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Session guide · KAP

What to Expect at Your First KAP Session

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy pairs the medicine with a therapist. The visit runs longer than a regular therapy hour, and the talk before and after is part of the work.

This is the general shape of a session, not your clinic’s protocol and not medical advice. Every clinic does things a little differently, so ask your clinic how they work.

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What to expect

Before, during, and after

01

Before

  • You usually start with one or more preparation sessions of regular talk therapy, so you and your therapist can get to know each other first.
  • They walk you through what the dosing session may feel like and answer your questions.
  • Many clinics ask you to skip solid food for a few hours beforehand, which lowers the chance of nausea. Your clinic will give you their rule.[1]
  • Comfortable clothes, an eye mask, and headphones can help you settle. Some clinics provide these.[1]
  • Feeling nervous is common. Saying so out loud helps, and a good therapist will make room for it.
02

During

  • You settle into a quiet private room.
  • Ketamine is most often a lozenge placed under the tongue, though some clinics use other methods.
  • It is typical for your therapist to stay nearby for the whole session, mostly quiet, there if you need them.
  • You can speak up or ask staff for help at any time.
  • Nausea, feeling unsteady, and feeling detached are common. They pass as the medicine wears off, and nausea can be treated.[1]
  • Sessions generally run two to three hours.
03

After

  • As the effects fade, your therapist may help you start putting words to what came up.
  • Integration sessions afterward, talk therapy focused on the experience, are often a core part of the process.
  • Tiredness on the day is common. Most people feel much clearer by the next morning.[1]
  • Plan for someone else to drive you home, and skip alcohol for at least 24 hours.[1]
  • Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. Using it for mental health is off-label, and your clinician should explain what that means.[2]
Sources
  1. Psychedelic Beacon. What to expect during a ketamine infusion (patient guide with its own sources).
  2. FDA. Compounding risk alert on potential risks of compounded ketamine. October 10, 2023.
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