Treatment-resistant depression
When traditional therapy and medication haven't moved the needle.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy · Mesa, AZ
Real psychotherapy. With the medicine.
KAP for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, trauma, and couples. Provided by a licensed therapist. Not an infusion clinic.
Most people who land on this page have already tried a lot of things. Years of talk therapy. Maybe medication. Maybe lots of different medications. You've done the work. You've shown up. You've tried to white-knuckle your way through, and the depression, the anxiety, the thing that happened to you when you were eight, the grief, the numbness. It's still there. You're tired. And maybe you just can't seem to access the trauma. You want some help moving into those spaces with authenticity, compassion, and gentleness. Ketamine can help.
Some of you already know there's more available. You want to go deeper into the work, into layers of yourself and your experience. Maybe you want to go deeper in your relationship with your partner. You know plant medicine, psychedelics, and Ketamine is the way in. You might be scared, and that's ok. We start with low, anxiolytic doses (where you know who you are and where you are at all times) and increase to psychedelic doses when it feels right, if it feels right.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is one of the most promising tools we have for the kind of suffering that hasn't moved with traditional approaches.
Know The Difference
KAP is not an infusion clinic.
Ketamine Infusion Clinic
- ✗ Nurse puts in an IV, you sit in a recliner
- ✗ No therapist present during session
- ✗ Prep, if available, feels surface or one-size-fits-all
- ✗ Integration, if available, is basic and one-size-fits-all
- ✗ Not supported by research to create long-term healing
KAP at The Wild Within
- ✓ Cozy, sacred, comfortable setting with eye covers and music
- ✓ I am with you the entire time, helping guide your journey
- ✓ Preparation sessions focused on you and your unique intentions
- ✓ Integration sessions and practices aligned with each session for a clear flow
- ✓ Powerful psychotherapy. The medicine opens the door
Curious if KAP is right for you?
Start with a free consultation. No pressure, no commitment.
Schedule Free ConsultationThe KAP Process
How KAP works at The Wild Within.
Four phases. Each one matters. The therapy is what makes the medicine work.
01
Screening
Free consultation + medical screening with our collaborating physician. Not everyone is a candidate, and we take that seriously.
02
Preparation
One or more therapy sessions before any medicine. We set intentions, build trust, and prepare your nervous system for the work.
03
Medicine session
2-3 hours in our office. Eye covers, music, and a trained therapist present the entire time. You are never alone. Each session is open yet guided.
04
Integration
Where the real change lives. We process what surfaced. What you saw, what shifted, what wants to be different now. And what to do at home to continue the healing.
Integration is where the real change lives
Integration is the journey you walk after the Ketamine session. It's the change you desire. Ketamine creates an opening. It promotes and aids in neuroplasticity. It allows you to take a concept or truth from the logical, cognitive realm and embody it as a somatic, felt-sense experience. Anchoring it into your whole being. This is where the transformative healing power of psychedelics is found.
The goal is to practice in between sessions. Integration is the vital piece. It helps you process the Ketamine journey and figure out, with help, how to weave it into your week. We take your intention for the session, combined with what came up during the Ketamine session, and create a roadmap for the week. What will you work on? How will you work on it? What's the focus, the most important thing?
Without it, insights fade. The window closes. You either integrated and practiced, or you return to many of the same patterns. This is why working with a trained therapist is so important. This is why having a unique, intentional, multifaceted yet simple integration plan for the week is mandatory.
Who KAP Helps
Conditions with the strongest research support.
PTSD & trauma
Including trauma you've already done a lot of work on but still feel stuck in.
Anxiety
The kind that hasn't responded to other approaches.
Chronic suicidality
With appropriate safety planning and clinical support.
Existential distress
End-of-life, grief, and the deepest questions about meaning.
Couples
Helps with perspective taking, empathy, and compassion. To get you unstuck and moving in the new direction you've been longing for.
Safety, legality, and what to expect
Ketamine is FDA-approved and legal when administered under medical supervision. At The Wild Within, KAP is provided in collaboration with a prescribing physician who handles the medical side, while I hold the therapy. Sessions happen in our office, with appropriate monitoring, and I'll be with you the entire time.
