Ketamine-assisted EMDR

The first question everyone asks: is it psychedelic?

No. This protocol uses a low-dose ketamine protocol that produces none of the dissociative or hallucinogenic effects associated with recreational use or higher clinical doses. You remain present, aware, and in control throughout the session. There are no hallucinations. You don't lose touch with reality.

What low-dose ketamine does do is temporarily quiet the parts of the brain responsible for rumination and deeply entrenched thought patterns. It creates a brief window of increased neuroplasticity — a state where the brain is more receptive to change than usual. That window is when we do the EMDR.

Why combine ketamine and EMDR

EMDR is already highly effective for trauma. But for some people — those with deeply entrenched trauma, treatment-resistant PTSD, or material that hasn't moved despite standard EMDR — the brain's defenses stay too high. Processing starts but doesn't complete. The nervous system keeps blocking access to what needs to be reached.

Low-dose ketamine temporarily lowers those defenses. It doesn't replace EMDR — it creates the conditions for EMDR to reach material that's otherwise inaccessible. For the right candidate, the combination can move things that years of standard treatment couldn't.

What a session looks like

You'll will get a prescription from a medical provider (we have some referrals for you). The ketamine is a dissolvable troche that you put under your tongue—-your prescriber will tell you exactly how to use it. You remain conscious and communicative. Your EMDR therapist works with you during the processing window, guiding bilateral stimulation and tracking what emerges. — You will need to arrange transportation and not be driving yourself home.

Who this is appropriate for

  • People who have done EMDR and feel stuck — processing that starts but doesn't complete

  • Treatment-resistant PTSD that hasn't responded adequately to other approaches

  • Complex trauma with very high nervous system activation

  • Those who want to do intensive trauma work and are prepared for a different format

This is not a first-step treatment. A thorough assessment determines whether it's appropriate. We'll be direct with you if it isn't the right fit.

Is it legal

Yes. Ketamine is FDA-approved and legal to prescribe and administer in clinical settings in the United States.
Note: we do not prescribe the medication but can refer you to some people who do.