Ketamine-Assisted EMDR
For clients who have tried EMDR or traditional therapy before — and still feel stuck.
What Is Ketamine-Assisted EMDR?
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR brings together two evidence-informed approaches into a single, carefully structured treatment:
EMDR is a gold-standard trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge.
Ketamine is a legal, FDA-approved medication that can quiet the brain's fear response, increase neuroplasticity, and create a window of greater openness — making it easier to process difficult material that might otherwise feel too overwhelming to approach.
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ (KA-EMDR) is a novel method that combines low-dose psycholytic ketamine with EMDR therapy reprocessing. This specific approach is designed to keep you grounded and in control throughout the process, while the ketamine gently lowers the brain's defensive barriers to allow deeper therapeutic access. Together, they can make possible what either approach might struggle to achieve alone.
KA-EMDR Treatment Flow
-
STEP 1: Initial Intake Assessment (90 min)
Before we start treatment, we’ll complete a 90-minute intake assessment session. We will explore your history, discuss your goals, and evaluate your readiness for EMDR. Together, we outline a path forward that’s realistic, strategic, and tailored to your specific needs.
-
STEP 2: Medical Consultation with Prescriber
After our intake session, I’ll refer you to a partnering medical provider for a full evaluation to determine whether ketamine is medically appropriate for you. They handle all prescribing and medical oversight, including the sublingual troches used during treatment.
-
STEP 3: EMDR Intensive Workbook
You’ll receive a guided workbook to complete at home before our work together. This provides a framework for our work by helping clarify your goals, articulate past experiences, and identify deeply held self beliefs — ensuring every session is purposeful and tailored to you.
-
STEP 4: KA-EMDR Sessions
With preparation complete, we begin the KA-EMDR sessions—usually a series of 90-minute sessions. You will self-administer a low dose of ketamine and we will engage in EMDR reprocessing together. I am present and guiding you throughout.
Accelerated Healing
·
Deep, Somatic Shifts
·
Evidence-Based Treatment
·
Accelerated Healing · Deep, Somatic Shifts · Evidence-Based Treatment ·
Is KA-EMDR Right for You?
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ may be a fit if you:
Have a trauma or PTSD history that hasn't fully responded to traditional therapy
Find it difficult to access or stay present with traumatic memories in standard EMDR
Feel "stuck" despite years of therapeutic work
Are ready to go deeper in a supported, structured setting
A thorough intake process — including coordination with our medical partner — ensures this approach is clinically appropriate for you before we begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes. Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication legally prescribed by licensed medical providers for therapeutic use.
-
I am a licensed therapist, not a prescriber. I partner with a vetted medical provider who handles all medical evaluation, prescribing, and oversight. You will meet with them as part of your intake process.
-
Yes, both in-person and telehealth options are available. Virtual sessions will be offered depending on the protocol and what's most appropriate for your situation. We'll discuss this during your consultation.
-
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and EMDR each have a strong evidence-base for trauma- and mood-focused treatments. Early-stage studies and clinical guidelines suggest their combined use amplify benefits, offering faster relief and deeper, sustained healing, especially for complex trauma, treatment-resistant depression, and anxiety.
Almeida, T. M., Lacerda da Silva, U. R., Pires, J. P., Borges, I. N., Martins, C. R. M., Cordeiro, Q., & Uchida, R. R. (2024). Effectiveness of Ketamine for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical neuropsychiatry, 21(1), 22–31. https://doi.org/10.36131/cnfioritieditore20240102
Dore, J., Turnipseed, B., Dwyer, S., Turnipseed, A., Andries, J., Ascani, G., Monnette, C., Huidekoper, A., Strauss, N., & Wolfson, P. (2019). Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 51(2), 189–198. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1587556
Duek, O., Korem, N., Li, Y., Kelmendi, B., Amen, S., Gordon, C., Milne, M., Krystal, J. H., Levy, I., & Harpaz-Rotem, I. (2023). Long term structural and functional neural changes following a single infusion of Ketamine in PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 48(11), 1648–1658. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-023-01606-3
Ecker, B., & Bridges, S. K. (2020). How the science of memory reconsolidation advances the effectiveness and unification of psychotherapy. Clinical Social Work Journal, 48(3), 287–300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-020-00754-z
Hess, E. M., Greenstein, D. K., Hutchinson, O. L., Zarate, C. A., & Gould, T. D. (2024). Entactogen effects of ketamine: A reverse-translational study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 181(9), 815-823. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230980
Novo Navarro, P., Landin-Romero, R., Guardiola-Wanden-Berghe, R., Moreno-Alcázar, A., Valiente-Gómez, A., Lupo, W., García, F., Fernández, I., Pérez, V., & Amann, B. L. (2018). 25 years of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): The EMDR therapy protocol, hypotheses of its mechanism of action and a systematic review of its efficacy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Revista de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (Engl Ed), 11(2), 101-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpsm.2015.12.002
Passie, T., Guss, J., & Krähenmann, R. (2022). Lower-dose psycholytic therapy—A neglected approach. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, Article 1020505. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1020505
Rosoff, A. L. (2019). How we do what we do: The therapist, EMDR, and treatment of complex trauma. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 13(1), 61–74. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.13.1.61
Sicignano, D. J., Kurschner, R., Weisman, N., Sedensky, A., Hernandez, A. V., & White, C. M. (2024). The impact of ketamine for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review with meta-analyses. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 58(7), 669–677. https://doi.org/10.1177/10600280231199666
Topel, M., & Ciccone, D. (2025). Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ for PTSD: investigating the synergistic effects of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. European journal of psychotraumatology, 16(1), 2572861. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2025.2572861
-
KA-EMDR sessions are charged at the same rate as my other EMDR sessions - $450/90-min session. However, there are additional costs associated with this treatment, including:
Medical Consultation with the Prescriber = approximately $250 (*costs may vary depending on the individual prescriber)
Ketamine medication = approximately $30-60 for 6 ketamine troches (*costs may vary depending on the amount of medication prescribed and the individual pharmacy)
-
Ketamine is generally very safe but not suitable for everyone (e.g., those with uncontrolled high blood pressure or certain personality disorders). A medical doctor will conduct a thorough screening process to ensure safety, and if needed, work with your other doctors or medical professionals.
-
Most clients have a gentle and positive experience with ketamine, but some people can experience minor nausea or feel tired after a KA-EMDR session. These effects are usually temporary and resolve quickly. These are part of the healing process.
-
KA-EMDR clients self-administer their low-dose ketamine they have been prescribed. The medication that is issued is sublingual ketamine dissolvable tablets, called troches, that are formulated to absorb under your tongue, then be swished in the mouth and spit out.
-
To learn more about this particular method, visit: