Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Los Angeles

About Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) serves as a bridge to new perspectives and transformative experiences, offering hope for individuals struggling with severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD — particularly when other treatments have fallen short. At Coastwise Counseling Center, our KAP program combines the therapeutic potential of low-dose ketamine with guided psychotherapy to create profound and lasting change.

Our program features individually tailored preparation and integration phases, ensuring that every aspect of treatment is personalized to your needs. Psychotherapists collaborate closely with physicians throughout the process, maintaining the highest standards of safety while maximizing therapeutic benefit.

Key Facts About KAP

Rapid improvement for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality — often within hours or days rather than weeks
Supportive care for individuals navigating end-of-life concerns and existential distress
Compatible with most psychiatric medications currently in use
Sessions last approximately 3 hours, including preparation, dosing, and integration
Ongoing integration support between dosing sessions to translate insights into lasting change
Insurance reimbursement is actively pursued for eligible clients

What to Expect

Administration Methods: Ketamine may be administered as sublingual lozenges or via intramuscular injection, depending on your clinical needs and your treatment team's recommendations. Your physician and therapist will determine the most appropriate method for you.

Expected Effects: During a KAP session, you may experience a range of effects as the ketamine takes hold:

Mild anesthetic/dreamlike state: A gentle, altered state of consciousness that allows for deeper therapeutic exploration
Antidepressant effects: Rapid relief from depressive symptoms through ketamine's action on the brain's glutamate system
Anxiolytic effects: A reduction in anxiety and an increased sense of calm and openness
Psychedelic effects: At therapeutic doses, some individuals experience expanded awareness, emotional release, and new perspectives on long-standing patterns

Getting Started

The KAP process begins with a comprehensive intake assessment to determine whether this treatment is appropriate for you. This includes a thorough review of your medical history, current medications, and psychiatric background. Your therapist will also focus on rapport-building and psychoeducation, ensuring you feel fully prepared and informed before your first dosing session.

A minimum of 4 to 6 treatment sessions is typically recommended to achieve meaningful and lasting results. Each session builds on the previous one, creating a cumulative therapeutic effect that deepens over time.

Pre-Session Instructions

To ensure safety and the best possible experience, please follow these guidelines before each dosing session:

No food for at least 4 hours prior to your session
No liquids for at least 1 hour prior to your session
Arrange transportation — you will not be able to drive yourself home after treatment

Treatment Applications

KAP has shown promise for a wide range of conditions, including:

Treatment-resistant depression
Anxiety disorders
Trauma and PTSD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
End-of-life distress and existential concerns
Addiction and substance use disorders
Eating disorders
Spiritual growth and personal transformation

Frequently Asked Questions

KAP combines medically prescribed ketamine with psychotherapy to create a therapeutic experience that can rapidly shift depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma symptoms. Ketamine creates a temporary non-ordinary state that can help clients access emotional material and form new perspectives, while trained therapists guide preparation, the session itself, and integration afterward.

Yes. KAP at Coastwise is delivered by licensed psychotherapists working alongside medical providers who prescribe and oversee the ketamine protocol. All clients are screened medically before starting, and sessions occur in a safe, clinical setting.

KAP is most often used for treatment-resistant depression (when other treatments haven't worked), anxiety disorders, PTSD, and complex trauma. It can also help people stuck in rumination or feeling disconnected from their emotions. Your treatment team will help determine whether KAP is appropriate for your clinical picture.

Coverage varies. Most PPO insurance plans do not directly cover ketamine medication for mental health, but the associated psychotherapy sessions are often covered. Our admissions team can walk you through what's covered vs. out-of-pocket before you start — call (424) 536-3002.