Unlock Deeper Healing & Transformation

Explore evidence-based Ketamine- Assisted Pscyhotherapy in a safe and supportive environment.

What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an innovative, evidence-based approach that leverages the therapeutic benefits of ketamine to facilitate deep psychological healing.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, KAP combines the effects of ketamine—a dissociative anesthetic with fast-acting antidepressant properties—with psychotherapy to help individuals process emotions, heal from past trauma, reframe thoughts, and unlock new perspectives on their challenges.

How Can Ketamine Help?

Research has shown that ketamine can have profound effects on mood regulation, neuroplasticity, and emotional processing. It has been particularly effective in addressing:

  • Depression (including treatment-resistant depression)

  • Anxiety and stress-related disorders

  • PTSD and trauma

  • Chronic pain and its psychological impact

  • Existential distress and personal growth

Ketamine works by modulating the brain’s glutamate system, promoting new neural connections and allowing individuals to break free from rigid, maladaptive thought patterns.

It also influences the Default Mode Network (DMN)—the part of the brain associated with self-referential thinking and rumination. By temporarily disrupting the DMN, ketamine can help quiet intrusive negative thoughts and create space for new, more adaptive mental frameworks to emerge.

Additionally, ketamine enhances neuroplasticity, meaning the brain becomes more flexible and capable of forming new connections. This can make psychotherapy more effective by reinforcing positive cognitive and emotional shifts, ultimately supporting long-term healing and growth.

What Does Treatment Look Like?

1. Prep Session

The process starts with completing an intake form and a discovery call to determine your potential eligibility for this treatment.

When accessing Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, all participants require a doctor or nurse practitioner (NP) to support their application as the “prescriber.

I offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy through my work with Field Trip Health, a leading provider of psychedelic-assisted therapy. I work closely with an NP and medical doctor who will support you through the initial process.

Once eligibility is assessed, we engage in a comprehensive preparation process. During the prep phase, we will set intentions, discuss relevant history, explore tools to help you navigate the psychedelic experiences, and build a trusting relationship to lay a solid foundation for your journey. 

Together, we’ll create a safe and supportive container that invites you to approach this experience with clarity and confidence.

2. Experience

Once you’ve completed the preparation phase, you will access the ketamine treatment. During your treatment, the ketamine is administered in a safe and controlled environment by a nurse practitioner.

During your treatment, you will be supported by me. As your guide, I will be right by your side while you navigate your inner world, including any emotions, thoughts, and sensations that may arise.

This treatment is called “psychedelic-assisted therapy” because the dose session and the integration process after can feel like therapy. During this time, you may experience shifts in perceptions, emotions, and thought patterns that can provide deep insights and emotional relief.

Throughout your treatment, you will be supported with empathy and compassion while being offered and guided with therapeutic skills and tools to deepen your experience.

3. Integration

The integration process begins during your treatment appointment, after the experience (or the effects of the ketamine have worn off).

Integration is best known as the meaning-making process, where insights from your session can be woven into your everyday life in ways that support the experiential and neurochemical changes that take place during the dosing session.

Your brain enters a window of heightened neuroplasticity following ketamine exposure. This period allows for increased receptivity to new perspectives, behavioural changes, and emotional processing.

Taking intentional time after treatment—through journaling, mindfulness, or other reflective practices—further supports this process and helps ensure that the benefits of ketamine therapy are sustained over time.

FAQs

  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy may be beneficial if you have tried traditional therapy or medication with limited success or if you are looking for a new approach to mental well-being. It is especially helpful for individuals seeking:

    • Relief from treatment resistant depressive symptoms

    • A deeper understanding of their emotions and past experiences

    • Support in processing trauma or breaking negative thought cycles

    • A guided and structured approach to psychedelic-assisted healing

    A thorough assessment is conducted to determine if KAP is a good fit for you based on your mental and physical health history.

  • Although ketamine works on different parts of the brain than classic psychedelics like psilocybin, the experiences on ketamine can be very similar.

    Individuals generally report feeling:

    • A sense of calm

    • Feelings of awe or joy

    • Tingling sensations

    • Altered sense of time and space

    • Reduced awareness of the physical body or “out of body” experience

  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is considered safe when administered in a controlled, clinical setting by trained professionals.

    Ketamine has been used in medical settings for decades and has a well-established safety profile.

    However, like any treatment, it does have potential side effects. 10 % of patients report common short-term side effects that may include:

    • dizziness

    • nausea

    • mild dissociation, and temporary changes in perception.

    • elevated blood pressure

    • mild confusion following

    These effects typically subside within a few hours. Screening and monitoring ensure that KAP is administered safely and appropriately for each individual.

  • I offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy through my work with Field Trip Health, a leading provider of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

    Sessions take place in a professional, supportive setting with a multidisciplinary team dedicated to your well-being. Sessions take place at the Waterloo Office through Field Trip Health.

    If you are interested in learning more about this service, I invite you to reach out via email and explore whether KAP is the right fit for you.

    You can also learn more about this treatment through the Field Trip Website.

“The mind is a powerful tool, and psychedelics can help us harness its full potential.”

– Tim Ferriss

Let’s Get In Touch


I’d love to hear from you if you have any questions!

e: support@vanessabauer.ca