Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Chronic Pain, PTSD, Depression & Anxiety
In-Person in Lakewood, Colorado
The depression that feels like it won't go away. The anxiety you can explain, but can't seem to fully manage. The trauma you've talked through, yet still carry with you everyday. When medication and talk therapy haven't been enough, ketamine-assisted therapy reaches farther so you can finally move forward.
Specializing in neurodivergent care.
Who can Ketamine-Assisted Therapy help?
Ketamine Assisted Therapy can be especially supportive for:
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Childhood trauma and developmental trauma, including childhood neglect, attachment wounds, and complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
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The emotional weight of chronic illness and chronic pain, including medical trauma and the grief that comes with a life-altering diagnosis.
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Treatment resistant depression and chronic anxiety.
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Improving self-esteem.
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Intimate partner violence and relationship abuse (IPV, DV, coercive control, emotional, physical, and narcissistic abuse), including the aftermath of leaving a toxic relationship
What Is Ketamine Therapy, and How Does It Work?
Check out this video to learn more.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved medicine that's been used safely as an anesthetic for decades. In much lower doses, research shows it can ease depression, PTSD, and chronic pain (Liu et al., 2024), often when nothing else has. It is not a magic cure, and I'll never sell it as one. The preparation before and the integration after are what make it work.
Why is ketamine used in mental health treatment?
In talk therapy, your defenses do their job a little too well, guarding the exact places that need attention. Ketamine allows for greater capacity to be honest with yourself and reach difficult experiences without your brain trying to put up defense mechanisms.
Additionally, ketamine briefly boosts neuroplasticity, your brain's ability to form new connections. Years of stress and trauma wear certain pathways into deep grooves. Ketamine-Assisted Therapy offers an opportunity to build new brain pathways, and to start responding to your life differently.
What are the benefits of ketamine treatment?
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Reaches treatment resistant depression, trauma, anxiety, and chronic pain that medication and talk therapy couldn't
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Quiets the defenses that make the hard stuff feel out of reach
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Opens a window of neuroplasticity for building new, healthier patterns
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Can bring relief quickly, sometimes in one medicine session
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Deepens your connection to yourself through integration, not just the medicine
Fees
$160 per hour
* Please note that Ketamine-Assisted Therapy is not covered by insurance.
Investing out of pocket buys you focused, specialist care and a treatment plan built entirely around you, rather than around what a network will authorize.
What to Expect: Prep, Journey, & Integration
Ketamine mental health treatment in-person in Lakewood, Colorado
Ketamine psychotherapy is an effective way to heal from trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Prior to starting Ketamine Therapy, you will need to undergo an evaluation with a medical professional who will determine fit for this treatment option, as well as prescribe the medication if applicable.
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PREP
Before your first ketamine journey, we work together to build a trusting therapeutic relationship, set your intentions, and develop grounding techniques you can lean on. This is where ketamine-assisted therapy really begins. Thoughtful preparation is what keeps the experience safe and meaningful, and creates lasting change.
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JOURNEY
During your ketamine journey, I'll be with you the whole time. Most people feel a deep sense of peace and connection, along with new insight into old memories. Some encounter more challenging moments, which is exactly what the prep work prepares you for. Many describe this experience as mystical, as innate knowings rise to the surface.
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INTEGRATION
Afterward, we begin psychedelic integration, the part that makes ketamine-assisted therapy work. Together we explore the symbolism and insights from your journey and recontextualize them, so they make sense in your everyday life. This is how a single experience becomes a lasting sense of wholeness, new patterns, and real healing.
Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy
Deeper Trauma Processing When Talk Therapy Isn't Enough
For clients who want a deeper approach, I also offer Ketamine-Assisted EMDR, combining two evidence-based treatment options together for hard to resolve trauma.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How is ketamine taken during therapy?
Ketamine is taken as a lozenger and is self administered under the tongue. As the lozenger dissolves, you will hold the solution in your mouth for 12-15 minutes. Ketamine is absorbed through the oral mucosa-lining of your mouth.
Q. How quickly will I experience the effects of ketamine?
Ketamine has a relatively rapid onset once taken. It generally takes about 10-15 minutes to begin feeling the effects, which then subside after 45-90 minutes. The length of ketamine sessions varies from person to person and from experience to experience.
Q. What will I experience during my Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Session(s)?
Clients often report experiencing a sense of relaxation and openness. They often find that internal barriers, ego defenses, and resistances to challenging topics are reduced or absent, allowing space to reflect on past experiences and emotions from a new perspective. They also find insight and awareness related to current life stressors. Repressed memories may arise. Grief, anger, or trauma that has been experienced may present itself for processing. Psychedelic effects include entering a non-ordinary “altered” state of consciousness. Such states of consciousness may facilitate profound transpersonal (mystical, spiritual, religious) experiences that may prove to be helpful in resolving existential concerns, accelerating psycho-spiritual growth, and leading to a deep personal transformation. You may feel as though you are leaving your ordinary mind or even your body. You may see various visualizations or experience other hallucinations.
Q. What if I have a “bad trip”?
Difficult experiences with psychedelics aka “bad trips” typically occur in uncontrolled settings, without adequate support and/or the correct dosage. This is why we will spend as much time as is needed to develop a trusting therapeutic relationship and proper prep work. If you do begin to experience difficulties, I will be there to offer emotional support and grounding techniques to guide you every step of the way.
Q. What kind of ceremonial aspects can be incorporated in Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
This varies from person to person but can include: sage smudging, essential oils, guided meditation, poetry reading, prayer, tarot/oracle readings, creating an alter, etc.
Q. How quickly will I begin to experience antidepressant effects?
The onset of antidepressant effects typically occurs within 24 hours of administration and can last up to 2 weeks. Ketamine has been shown to effectively interrupt acute suicidal ideation in some clients (Grunebaum et al., 2018). Ketamine Therapy is a non-linear process and relief from symptoms may wax and wane before stabilization of gains is achieved. Effectiveness of treatment can typically be assessed within a few sessions, although for some clients with more complex conditions, a longer course of treatment may be needed. Integration sessions are a crucial component of KAP work.
Q. What is neuroplasticity and how long will this last?
Neuroplasticity is the ability to create new connections between brain cells and/or modify existing ones. Neuroplasticity fosters new habits and thinking patterns. After a ketamine session you are most susceptible to the brain changing effects of neuroplasticity for 72hrs and up to 30 days.
Q. Does Ketamine-Assisted Treatment work for everyone?
No, there are several situations where Ketamine Therapy may not be appropriate. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, and those with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and/or extreme paranoia, mania, delusions, or hallucinations may not be good candidates. If you feel like Ketamine Psychotherapy may not be a good fit for you, I also offer EMDR treatment, which is also highly effective.
Q. Can I drive home after a Ketamine Therapy Session?
No, you will need to arrange for a ride home from your session as it is not safe for you to drive for the rest of the day. If possible, arrange a ride with a friend or family member rather than ride share service. Please ensure the person picking you up is an emotionally safe person, who will not trigger any difficult emotions.