Cabezas Therapy now provides In-person and virtual Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy appointments
Supportive Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy for New Yorkers
Who is it for?
Are experiencing treatment-resistant depression
Have tried multiple medications without lasting relief
Feel stuck in therapy despite deep commitment
Carry trauma that feels unreachable through words alone
Experience anxiety that traditional treatments haven't touched
Feeling like everything else has plateaued
This approach is particularly beneficial for individuals with complex trauma, PTSD, persistent depression, and anxiety disorders that haven't responded as well to conventional treatment.
Important: This is not a first-line treatment. We recommend trying traditional therapy and, when appropriate, psychiatric medication before considering ketamine-assisted therapy.
How it works
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a specialized form of treatment that integrates prescribed ketamine medicine with deep psychotherapeutic work.
Ketamine acts on glutamate, a neurotransmitter in the brain, by reversing damage to connections between brain cells and repairing micro-damage from stress, trauma, anxiety, or depression.
Unlike ketamine-only clinics that focus primarily on symptom reduction, our approach centers the therapeutic relationship. The medicine creates a window of neuroplasticity—a state where your brain is more receptive to new patterns, insights, and healing.
The Three Phases:
1. Preparation (1-3 sessions)
We establish clear intentions, build safety, and prepare you emotionally and practically for the experience. This is therapy work—understanding what you hope to explore and building the container for that exploration.
2. Medicine Session (2-3 hours)
In a safe, private setting, you self-administer prescribed ketamine (lozenge form) while your therapist remains present. You'll wear an eye mask, listen to carefully selected music, and turn inward. Your therapist holds space throughout.
3. Integration (2-4+ sessions)
This is where the continued transformation can happen. We process what emerged, make meaning of insights, and translate your experience into lasting change in your daily life.
Integration sessions are designed to review memories, thoughts, and insights that emerged during dosing and prepare you for subsequent sessions.
Therapy-First, Medicine-Supported
We're therapists first. That means:
We don't rush to ketamine. We'll explore whether traditional therapy might serve you first. KAP is for when you need something more.
We center the relationship. The therapeutic alliance—your safety with us—is more important than the medicine itself.
We integrate deeply. Research concludes that psychotherapy provided before, during, and after sessions enhances outcomes. Many clinics offer minimal integration support. We don't.
We honor your identity. Our LGBTQ+ affirming, BIPOC-centered, and relationship-structure-inclusive approach extends fully into KAP work. We provide individual, couple, and group KAP.
We work with trusted medical partners. Prescriptions and medical oversight are provided by licensed physicians who specialize in ketamine therapy. Your safety is paramount.
The Complete Process
Initial Consultation (Free, 15 minutes)
We discuss whether KAP might be appropriate for you and answer questions about the process, safety, and logistics.
Medical Evaluation (Via Partner Physician)
We partner with your medical providers for health screenings, prescription evaluations, and medical clearances. Not everyone is a candidate for ketamine therapy and they handle the prescription side of KAP.
Preparation Sessions (1-3 meetings)
We build the foundation: intentions, fears, hopes, safety protocols, and what to do if the experience feels challenging.
Medicine Sessions (2-3 hours each)
Setting: Our private, dedicated therapy space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—designed specifically for deep therapeutic work. Or your own home, with a person you have designated as your sitter for the session.
Unlike medical clinics with clinical settings or virtual-only providers, you'll be in a warm, comfortable environment created for healing. We also offer virtual sessions for clients outside of NYC, as well as those within, with appropriate safety protocols in place.
What happens:
You arrive and we check in
Self-administer prescribed ketamine lozenge
Recline with eye mask and curated music
Your therapist remains present but largely silent
Effects last 45-90 minutes
You rest and reorient afterward
What it feels like: Effects can make you feel "far from" your body and facilitate alterations in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Most people describe it as dream-like, introspective, and sometimes emotional.
Integration Sessions (Ongoing)
This is the heart of the work. We make sense of what came up, connect insights to your life, and support sustainable change.
Typical Treatment Plan:
4-6 medicine sessions over 2-3 months
Integration work between and after each session
Ongoing therapeutic support as needed
FAQ
Is ketamine legal in New York?
Yes. Ketamine is legal when prescribed by a medical professional for off-label use in treating mental health conditions.
Will I hallucinate?
At therapeutic doses, most people don't experience vivid hallucinations. The experience is more introspective and dream-like than actively hallucinatory.
Is this the same as "Special K" (the party drug)?
Ketamine is the same substance, but context, dose, intention, and support are completely different. Medically moderated use is legal, monitored, and therapeutic.
How is this different from ketamine clinics?
While legal off-label use of ketamine is contingent on a doctor prescribing it, there's no legal requirement for mental health provider involvement at any point. Many clinics offer medicine with minimal therapy. Our model centers therapeutic relationship and deep integration work.
Do I need to stop my current medications?
Not necessarily. You will review this before starting. Your medical provider will review all medications during screening.
What if I have a "bad trip"?
Your therapist remains present throughout. We can adjust your environment, talk you through challenging moments, or in rare cases, support you until effects naturally subside (typically 60-90 minutes). Clients who have experienced a “bad trip” typically discuss how transformative it was to have someone they trusted with them, and how that experience allowed them the space to feel the benefits of supported vulnerability.
How quickly will I notice changes?
Some people notice shifts during or immediately after the first session. Others need several sessions. The integration work over weeks and months is where lasting change develops. Everyone is different.
Can I drive after a session?
No. You'll need transportation arranged. Effects typically resolve within 2-3 hours, but we don't recommend driving same-day.
Is this addictive?
Ketamine can be psychologically habit-forming with frequent unsupervised use. In a therapeutic context with appropriate spacing (typically 1-2 weeks between sessions) and medical oversight, addiction risk is minimal.
Who shouldn't do KAP?
Those with active psychosis, certain heart conditions, recent head injury, pregnancy, or active untreated substance dependency. Your medical evaluation will determine candidacy.
What Sets Us Apart
Physical Space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Unlike virtual-only providers or sterile medical clinics, we offer ketamine sessions in our dedicated therapy office in Williamsburg. You'll experience this work in a warm, intentionally designed space—not a hospital room or your own home. This matters for safety, containment, and the depth of the work.
In-Person Presence During Medicine Sessions
Your therapist is present with you throughout the entire experience. This allows for real-time attunement, safety, and support that the more medical clinic model doesn’t replicate.
Established Therapeutic Relationships
If you're already our client, we have a foundation of trust and understanding to build from.
Identity-Affirming Practice
Our LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and relationship-diversity expertise doesn't disappear in KAP work—it deepens.
Trauma-Informed Approach
We understand dissociation, nervous system regulation, and how to work with what emerges in altered states.
Integration Focus
We don't just offer medicine sessions. We walk with you through the meaning-making that follows.
Accessible from Anywhere in NYC
Williamsburg location easily accessible via L, G, J, M, Z trains and multiple bus lines. Also available virtually for clients throughout New York State who prefer home-based sessions.