
Most people describe the ketamine experience as gentle, calming, and sometimes surprisingly pleasant. The effects usually last around 45 minutes. You may feel more relaxed in your body or feel a sense of distance from everyday thoughts, which can allow new perspectives to emerge. Some people notice imagery, emotional clarity, or a sense of spaciousness.
During this time, speaking and moving can feel effortful, so you’ll be resting comfortably in a supported setting. After the effects wear off, we spend time processing what came up and grounding the experience. Even when it’s hard to put into words, people often leave with a clear sense that something meaningful shifted. Research shows mood benefits can last up to a couple of weeks after a session, especially when paired with integration and therapy.
-
You’ll begin with a virtual consultation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team. They’ll review your medical and mental health history, answer questions, and help you understand whether Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a good fit for you. This step is about safety, clarity, and making sure you feel informed and supported.
If you’re eligible, the medical team creates a personalized ketamine plan tailored to your needs and goals. They handle prescribing and outcome monitoring, and a small amount of oral ketamine lozenges is sent to your home for your initial sessions. Before we begin, they’ll walk you through how to take vitals and use the medication so you feel confident and prepared going into the therapy sessions.
-
Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, we’ll schedule time together for preparation, dosing, and integration sessions. Preparation sessions feel much like regular therapy sessions and happen before your dosing day. This time is about building safety, answering questions, and getting aligned on the process. We’ll talk through what to expect, set intentions, and make sure you feel grounded, informed, and supported before moving into the ketamine experience.
-
A ketamine dosing session typically lasts 2.5 to 3 hours and takes place via telehealth, in the comfort of your own home. During the session, you’ll self administer the ketamine lozenge while resting in a comfortable, reclined position, often with an eye mask and calming music.
Although much of the experience is internal, you are not alone. I remain present with you throughout the entire session, offering support, reassurance, and grounding as needed so the space feels safe, contained, and intentional.
-
Integration is the most important part of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. While the ketamine experience can open insight and perspective, it is the integration work that helps those insights take root and create lasting change. After your dosing session, we meet for integration therapy sessions to gently explore what emerged, make meaning of it, and apply it to your daily life and relationships. This process helps prevent the experience from feeling fleeting and supports real, sustainable healing over time.
-
After your first ketamine session, the medical team you are partnered with schedules follow up consultations to check in on how you are doing, monitor outcomes, and determine whether medication refills are appropriate. The timing of these follow ups is based on your individual treatment plan, so your care continues to feel thoughtful, responsive, and tailored to you.
-
My typical session rate is $200 an hour. KAP sessions, which include preparation, dosing, and integration. Dosing sessions lasts approximately 2.5-3 hours.
Journey clinical Medical Costs:
Intake: $250
Follow-Up: $150
How Does Ketamine Therapy in Seattle Work?
Online therapy in Seattle, WA and throughout Oregon
Relational trauma therapy and couples counseling for adults ready to feel secure in relationships, calm in themselves, and confident in their truth.