Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy FAQs in Colorado

Ketamine is a medication that has been used in medical settings for decades, primarily as an anesthetic. More recently, researchers have explored its potential role in treating certain mental health conditions, including depression.

In ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), ketamine treatment is paired with psychotherapy to provide opportunities for emotional exploration, reflection, and personal insight. Ketamine can temporarily alter perception, awareness, and the way individuals experience thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.

At Intima Couples and Sex Therapy, we focus on the psychotherapy component of this process. Preparation sessions help you explore your intentions, concerns, and emotional readiness before treatment. Integration sessions offer space to reflect on your experience afterward and consider how it may relate to your everyday life and therapeutic goals.

Ketamine treatment requires evaluation and prescribing by a qualified medical provider, who determines whether it is appropriate for you and establishes the necessary medical safety requirements. Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved for treating psychiatric conditions, although a related medication, esketamine, is approved for certain depression indications under specific medical conditions.

The experience of ketamine can feel different for everyone. Some individuals describe a sense of relaxation, emotional openness, or feeling temporarily disconnected from their usual thoughts or physical surroundings. Others may notice changes in their perception of time, body sensations, or awareness.

During a ketamine experience, you may encounter thoughts, emotions, memories, or perspectives that feel unfamiliar. Some experiences feel peaceful or meaningful, while others can feel confusing, uncomfortable, or emotionally challenging. There is no particular experience you need to have for your therapeutic work to be valuable.

At Intima Couples and Sex Therapy, we approach ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) with compassion, curiosity, and respect for your individual experience. Preparation sessions provide space to explore your expectations, concerns, and ways to support yourself emotionally. Integration sessions offer an opportunity to reflect on what emerged and explore its meaning afterward.

Ketamine can also cause physical side effects, including nausea, dizziness, temporary increases in blood pressure, and changes in coordination or awareness. A qualified medical provider is responsible for evaluating your suitability for treatment and establishing appropriate medical safety and monitoring requirements.

Our goal is to support your therapeutic process without placing expectations on what you should feel, discover, or experience.

The cost of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) depends on the services you choose, including preparation and integration psychotherapy, therapist-supported dosing sessions, and medical services provided by your ketamine prescriber.

At Intima Couples and Sex Therapy, we offer several options:

• Preparation and integration psychotherapy: Standard 50-minute therapy sessions are $135 for daytime appointments and $150 for evening appointments. These sessions may be covered by eligible insurance benefits when they meet the requirements for medically necessary psychotherapy.

• In-person therapist-supported dosing: $150 per hour for continuous therapeutic support at our Lakewood, Colorado office.

• Virtual therapist-supported dosing: $150 per hour for continuous therapeutic support through a secure video connection.

• Self-guided dosing with therapist check-ins: $50 for brief, scheduled check-ins rather than continuous therapist support.

• Fully self-guided dosing: $0 in therapist dosing-support fees when no therapist participation or check-ins are provided.

Medical evaluations, ketamine prescriptions, and related medical services are arranged and billed separately by your qualified medical provider. Your prescriber determines whether self-guided or virtual dosing is medically appropriate and what safety arrangements are required.

We also offer a free 30-minute virtual consultation if you'd like to explore your options before scheduling psychotherapy.

Our goal is to provide clear, flexible options so you can make informed decisions about your care.

View Our Therapy and KAP Pricing

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) combines ketamine treatment with intentional psychotherapy to support emotional exploration, self-awareness, and reflection. The process generally involves three components: preparation, the ketamine experience, and integration.

1. Preparation: Before ketamine treatment, you meet with your therapist to explore your intentions, concerns, emotional experiences, and therapeutic goals. Preparation sessions may also include nervous system awareness, grounding strategies, and discussing what to expect.

2. The ketamine experience: Ketamine is prescribed and medically managed by a qualified healthcare provider who determines whether treatment is appropriate and establishes the necessary safety requirements. At Intima Couples and Sex Therapy, you can choose from different levels of therapeutic support during dosing, including in-person support, virtual support, brief check-ins, or no therapist participation, when consistent with your medical provider's guidance.

3. Integration: After your ketamine experience, psychotherapy provides an opportunity to reflect on thoughts, emotions, sensations, or perspectives that emerged. Together, we explore what feels meaningful and how those reflections might relate to your relationships, emotional well-being, and everyday life.

At Intima, we approach KAP through a compassionate, trauma-informed, and nervous-system-informed perspective. Our focus is on supporting your individual therapeutic process rather than promising a particular experience or outcome.

Preparation and integration psychotherapy are available in person in Lakewood, Colorado, and virtually throughout the state.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) may be an option for individuals who are exploring additional approaches to their mental health and emotional well-being, particularly when traditional treatments have not provided the support or relief they hoped for.

Some individuals consider KAP while navigating:

• Depression or persistent depressive symptoms

• Anxiety, chronic worry, or emotional overwhelm

• Trauma-related experiences and patterns

• Difficulties with emotional connection, self-awareness, or feeling disconnected from themselves

• Recurring emotional or relational patterns they would like to better understand

• Life transitions or experiences that have left them feeling stuck

At Intima Couples and Sex Therapy, we approach KAP through a compassionate, trauma-informed, and individualized perspective. Preparation and integration psychotherapy provide opportunities to explore your experiences, therapeutic goals, and emotional responses before and after ketamine treatment.

