Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) pairs the unique neuroplastic window that ketamine opens with structured, relationship-centered psychotherapy. The medicine creates an opening; the therapeutic work is what turns that opening into durable change. At The Krasner Institute, KAP is a psychotherapy program with a medication component — not a medication service with therapy attached.
Our program is designed to treat depression that hasn’t improved with standard treatment, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that’s chronic or hard to treat. An active, ongoing relationship with a therapist, either at the Institute or an involved referring therapist, is required. It’s not suitable for people with active psychosis, mania, unstable heart conditions, or active substance use disorder, all of which get checked during screening.
The Science: How KAP Works Differently
Rapid Relief
While traditional antidepressants require weeks to build up in the system, ketamine’s effects begin within hours. Many patients experience significant improvement in mood, sleep, and functioning within 24 hours of their first treatment.
Breaking Stuck Patterns
Depression, PTSD, and anxiety create rigid, stuck patterns in the brain. Ketamine temporarily increases the brain’s ability to form new connections, creating a window where healthier patterns can develop.
Research Evidence
Clinical trials consistently show ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects, particularly in treatment-resistant depression. Studies demonstrate that 67% of PTSD patients achieve significant symptom reduction compared to just 20% with placebo treatments, with benefits lasting weeks after treatment.
Our Approach:
What Makes KAP at Krasner Institute Different
Integration with External Therapists
We collaborate intentionally with each patient’s existing therapist, designing preparation, dosing, and integration sessions with therapist input to ensure seamless treatment continuity and prevent the fragmentation that can occur in standalone ketamine clinics.
The Reliability of the Faculty Practice Plan
KAP is embedded in the Krasner Faculty Practice where treatment plans are reviewed in faculty rounds, ensuring patients benefit from the accountability and reliability of multiple perspectives rather than relying on a single provider.
Relational Trust as the Catalyst
We believe relational trust is central to therapeutic transformation, providing the safe container needed for patients to engage fully in ketamine’s altered state, process safely, and carry forward meaningful insights.
What to Expect During Treatment
During Treatment:
Patients may experience mild dissociative effects—a feeling of detachment from their usual thoughts and worries. Many describe this as peaceful, meditative, or enlightening, providing temporary relief from negative thinking patterns and new perspectives on their problems.
Safety Profile:
Current Offering: Sublingual and IV Ketamine
Sublingual Administration
Under-the-tongue tablets, carefully dosed for safety and efficacy, offering a gentler introduction with at-home and supervised options depending on patient needs.
IV Administration
Intravenous ketamine infusions provide higher precision and control over dosing with flexible titration to match clinical needs, conducted in our dedicated medical setting for optimal safety.
Monitoring
Each patient undergoes medical screening, vitals monitoring, and ongoing psychiatric oversight regardless of administration method.
Treatment Journey
Assessment & Preparation
Dosing Sessions
Integration
Why Choose KAP at Krasner Institute
We are not a ketamine clinic—we are a faculty practice built on trust, collaboration, and accountability where every patient is supported by a team of clinicians working together to ensure that ketamine becomes not just an intervention, but a catalyst for enduring transformation.