Living with depression, anxiety, or trauma can feel overwhelming. Some people try therapy for years and still feel stuck. Others try different medications but don’t get the relief they hoped for. If you’ve been searching for something that finally helps you break through the fog, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy may give you a real chance to heal.
At Palo Alto Mind Body, this treatment takes place under the guidance of M Rameen Ghorieshi, MD, MPH, who has administered over 20,000 ketamine treatments. His experience gives patients a safe, steady, and informed space to do this work.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (often called KAP) brings two powerful tools together: ketamine, a medication that helps the brain form new pathways, and therapy, which helps you use those pathways to facilitate greater healing.
While research shows that Ketamine can effectively relieve symptoms of depression without psychotherapeutic support, integrative therapy can help patients process difficult emotions and make behavioral modifications to achieve lasting, positive change.
During KAP, you have medical supervision, emotional guidance, and a clear plan. Ketamine is thought to help your brain shift neural pathways that form during depression, anxiety, PTSD, or chronic stress. Then, therapy helps you work through problematic thought patterns while your mind feels more flexible and open, facilitating an emotional reset.
KAP can be provided in a variety of ways. There is traditional KAP where a therapist helps guide the experience, integrate insights, and connect what emerges to your personal growth and healing goals. After the treatment, integration sessions can help translate your insights into real-world change.
Beyond those who opt to engage in formal KAP, every patient at Palo Alto Mind Body receives Psychotherapy-Augmented Ketamine Therapy (PAKT); that is, using psychotherapy to enhance the evidence-based administration of medically-necessary ketamine. At each session, you will have the opportunity to engage in supportive psychotherapy with the trained mental health provider who administers your medication. Other therapeutic techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy may also be utilized. This is ketamine psychotherapy at your own pace, to help you get more out of the treatment. Some patients choose to talk for a full hour, while others may only want to do a brief check-in before starting the medication. We meet you where you are and encourage your healing and growth.
Both PAKT and KAP can be extremely effective at treating your symptoms. Your care team can help determine which option best suits your needs depending on your specific symptoms and circumstances. Regardless, it’s essential to receive treatment with a trained mental health provider, as they are capable of incorporating ketamine into a broader mental health strategy, including therapy at every session, behavioral modification techniques, and medication review so you can get the most out of the treatment.
Most people feel stuck because their brain keeps firing in the same old loops. Ketamine can help shift that. It creates a short window where your brain forms new connections. During that time, many people feel and think differently, seeing things with more clarity.
When you add therapy during this window, you get a chance to:
Think of it like loosening a knot. Ketamine softens the knot, and therapy helps untie it.
Patients describe a range of outcomes, but many share these experiences:
Some people call it the first time they felt like themselves in years. Others say it helped them break through a wall they couldn’t get past on their own.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Psychotherapy-Augmented Ketamine Treatment work well for people who:
You don’t need to “hit rock bottom” to seek help. Our compassionate team at Palo Alto Mind Body is here to walk with you on your healing journey.
Dr. Ghorieshi and his team have guided patients through more than 20,000 ketamine treatments, and that kind of experience changes everything. This expertise enhances the level of care, knowledge, and safety behind every session. You can feel good about trusting your care to someone who has spent years helping patients heal with ketamine.
Your medical team is there to support you before, during, and after each session. You receive the kind of care that helps you feel grounded, safe, and seen.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy gives you a real chance to experience the breakthrough you've been looking for. Many people describe it as life-changing and transformative.
If you feel ready for change, or if you’re simply curious, you can take the next step with support and compassion. Our team will answer your questions, guide you through the process, and help you decide if this treatment matches your needs.
Healing doesn’t have to feel impossible. You deserve help that works—and you deserve a team with the skill and heart to guide you.
