What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)?
KAP combines carefully dosed ketamine medicine with psychotherapy in a supportive, intentional space. Ketamine gently quiets rigid thought loops and opens a “neuroplastic window” — a period when the brain is especially open to new learning, healing, and change. Psychotherapy during this window allows insights from the ketamine journey to take root and blossom into lasting transformation.
Jewell Whitmer, (she/her)
CNM, PMHNP, APHRN, FAIHM
Welcome
At Flourish, healing is not just about reducing symptoms — it’s about remembering your wholeness. As a midwife and psychiatric nurse practitioner, I have spent nearly two decades supporting people through profound transitions: birth, loss, trauma, and transformation.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is one of the tools I offer to help you soften old patterns, open to new perspectives, and nurture your growth.
Science
Ketamine temporarily blocks NMDA receptors, increasing brain-derived growth factors and promoting new neural connections. This supports rapid shifts in mood, perspective, and emotional processing.
Soul
Many describe the ketamine state as a spacious, dreamlike journey. It can feel like slipping beneath surface noise to touch the deeper waters of the psyche — a place where intuition, memory, and insight can flow more freely.
What can KAP help with?
Anxiety
Burnout
Depression, including postpartum depression
Grief, loss, and life transitions
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including birth trauma
Suicidal thinking
Spiritual or existential stuckness
Pregnancy
Like other mental health medications, ketamine has the potential to influence fetal brain development. Currently, research is too limited to ensure its safe use during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
Yes! KAP can be used during breastfeeding. It is advised for breastfeeding to be temporarily delayed 6-12 hours. Together, we’ll individualize guidance based on your baby’s age and feeding patterns.
Postpartum
For those navigating postpartum depression or anxiety, KAP can be a profound ally: offering rapid relief while honoring your role as a parent and your bond with your baby.
Benefits & Risks
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Rapid relief of depression and anxiety symptoms
Access to new perspectives and insights
Greater self-compassion and clarity
Deepened spiritual connection
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Temporary increase in blood pressure or heart rate
Headache, nausea, dizziness, or disorientation
Short-lived changes in perception
Emotional vulnerability as material surfaces
Potential for misuse if not carefully supervised
What to Expect in a Session
Sessions last about 2 hours and unfold in three parts:
Preparation
We ground together, set an intention, and create sacred space with sage or palo santo. You may choose to pull a tarot or oracle card, breathe with aromatherapy, or journal before we begin.
Journey
The ketamine experience itself lasts about 40–60 minutes. You’ll rest in a cozy, safe environment, with blankets, music, and my steady presence.
Integration
Afterwards, you’ll have time for art, journaling, or gentle reflection. In follow-up sessions, we weave your insights into your daily life.
FAQs
How many sessions will I need?
Some clients feel a meaningful shift after one or two sessions. Others benefit from a series of 6–8 sessions, spaced biweekly. We’ll co-create a plan that fits your needs, goals, and rhythms.
Cost & Insurance
Sessions are $300 each at Flourish.
KAP is not currently covered by insurance. However, your New Patient Intake visit, and Follow-up Integration visits can be billed.
Contraindications
KAP may not be suitable if you have:
Uncontrolled high blood pressure or serious heart disease
Active mania, psychosis, or history of schizophrenia
Severe substance misuse
Pregnancy (ketamine is not recommended during pregnancy)
A thorough intake helps us determine safety before beginning.
Aftercare & Integration
After a session, plan for gentle rest. Arrange a ride home, drink water, and avoid major commitments that day. In the days following, you may feel more open, tender, or inspired — this is the neuroplastic window. We’ll use this time to anchor your insights with therapy, journaling, movement, or creative practices.
Can KAP support spiritual growth?
Yes. Many people find ketamine opens them to experiences of connection, wonder, and meaning. It can help soften existential anxiety, deepen trust in life’s unfolding, and reconnect you with your inner wisdom. At Flourish, we honor this sacred aspect of healing alongside the clinical.