What is Ketamine-Assisted Therapy? Understanding the Process & Potential
What is Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT) is a therapeutic approach that blends neuroscience with profound psychological exploration. It's not merely about alleviating symptoms but about discovering new ways of understanding ourselves, confronting hidden emotions, and connecting with our inner world from a refreshed viewpoint.
Initially created as an anesthetic, ketamine has gained recognition for its rapid antidepressant effects and its potential to facilitate transformative therapeutic work. Unlike conventional talk therapy, which primarily engages the thinking mind, KAT allows us to soften psychological defenses, opening doors to emotional and cognitive shifts that might otherwise remain out of reach.
In this structured process, ketamine therapy fosters a state of receptivity where we can examine old habits, feelings, and memories with curiosity and courage. The real power, however, lies not just in the ketamine itself but in how we choose to interact with the insights that arise, integrating them into our everyday lives.
How Ketamine Works
Ketamine operates on the brain in ways that support healing and enhance flexibility, which leads to profound psychological benefits:
Enhancing Neuroplasticity: It helps the brain form new neural pathways, allowing for fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking and behaving.
Easing Ego Defenses: Ketamine enables us to step beyond established personal narratives, allowing us to see ourselves from a new, clearer viewpoint.
Unlocking Emotional Access: By bypassing cognitive filters, ketamine allows us to access emotions and memories that might normally remain inaccessible.
When used in conjunction with therapy, these effects can create an empowering space for growth, emotional processing, and lasting change.
My Approach to Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
To me, KAT isn’t about eliminating pain or skipping the work of self-discovery. Instead, it's a tool that aids in meeting ourselves with clarity, compassion, and authenticity.
I’ve seen and experienced first-hand how ketamine can open doors to new emotional and psychological terrains. But what matters most is how we engage with what lies behind that door.
I combine Internal Family Systems (Parts Work), somatic practices, and Eastern philosophies to ensure that clients don’t simply have a profound experience but are also equipped to make sense of it and apply it meaningfully in daily life.
Ketamine invites parts of us that we've ignored, suppressed, or feared to speak. What truly matters is how we approach these parts—with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to explore their needs.
The Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Process
KAT is not a quick-fix solution but rather a gradual, guided journey. The process typically unfolds in the following stages:
Preparation Sessions
Before any ketamine experience, we work together to establish trust, set intentions, and create a safe space. This includes:
Understanding the fundamentals of KAT.
Exploring personal history, goals, and expectations.
Learning grounding techniques and somatic practices to navigate the session effectively.
Ketamine Sessions
During the session, you’ll be supported in a controlled and therapeutic environment. Experiences can range from profound introspection to expansive, almost mystical states, depending on dosage and intention. My role is to provide a stable and open space, ensuring that whatever arises is met with presence and acceptance.
Integration: Turning Insights into Action
The integration phase is where lasting change occurs. This process involves making sense of the experience without overanalyzing or dismissing it. Together, we explore:
How the session’s insights connect to your life, relationships, and healing journey.
Ways to embody new perspectives through real-world actions.
Tools to revisit challenging emotions or visions with grounded support.
Integration is not only an intellectual process—it’s about living differently based on the insights we uncover.
Who Can Benefit from Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
KAT is particularly beneficial for:
Those feeling stagnant in traditional therapeutic approaches.
Individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or trauma.
People seeking a deeper, more embodied approach to emotional healing.
Anyone curious about exploring altered states of consciousness in a therapeutic setting.
However, KAT may not be suitable for everyone, and a thorough screening process ensures its appropriateness and safety for each individual.
Closing Thoughts: A Tool, Not a Shortcut
Ketamine is not the solution—it’s an invitation to explore deeper levels of self-awareness, emotional processing, and new perspectives. True transformation doesn’t happen during the session itself, but in how we choose to engage with and integrate the insights gained.
As I often remind my clients:
The work doesn’t end with the session. The real work is how we integrate what we’ve learned, how we apply those lessons, and how we choose to move forward with newfound clarity.
If you’re interested in exploring Ketamine-Assisted Therapy and the process of integration, don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more.
Meet Chris Rambaran
Chris is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with advanced training in ketamine- and psilocybin-assisted therapy. His work is grounded in Internal Family Systems (parts work), somatic awareness, narrative therapy and a commitment to deep inner work. With a background in social work and a specialization in trauma, Chris brings a compassionate, reflective presence to the Ketamine-Assisted Therapy process—helping clients explore their inner landscape with curiosity, clarity, and care.
