More Than a Medication

Ketamine has been used medically since the 1970s. In recent years, it’s emerged as a promising treatment for depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. But how ketamine is used matters enormously. There is a significant difference between a ketamine infusion clinic and a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) program — and that difference can determine whether the benefits last.

What Is KAP, Exactly?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy integrates the pharmacological effects of ketamine with intentional, structured psychotherapy before, during, and after each medicine session. The ketamine isn’t incidental to the therapy — it’s a tool that creates a therapeutic window, a period of increased openness, reduced ego defensiveness, and heightened emotional accessibility during which psychotherapeutic work can go deeper than it might otherwise.

The Three Phases of KAP

Preparation: Before the medicine sessions begin, your therapist works with you to understand your history, set intentions for treatment, and build a safe therapeutic relationship. This phase is not rushed — it’s foundational.

The Medicine Session: You receive ketamine in a supervised clinical setting while your therapist is present. The session lasts two to three hours. Music, a comfortable environment, and skilled therapeutic support guide the experience. You are encouraged to turn inward, explore what arises, and allow the process to unfold.

Integration: This is the most underrated phase of KAP. In the days following each session, you meet with your therapist to process what arose — emotionally, psychologically, and sometimes spiritually. Integration is where insights become changes. Without it, the medicine’s effects are often short-lived.

KAP vs. Ketamine Infusions

Ketamine infusion clinics typically focus on the medical administration of the drug — monitoring vitals, ensuring safety, managing dosing. They may not include a psychotherapist, preparation sessions, or integration. KAP explicitly includes all of these elements. Research increasingly suggests that the therapeutic context of ketamine administration significantly affects outcomes, particularly durability of response.

Our Model in Ottawa

Our Ottawa clinic is specifically designed around a KAP model. Every client is paired with a therapist. Every course of treatment includes preparation and integration. Our clinical director has a background in both nursing and psychotherapy — and the team’s approach reflects that integration of medical safety with deep therapeutic care.

KAP is a relationship, not a procedure.: The medicine is one part of a larger process. We’d love to walk you through what a full treatment journey looks like at our Ottawa clinic.