Exploring Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: A New Path for Healing Eating Disorders and Neurodivergence

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is an innovative approach that combines the benefits of ketamine with guided therapeutic support to help individuals process emotions, reframe thought patterns, and create lasting change. As a therapist specializing in eating disorders, neurodivergence, and trauma, I am excited to now offer KAP in partnership with Journey Clinical, providing a powerful tool for clients seeking deeper healing.

What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that, at lower doses, has been found to promote neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections. This can help individuals break free from rigid thought patterns, making KAP particularly beneficial for those struggling with:

• Eating disorders, where deeply ingrained beliefs and behaviors around food and body image can be difficult to shift.

• Neurodivergence (ADHD, autism, etc.), where challenges with executive functioning, emotional regulation, and sensory processing can create barriers to traditional therapeutic approaches.

• Depression, anxiety, and trauma, which often coexist with eating disorders and neurodivergence.

KAP provides a unique opportunity to explore emotions with reduced fear and self-judgment, opening doors to self-compassion, insight, and transformation.

How the Process Works with Journey Clinical

Journey Clinical is a specialized medical platform that provides medical evaluation, oversight, and prescription while I offer therapeutic support. Here’s how we get started:

1. Initial Consultation with Me

   • We’ll explore whether KAP is a good fit for your therapeutic goals.

   • If we decide to move forward, I’ll refer you to Journey Clinical for a medical evaluation.

2. Medical Evaluation with Journey Clinical

   • A licensed prescriber will assess your medical history and determine your eligibility for ketamine treatment.

   • If approved, they will provide you with a personalized ketamine prescription.

3. Dosing Sessions with Therapeutic Support

   • Ketamine is typically taken in the comfort of your own home, under my guidance during a structured therapy session.

   • The medicine’s effects last about 45–90 minutes, during which we may engage in talk therapy, mindfulness practices, or allow for reflective processing.

4. Integration Sessions

   • Within a week after the ketamine experience, we will process insights, emotions, and shifts that arise.

   • These sessions help you apply new perspectives to your daily life and healing journey.

How KAP Supports Healing

For Eating Disorders

Eating disorders often create rigid thought patterns and deep-rooted beliefs about food, body image, and self-worth. Ketamine’s ability to promote cognitive flexibility can help disrupt these cycles, making space for self-compassion and new ways of thinking.

Additionally, eating disorders frequently involve dissociation or low interoceptive awareness (difficulty sensing internal body signals like hunger and fullness). KAP can offer a safe, controlled dissociative experience, allowing clients to engage with emotions in a new way without becoming overwhelmed.

For those healing from treatment trauma or coercive care experiences, KAP can also foster a sense of agency and empowerment in the recovery process.

For Neurodivergence (ADHD, Autism, etc.)

Neurodivergent individuals often navigate co-occurring depression, anxiety, and burnout due to a world that isn’t built for their brains. KAP can be particularly helpful in:

• Easing chronic stress and burnout: The dissociative effects of ketamine can offer a temporary break from the overwhelming demands of daily life, allowing the nervous system to reset.

• Interrupting negative thought loops: Many neurodivergent people experience rumination and self-criticism. KAP can help create space between thoughts and emotions, making it easier to break out of these cycles.

• Enhancing emotional regulation: For those who struggle with big emotions and sensory overload, KAP can provide a sense of spaciousness and self-compassion, reducing shame and self-judgment.

• Reducing masking and reconnecting with authenticity: Many neurodivergent people have spent years suppressing their natural traits to fit societal expectations. KAP can facilitate a deeper connection with the self, allowing for greater acceptance and self-trust.

KAP for Those Who Have Felt "Treatment-Resistant"

Many individuals seeking healing from eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and trauma have tried traditional therapies and medications without success. Research shows that ketamine can be especially effective for those who have been labeled as treatment-resistant, as it works through glutamate pathways rather than the serotonin-based mechanisms of traditional antidepressants.

Studies have found that ketamine can provide:

• Rapid relief for depression and anxiety, even for those who haven’t responded to SSRIs or therapy alone.

• Reduction in PTSD symptoms, making trauma work more accessible.

• Disruption of rigid thought patterns seen in eating disorders and OCD.

By enhancing neuroplasticity, ketamine can create an opportunity for deep, lasting change, particularly for individuals who have struggled to make progress in traditional therapy settings.

Is KAP Right for You?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy isn’t a magic cure, but it can be a powerful tool for those seeking healing beyond traditional talk therapy. If you are curious about how KAP might support your recovery, I’d love to explore this with you.

Ready to take the next step? Let’s connect to schedule a consultation and learn more about how KAP can support your healing journey.