Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) can be a powerful tool for individuals who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unresponsive to traditional therapeutic approaches. It offers an opportunity to access deeper layers of insight, reduce emotional reactivity, and foster new patterns of thinking and being.

KAP may be especially beneficial for those experiencing depression—including treatment-resistant depression—anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety or social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), unresolved trauma, burnout, chronic stress, obsessive-compulsive patterns, or those navigating significant life transitions or experiencing existential distress.

For some, KAP helps bring clarity and meaning during difficult periods; for others, it supports long-term healing when conventional talk therapy hasn’t fully addressed their needs. The medicine component may allow clients to access suppressed emotions, explore their inner world with greater openness, and break free from rigid thought patterns.

KAP is not a fit for everyone. Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled hypertension, severe heart problems, or a history of psychosis, should avoid this treatment. It is also not recommended for those who are pregnant, actively struggling with substance use disorders, or in acute psychological crises. Careful screening through medical and psychological evaluations is an essential part of the process to determine whether KAP is appropriate and safe. Dr. Montalvo works closely with clients during preparation sessions to explore their intentions, expectations, and concerns, and collaborates with medical providers to ensure a supportive and informed care plan.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a multi-phase process designed to support deep emotional healing, personal insight, and meaningful psychological change. The experience unfolds over a series of preparation, medicine, and integration sessions—all grounded in a strong therapeutic relationship and tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Psychological Intake

The process begins with a comprehensive psychological intake to assess your current mental health, personal history, goals, and readiness for KAP. This evaluation helps ensure that the treatment is safe, appropriate, and aligned with your unique needs. It also allows us to begin developing a personalized care plan and identify any areas that may require additional support.

Preparation Sessions

Following the intake, we move into a series of preparation sessions—typically three are required—designed to establish a foundation of safety, trust, and clarity. During this phase, we’ll explore your intentions for the work, discuss what to expect during medicine sessions, and collaboratively create a safety plan. These sessions emphasize harm reduction and emotional readiness while equipping you with grounding tools and strategies to support your journey. The preparation phase also deepens our therapeutic relationship, which becomes an essential anchor throughout the process.

Medicine Sessions

Ketamine sessions take place in a supportive and carefully held therapeutic environment. The medicine is administered in a monitored setting, and I remain present with you throughout the experience to offer grounding, reassurance, and emotional support as needed. These sessions typically last 3 hours.

In the initial sessions, a key focus is identifying the dosage that works best for you. Every person’s response to ketamine is unique, and these early experiences help inform how to optimize future sessions for both safety and therapeutic depth. Research suggests that a series of 4 to 6 medicine sessions often provides the greatest benefit, especially when combined with thoughtful preparation and integration work.

Sessions are generally scheduled at a frequency of about two per week over the course of two to three weeks, depending on the number of sessions in your treatment plan. This work requires a significant investment of time, energy, and emotional presence, so it’s important to approach it with space in your life for reflection, rest, and integration.

Integration Sessions

Following each medicine session, integration sessions are a vital part of the process. This is where we begin to make sense of what arose during the ketamine experience—whether emotional material, insights, visions, or bodily sensations. These sessions help you ground your experience, process unresolved emotions, and translate insights into practical, lasting change in daily life. Integration can include reflective dialogue, somatic awareness, mindfulness-based practices, and continued therapeutic support.

Intake and Preparation Phase:

• One intake/ 3 preparatory sessions held once a week before starting KAP.

Session Plan:

• Week 1:

  • 1st KAP Session (3 hours)

  • Integration Session (1 hour)

  • 2nd KAP Session (3 hours)

  • Integration Session (1 hour)

• Week 2:

  • 3rd KAP Session (3 hours)

  • Integration Session (1 hour)

  • 4th KAP Session (3 hours)

  • Integration Session (1 hour)

• Week 3:

  • 5th KAP Session (3 hours)

  • Integration Session (1 hour)

  • 6th KAP Session (3 hours)

  • Integration Session (1 hour)

When conducted responsibly, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is considered a safe and well-tolerated treatment. Safety is prioritized at every stage of the process. Before beginning, clients undergo a comprehensive psychological intake and receive medical clearance from a licensed prescriber to ensure ketamine is an appropriate option for their mental and physical health.

Preparation sessions—typically three—help establish emotional readiness, set intentions, and develop a personalized safety plan. During medicine sessions, ketamine is administered in a secure, supportive environment, and I remain present the entire time to offer therapeutic guidance, grounding, and monitoring.

The process is rooted in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and ethical best practices. While no treatment is risk-free, the safeguards in place are designed to provide a safe, respectful, and deeply supportive space for healing and exploration

When conducted responsibly, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is considered a safe and well-tolerated treatment. Safety is prioritized at every stage of the process. Before beginning, clients undergo a comprehensive psychological intake and receive medical clearance from a licensed prescriber to ensure ketamine is an appropriate option for their mental and physical health.

Preparation sessions—typically three—help establish emotional readiness, set intentions, and develop a personalized safety plan. During medicine sessions, ketamine is administered in a secure, supportive environment, and I remain present the entire time to offer therapeutic guidance, grounding, and monitoring.

The process is rooted in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and ethical best practices. While no treatment is risk-free, the safeguards in place are designed to provide a safe, respectful, and deeply supportive space for healing and exploration.

If you have any questions that haven’t been answered here, feel free to reach out. Whether it’s about the KAP process, safety, scheduling, or anything else, I’m here to provide clarity and support. Don’t hesitate to contact me directly to discuss how Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy might be a fit for you.