Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy:
What to Expect From a KAP Session
Most people who reach out have researched ketamine therapy extensively. They know the science. What they do not know is what it actually feels like to sit in the chair, to move through the experience, and to come out the other side. This page answers that.
Apply for KAP →You will not arrive
unprepared.
The preparation sessions are not a formality. They are where the therapeutic work begins. Before any medicine is involved, Amelia works with you to understand the patterns you want to address, explore relevant history, and develop intentions for the experience ahead.
By the time you arrive for your first KAP session, you and Amelia already have a shared understanding of what brought you to this work. That foundation gives you a place to begin while leaving room for the experience to unfold in its own way.
- Three 50-minute preparation sessions with Amelia before any medicine is involved
- Comprehensive history and pattern mapping
- Setting Your Intention for Ketamine Therapy — aligned with your personal and professional goals
- Practical preparation — what to eat, what to avoid, how to prepare your body
- Safety protocols reviewed and all questions answered
- For IV track — medical clearance from Dr. Bhasin at Point Health, Agoura Hills
- For sublingual track — prescription coordinated through Skylight Psychedelics
What your
state of consciousness will be like.
This is the question most people ask first. The honest answer is that every person's experience is unique and every session is different from the last. What follows is the most accurate general description of what to expect.
Your State of Awareness
During psychotherapy-dose KAP, clients typically remain conscious and able to communicate. You may experience deep relaxation, changes in perception, feelings of floating or dissociation, or a different quality of awareness. Experiences vary from person to person and from session to session.
What You May Experience
Experiences may include imagery, physical sensations, emotion, memories, insights, a quieter analytical mind, or feelings of connection. Some people describe spiritual or transcendent experiences; others do not. There is no particular experience you are expected to have.
The Therapeutic Window
The intensity and duration of the experience vary by person, dose, and route of administration. As the medicine takes effect, Amelia remains present to support the therapeutic process while allowing space for your experience to unfold.
Amelia's Role During the Session
Amelia remains present throughout the KAP session, providing therapeutic support while respecting the inward nature of the experience. At times that may mean conversation or gentle guidance; at other times, it may mean simply providing a steady therapeutic presence.
What one ketamine therapy session
looks like from start to finish.
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1
Arrival and Grounding
You arrive to a calm, prepared environment — either Amelia's private Westlake Village office for sublingual sessions or Point Health's private suite in Agoura Hills for IV sessions. Time is spent grounding, setting intention, and ensuring you feel safe and ready.
-
2
Medicine Administration
For sublingual sessions the lozenge is placed and held. For IV sessions the infusion begins under Dr. Bhasin's medical oversight. Onset is gradual. Amelia remains present and guides you into the experience as it begins to unfold.
-
3
The Therapeutic Window
The peak experience. Thoughts, emotions, memories, imagery, or new perspectives may emerge. Amelia remains present throughout, supporting the experience without forcing a particular direction.
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4
Coming Back
The medicine gradually becomes less intense. You remain in the safe environment while your awareness returns fully. Amelia continues to be present. There is no rush. You are not sent home the moment the session ends.
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5
Initial Integration
Brief notes, initial reflections, and a plan for the dedicated integration session that follows within 24 to 48 hours.
A calm,
supported experience.
You are never alone during a session. Amelia is present from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. The environment — whether Amelia's Westlake Village office or Point Health's private suite in Agoura Hills — is designed intentionally. Safety, comfort, and therapeutic support are considered throughout the experience.
"You do not have to force meaning from the experience. We pay attention to what emerges, stay curious about it, and allow the therapeutic work to continue from there."
— Amelia Mora Mars, LMFT
Integration is where
the experience becomes part of the work.
Each KAP session is followed by a dedicated integration session with Amelia, typically scheduled within 24 to 48 hours. This is an opportunity to explore what emerged, make meaning of the experience, and consider how it relates to the patterns and intentions identified during preparation.
Integration also helps inform the KAP session that follows, allowing the work to build intentionally across the protocol.
Explore Ketamine Integration →Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is available with Amelia in Westlake Village, serving clients throughout Ventura County and the surrounding Conejo Valley, with IV KAP sessions available in Agoura Hills.
Why this work
became personal.
My introduction to ketamine-assisted therapy was not simply professional. It came through my own family's experience during an extraordinarily difficult season.
Walking alongside someone I loved changed the way I understood both the possibilities and the responsibility of this work. It is one reason I care so deeply about what surrounds the medicine — the preparation, the therapeutic relationship, the experience itself, and the integration that follows.
Kenny living his dream in Japan · 2023
Wondering whether
KAP may be right for you?
Begin with a brief application. Amelia personally reviews each submission and will follow up to arrange a conversation, answer your questions, and determine whether the next step makes sense.
Apply for KAP →Or visit ketaminelayeringeffect.com to learn more