PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY IN SAN DIEGO
Innovations in Therapy for Body and Mind
A Different Path When Other Approaches Haven’t Been Enough
If you’ve tried talk therapy, medication or other kinds of healing and still feel stuck, you’re not alone, and you may have more options than you think.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) pairs a carefully prescribed medicine experience with trauma-informed therapy before, during and after. For some people, it opens room for change that hasn’t come through other approaches.
What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine is a medication the FDA approved decades ago as an anesthetic. Today, licensed medical providers also prescribe it “off-label” for mental health concerns, a common and legal practice. KAP combines that medicine with psychotherapy.
In the altered state ketamine creates, the parts of us that usually stay guarded may soften. That can make it easier to meet painful material with more space and less fear.
What Ketamine Has Been Studied For
Research on ketamine has looked at:
- Depression, including depression that hasn’t responded to other treatments
- PTSD and trauma
- Anxiety
- Emotional numbness and burnout
Your medical provider decides whether ketamine is safe and appropriate for you. KAP is not a crisis service. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988.
About This Model
Consultation Required?
Yes
Theory:
Research suggests ketamine may support neuroplasticity, the brain's capacity to form new patterns, which therapy can help you put to use.
Typical Length
Varies by person. Your medical provider and I plan the number of sessions together.
Focus:
Preparation, integration, insight and emotional processing.
Applicable Conditions
Depression
Anxiety
PTSD
How It Works
Trauma Informed
As a somatic trauma therapist, I create a safe, grounded space for you to explore your experience with compassion and curiosity. If you’re working with early attachment wounds, chronic stress or the freeze or fawn response, medicine sessions may help quiet the inner critic long enough for something new to emerge.
What the Process Looks Like
Ketamine is prescribed by a licensed medical provider, usually as lozenges. Depending on your plan, you take it during a session with me, following your provider’s instructions, or at a clinic. Either way, we meet before and after to prepare, set intentions and integrate what comes up. Sessions are gentle, paced by you, and focused on your own inner wisdom.
Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Right for You?
KAP may be worth exploring if:
- You’ve done a lot of inner work but still feel emotionally blocked
- Anxiety or depression feels heavy, and the usual tools haven’t been enough
- You want to explore healing beyond understanding it in your head
- You’re curious about non-ordinary states in a supported, therapeutic setting
Ketamine is not a cure or a quick fix. With the right preparation and support, it can be a meaningful part of your healing.
I offer KAP to adults 18 and older.
What to Expect
The Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Process
It starts with a consultation to see whether KAP fits your needs. I work alongside licensed prescribers and medical professionals, who handle medical screening and all medication decisions. My role is preparation, support and integration.
1
Step One
A no-pressure consultation so we can get to know each other and see whether KAP makes sense for you.
2
Step Two
Meet with the medical team for screening. They decide whether ketamine is safe and appropriate for you.
3
Step Three
Once you’re medically cleared, we plan your preparation, medicine and integration sessions together.
Already working with a ketamine clinic? I also offer preparation and integration sessions on their own.
Meet Shay
Hi, I’m Shay. I work with the mind, body and brain, using approaches like Brainspotting, somatic therapy, Compassionate Inquiry, IFS and EMDR, so we can work with trauma in the way that fits you, without it feeling scary or overwhelming.
When therapy is working, you start to feel more present and see yourself differently. The past begins to weigh less. You don’t have to stay stuck. Let’s move your life forward, together.
Further Information
- What makes KAP different from other techniques?
-
In talk therapy, you work with what you can put into words. Ketamine creates a gentle altered state where the usual defenses can soften. That can make it easier to feel what your body has been holding and to see old patterns from a new angle. Therapy before and after the medicine session helps turn those moments into real change in daily life.
- How do I know if KAP is right for me?
-
KAP may be a good fit if:
You’re medically cleared and have done other therapy, but still feel stuck
You’ve tried medication and still struggle with depression or anxiety
You want to explore healing beyond talk therapy
You’d like to work intensively, either in a series of sessions or a focused intensiveThe best way to find out is a consultation. If it seems like a fit, the medical team then decides whether ketamine is safe for you.
- What should I look for in an KAP therapist?
-
Look for a licensed therapist with specific training in psychedelic-assisted therapy and trauma. They should work closely with a prescribing medical team and offer real preparation and integration, not just the medicine session. I’m a licensed clinical social worker certified in Somatic Psychedelic Facilitation, with advanced training in Brainspotting and somatic trauma work.
Find Your Way Back to Yourself
If you’re battling trauma or anxiety, you deserve compassionate support from someone who truly sees you. Book your 15-minute consultation with Shay today.