Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Brookyln NY

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a structured therapeutic modality that pairs prescribed ketamine — a legal, FDA- recognized medicine — with evidence-based psychotherapy before, during, and after each session. At Integrative Mind, it is part of our whole-person, integrative approach to mental health care.

Ketamine acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist, rapidly increasing glutamate signaling and promoting synaptic neuroplasticity — the brain's capacity to form new connections. Within hours of administration, new neural pathways begin forming. KAP uses this window deliberately: your therapist guides you through preparation, the dosing experience itself, and integration sessions that anchor insights into lasting change.

FEATURE	KAP (OUR APPROACH)	KETAMINE INFUSION ONLY	TRADITIONAL THERAPY
Psychotherapy integrated	✅ Throughout all stages	❌. Not typically	✅ Yes
Speed of relief	✅. Hours to days	✅. Hours to days	❌. Weeks to months
Integration sessions	✅ Structured & required	❌ Varies / optional	❌. N/A
Long-term durability	✅. Enhanced by therapy	❌. Often requires maintenance	✅. Good with consistency
Best suited for	✅. Treatment-resistant conditions	✅. Acute symptom relief	❌. Mild–moderate conditions

KAP is only as effective as the therapeutic container around it. Dr. Lewis has built our program on the protocols established in peer-reviewed research and the clinical frameworks of leading KAP practitioners — and shaped it around Integrative Mind's commitment to treating the whole person, not just the diagnosis.

Therapist-guided at every stage

Your clinician is with you from preparation through integration — not a peripheral observer. We believe the relational dimension of ketamine-assisted work is as important as the medicine itself.

Integrated with your broader care

We do not work in isolation. KAP at Integrative Mind is one pillar in a larger, personalized treatment plan that may also include medication management, TMS, standard psychotherapy, and holistic lifestyle practices.

Set, setting, and intention

Clinical literature consistently shows that your mindset and physical environment influence outcomes in psychedelic-assisted therapies. Sessions are held in calm, thoughtfully designed spaces. We invest in preparation precisely because the quality of the experience matters.

Integration-first philosophy

The dosing session is not the endpoint — it is the opening. Integration work, translating expanded awareness into new patterns of thought and behavior, is where lasting change lives. We structure more time for integration than most programs.

Is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy legal?
Yes. Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance with FDA approval as an anesthetic, and esketamine (Spravato) is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. Off-label prescribing of racemic ketamine for psychiatric use is legal and widely practiced by licensed physicians. All ketamine in our program is prescribed by Dr. Lewis or a collaborating medical provider.
Does insurance cover KAP?
The ketamine medication itself is typically not covered by insurance. However, psychotherapy sessions — preparation, dosing support, and integration — may be billable depending on your plan. We provide documentation to support psychotherapy reimbursement where applicable. Our team is happy to review your coverage situation during your free consultation.
How many sessions will I need?
A standard KAP program typically involves 2–6 ketamine dosing sessions, each accompanied by preparation and integration sessions. The exact number depends on your diagnosis, history, and treatment response. Some patients experience meaningful improvement after 2–3 sessions; others benefit from a longer course. We assess progress continuously and tailor the program accordingly.
What does a ketamine session feel like?
At therapeutic doses, ketamine produces a mild dissociative, introspective experience. You may notice a sense of mental distance from everyday concerns, altered perception of time, visual phenomena, and openness to reflection. Sessions are conducted lying down with an eye mask and curated music. Your therapist remains present throughout. Effects typically last 45 minutes to 2 hours, with recovery time included.
How is KAP different from a ketamine infusion clinic?
A ketamine infusion clinic typically administers IV ketamine in a medical setting for symptom relief, without an integrated psychotherapy component. KAP explicitly uses the ketamine experience as a catalyst for psychotherapeutic work — with structured preparation beforehand and integration sessions afterward. Research consistently shows this combination produces deeper and more durable outcomes than infusion alone.
Who is not a candidate for KAP?
KAP is contraindicated for people with uncontrolled hypertension, active psychosis or mania, certain cardiovascular conditions, or active substance abuse (excluding alcohol use disorder, where KAP has shown benefit). It is not appropriate as a first-line treatment. Our intake process carefully screens for these contraindications before any program is recommended.

Ketamine's unique properties make it a powerful and fast-acting antidepressant.

Ketamine was originally developed as an anesthetic in the 1960s.
In the early 2000s, researchers discovered its rapid antidepressant effects. Unlike traditional antidepressants that take weeks to work, ketamine can produce effects within hours to days.
FDA approved esketamine (Spravato) nasal spray in 2019 for treatment-resistant depression.
Ketamine therapy, while fast-acting, may lack the durability of other interventions such as TMS.

("How Ketamine Drug Helps with Depression", Yale Medicine, 2022)