Ketamine is not appropriate for everyone, and evidence supporting its use varies across mental health conditions. Certain medical or psychiatric conditions, medications, and other health considerations may make ketamine treatment unsuitable. A qualified medical provider must evaluate your health history and determine whether ketamine is medically appropriate.

You do not need to know whether ketamine treatment is right for you before reaching out. We offer a free 30-minute virtual consultation to discuss our psychotherapy services, answer questions, and help you understand potential next steps.

Ketamine can be administered safely in appropriate medical settings, but it is not without risks and is not suitable for everyone. The safety of ketamine treatment depends on your individual health history, the prescribed treatment, the setting, and the medical monitoring and precautions established by your qualified healthcare provider.

Ketamine may cause side effects such as nausea, dizziness, temporary increases in blood pressure, changes in perception, and dissociation. Some individuals may also experience anxiety, confusion, or emotional discomfort during treatment. More serious complications are possible, and repeated use carries additional risks, including urinary problems and the potential for misuse or dependence.

Before beginning ketamine treatment, a qualified medical provider should evaluate your medical and psychiatric history, review relevant medications, and determine whether treatment is appropriate. Your prescriber is also responsible for establishing the necessary medical monitoring, emergency procedures, and safety requirements, including whether treatment outside a medical facility is appropriate.

At Intima Couples and Sex Therapy, we provide the psychotherapy component of ketamine-assisted treatment, including preparation, integration, and optional therapeutic support during dosing. Our approach emphasizes informed choice, emotional support, and trauma-informed care.

Although psychotherapy can provide emotional support throughout the process, it does not replace medical supervision or eliminate the risks associated with ketamine treatment.

You do not need a ketamine prescription to begin exploring ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) at Intima Couples and Sex Therapy.

You can start with a free 30-minute virtual consultation or schedule a preparation psychotherapy session to discuss your goals, concerns, and what the KAP process may involve.

However, before participating in a ketamine dosing session, you must be evaluated by a qualified medical provider who determines whether ketamine treatment is medically appropriate and provides the necessary prescription and medical guidance.

At Intima, you are welcome to work with a qualified ketamine prescriber of your choice. If you're unsure where to begin, we can share information about medical providers we've worked with as we explore the KAP process together.

Our role is to provide psychotherapy, including preparation, integration, and optional therapeutic support during ketamine experiences. We do not prescribe ketamine or provide medication management.

Our goal is to make the process approachable while respecting your ability to choose the medical and therapeutic providers who best meet your needs.

Yes. At Intima Couples and Sex Therapy, you have the flexibility to work with a qualified ketamine prescriber of your choice. You are not required to use a specific medical provider to participate in our ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) services.

If you already have a ketamine prescriber, we can explore how preparation, integration, and optional therapist support during dosing may fit into your existing treatment plan.

If you haven't found a prescriber yet, we can share information about medical providers we've worked with once we begin exploring the KAP process together. You're welcome to consider those options or find another qualified provider who meets your needs.

Your medical provider is responsible for evaluating your eligibility for ketamine treatment, prescribing medication, and determining appropriate medical monitoring and safety requirements.

At Intima, our focus remains on providing compassionate, trauma-informed psychotherapy that supports your emotional experiences and therapeutic goals. When appropriate and with your permission, we can coordinate with your medical provider to support continuity of care.

Insurance may cover certain psychotherapy services associated with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), but coverage depends on the type of service, your insurance plan, and medical necessity.

At Intima Couples and Sex Therapy, preparation and integration sessions are provided as psychotherapy. These appointments may qualify for insurance coverage when they meet the requirements for medically necessary mental health treatment and your therapist participates with your insurance plan.

Therapist-supported ketamine dosing sessions are separate from standard psychotherapy appointments and are offered on a private-pay basis. Intima does not bill insurance for therapeutic support provided during ketamine dosing.

Medical evaluations, ketamine prescriptions, and other medical services are arranged separately with your qualified medical provider. Any insurance coverage for those services depends on the provider, medication, and your specific benefits.

We also offer private-pay psychotherapy options and a free 30-minute virtual consultation to help you explore our services and scheduling options.

If you have questions about using insurance for preparation or integration therapy, our team can help you understand the next steps for verifying your benefits.

Intima Couples and Sex Therapy offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) services in Lakewood, Colorado, serving individuals in Denver, Golden, Littleton, Morrison, and surrounding communities.

Our office is located at 9150 W. Jewell Avenue, Suite 105, Lakewood, CO 80232. We offer in-person preparation and integration psychotherapy, along with optional therapist-supported ketamine dosing sessions.

We also provide virtual preparation and integration psychotherapy throughout Colorado. For individuals receiving ketamine treatment through a qualified medical provider, virtual therapist-supported dosing and self-guided options may also be available when medically appropriate.

At Intima, you can work with a qualified ketamine prescriber of your choice. Our therapists focus on the psychotherapy component of treatment, including emotional preparation, integration, and optional support during ketamine experiences.

If you're interested in exploring KAP, you can begin with a free 30-minute virtual consultation to discuss your goals, ask questions, and learn more about our services.