The experience is unique for everyone, and dependent on the dose. Most people disconnect from their default mode network (DMN), which is what we want and need. The DMN is where we get stuck, so the disconnect helps us open to new thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and perspectives. That's the change you're looking for. Most people have powerful "ah-ha" moments. Moments of insight and knowing they couldn't access before. Those moments create self-transformation right then.
Most people connect to their emotions with greater ease, feeling less judgment for self and allowing deeper process of past trauma and hurt. Some people see imagery. Some people cry. Some people have what feel like long-buried memories surface. Some people feel held by something larger than themselves. Many feel calmer after the session and flow through their week less bothered, more grounded, and more motivated to do the work. All of it is welcome. None of it is required.
Cost & logistics
KAP is priced separately from standard therapy because of the additional medical involvement, longer session length, and integration work. Insurance does not currently cover KAP in most cases. We can talk through pricing on your free consultation.
Important: KAP is provided under medical supervision with a collaborating physician. Contraindications exist and medical screening is required. Results vary. Therapy outcomes depend on many factors. This page is for informational purposes only and does not establish a therapist-client relationship.
What Clients Say
I'd tried everything. Years of talk therapy, three different medications, a meditation app I used for exactly one week. KAP was the first thing that actually reached the place where the pain lived. Having Alicia there during the session made all the difference.
Common Questions
FAQ
What is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy?
KAP is the use of low-dose ketamine in combination with psychotherapy. A trained therapist is present before, during, and after the medicine experience. The therapy is the treatment. The medicine is what opens the door.
How is KAP different from ketamine infusions?
Infusion clinics give you an IV drip in a medical setting and send you home. KAP includes preparation sessions, a trained therapist present during the medicine experience, and integration sessions afterward. KAP is therapy. Infusions are medication delivery. Our dose is also lower (most of the time) than an IV or IM dose. That lower dose allows you to retain what we call "autobiographical content." You know who you are and where you are the entire session. These lower doses are designed to help you process what the higher doses cannot. If you want the psychedelic dose, we can absolutely talk about that and accommodate it when appropriate.
Is ketamine therapy legal in Arizona?
Yes. Ketamine is FDA-approved and legal when administered under medical supervision. KAP at The Wild Within is provided in collaboration with a prescribing physician.
How much does KAP cost?
KAP is priced separately from standard therapy because of the additional medical involvement and longer session length. Contact us for current pricing.
What does ketamine therapy feel like?
At anxiolytic doses, you never "leave the room." You know who you are and where you are (autobiographical content). Most people find it much easier to process hard trauma, release emotions that are stuck, and see things in a healthier, healing way. At psychedelic doses, it's common to no longer really know who you are and where you are. We call this ego dissolution. It can be a challenging yet powerful experience, which means we work up to that dose slowly and make sure you're ready. A powerful reason to have a trained KAP therapist by your side. Those sessions tend to be more abstract with less trauma reprocessing.
How many ketamine sessions do I need?
Most KAP protocols include 4–8 medicine sessions, plus preparation and integration. We design the protocol around your specific needs.
Does insurance cover ketamine therapy?
Insurance does not currently cover KAP in most cases. We can discuss options and provide superbills where possible.
Is ketamine therapy safe?
When provided under medical supervision with proper screening, KAP has a strong safety profile. Contraindications exist, which is why medical screening is required.
What conditions does ketamine therapy treat?
KAP is most commonly used for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, trauma, chronic suicidality, and existential distress. KAP is also used in couples therapy when your therapist is trained in both KAP and couples work. Alicia is trained and ready to walk with you on this life-changing journey. It is not a fit for everyone. That's what the consultation is for.
Explore More
Other ways we can work together.
Individual Therapy
Holistic, trauma-informed therapy. Many KAP clients also do ongoing individual work for integration and continued growth.
Learn more
Couples Counseling
Communication, trust, and the conflict that builds intimacy instead of breaking it. For couples ready to learn a new language.
Learn more
Workshops & Groups
Somatic movement, sound healing, and community healing experiences. The kind of work that happens best together.
Learn moreCurious If KAP Is Right For You?
Start with a free consultation.
No pressure, no commitment. We'll talk about what you're working on and whether KAP is a good fit.