Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP)

Ketamine can produce antidepressant effects within hours, unlike SSRIs which take weeks. When combined with structured therapy — preparation beforehand, a clinician present during dosing, and integration sessions after — outcomes for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD improve significantly over either approach alone.

In residential settings, KAP is usually delivered as a short series of three to six sessions woven into the broader treatment plan. The ketamine is given by IV, injection, or sublingual lozenge, with vital signs monitored and a trained clinician in the room. The real therapeutic work happens in the integration sessions, not during the dosing itself.

KAP is one of the fastest-evolving areas in luxury residential care. Programs offering it should have psychiatrists specifically trained in ketamine-assisted therapy and clear protocols for consent, screening, and medical safety.