What Is a Typical Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ Session Like?

This week I attended an advanced training for Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ with psychotherapists Danielle Ciccone and Michele Topel, experts in both EMDR therapy and ketamine assisted psychotherapy™ and co-founders of the Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy Institute™.

There was an experiential portion of the training, during which time I was able to experience KA-EMDR for myself. Let me just say, the word “expansive” doesn’t quite cover it. 

Many of my clients come to me with questions, curious about what actually happens in a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) session, especially when it’s combined with something like EMDR therapy.

They’ve read about the benefits, and heard that it can help people move through long-standing impacts of trauma, anxiety, or depression. They still wonder: What does it feel like? What will I experience?

If you’ve been considering ketamine-assisted EMDR therapy™, this post is meant to walk you through what a typical session might look like, from the initial preparation sessions to integration, so you can approach the process with more clarity and a sense of calm.

Why Combine Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and EMDR Therapy?

Both Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy are evidence-based approaches that can promote deep healing. Although there are some similarities, they work in very different ways. Combining the two approaches has been gaining attention in recent years.

Both EMDR therapy and KAP rely on our inner healing intelligence and the brain’s adaptive information processing system to re-consolidate and integrate distressing experiences into more adaptive memory networks.

EMDR therapy helps the brain reprocess distressing memories and sensations that get “stuck” in the nervous system after the experience of trauma. 

Using bilateral stimulation in the form of eye movements, tactile pulsers held in each hand, or auditory stimulation experienced through headphones, clients are able to revisit old memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge and brings a sense of resolution.

Ketamine, on the other hand, is a medication prescribed by a doctor that works on a neurobiological level to create a window of neuroplasticity. Self-administering low-dose sublingual ketamine during the course of EMDR therapy can support the brain in forming new, more adaptive connections. 

It can temporarily quiet the default mode network, the part of the brain involved in self-criticism and rumination, allowing clients to access insights, emotions, or self-compassion that might normally feel out of reach.

When combined thoughtfully with a skilled therapist, ketamine and EMDR therapy can help clients move through emotional material with greater safety and gentleness, often leading to profound shifts in perspective and relief from symptoms that once felt entrenched.

First Step: Meet with Potential Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapists™ and Medical Providers for a Consultation

The first step in any Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ process is to find a therapist that will be a good fit. Most therapists will offer 15 to 20 minute consultations, which are complementary, to give you a chance to ask questions and determine if the therapist will be a good fit. 

No matter the modality, the factor that will have the most significant impact on your experience is the relationship you develop with your therapist. It’s important that you feel comfortable and safe.

You’ll also meet with a medical provider at this stage. Dr. Amy Waldron partners with Journey Clinical, a specialized medical practice that focuses exclusively on prescribing ketamine for use in psychotherapy. 

In this collaborative model, Journey Clinical’s licensed medical providers conduct a thorough medical evaluation to determine if ketamine is an appropriate option, prescribe the medication when clinically indicated, and monitor each client’s treatment plan. The medication is mailed to your local pharmacy.

Once a client decides to work with me for Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™, I usually spend a session or two completing an intake, familiarizing the client with the 8 phases of EMDR therapy, and taking a thorough history so we can decide how to make the most of our time together.

Second Step: Begin EMDR Therapy with Your Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapist™

EMDR therapy includes 8 phases. 

In phase 1 of EMDR therapy, I work with my clients to get a full understanding of their history, family dynamics, past and current relationships, cultural background, and any difficult or traumatic experiences they’ve experienced. 

We’ll also explore the client’s internal and external resources so we can develop a treatment plan together and map out which patterns to focus on first.

Throughout phases 1 and 2 of EMDR therapy, we’ll take time to set clear intentions, not rigid goals. We want to focus on the beliefs, emotions, behavioral patterns, body sensations, or trauma responses that will be most impactful to address through our work together.

In phase 2, I provide clients with an understanding of the process we’ll go through during the course of EMDR therapy, we’ll create their target sequence plan, and they’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and explore any anxieties or concerns that have come up. 

In these early meetings, I’ll also teach grounding and self-soothing techniques clients can use during and after each session. 

The goal is to create a foundation of trust, safety, and stability, so that when we move into the next phases of treatment, your system feels supported, not overwhelmed.

I’m often asked how many sessions are provided during the course of Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™. The answer is, it depends. I take a number of factors into consideration including trauma history, the nature of the trauma, and the frequency and duration of each session. 

The process should never feel rushed, but I also want to be mindful of your time and resources.

It’s recommended that Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ sessions are at least 90 minutes each, held weekly. I know this is not possible for all clients, but it will determine the pace at which we can move through the course of Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™. 

It’s also important to work at a pace at which we can see meaningful change, while not moving so quickly that it becomes destabilizing. This will be different for each client. 

Clients with complex developmental trauma or C-PTSD may need some time to develop additional resources as we dive deeper into their memories, so that they will have the most meaningful experience.

Third Step: Self-Administering Ketamine During Later Phases of Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™

Once we’ve developed a treatment plan, referred to in Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ as a target sequence plan, we’ll determine the date for the first session in which we’ll incorporate the prescribed sublingual ketamine into the session.

On the day of this session, you’ll arrive at Dr. Waldron’s office with your prescription, which will be in the form of a rapidly dissolving tablet (RDT) that you will self-administer sublingually during the session. 

In the previous session, we will have already discussed instructions that came from the medical provider, addressed questions and concerns, and developed a plan for the session.

Before we begin, we’ll talk about your comfort level and make sure you have everything you need. You’ll take your vitals to ensure safety, which will align with the plan developed by the medical provider. 

We’ll also review the form of bilateral stimulation we plan to use, which will be in the form of tactile buzzers or gentle tapping on your shoulders or thighs. Eye movements will not be used while you are under the effects of the medication.

Before you take the medication, we’ll begin the assessment phase of EMDR therapy, in which we will assess the memory we’ve chosen to work on and begin to stimulate the information stored at the time of the trauma. 

This can include emotions, body sensations, and the meaning and beliefs that may be tied to the memory. You will then self-administer the medication and swish for 8-10 minutes while the medication begins to take effect. 

Most clients describe a sense of relaxation or a softening of inner resistance. Some feel lighter, as though observing their thoughts and emotions from a more peaceful distance. Others experience vivid imagery, emotional insight, or a renewed sense of compassion for themselves.

Memory Reconsolidation During the Ketamine Experience

Once we activate the distressing memory and you’ve self-administered the ketamine medication, we will move into reprocessing the memory we’ve chosen to target using bilateral stimulation.

We may work with emotional themes or body sensations that arise spontaneously. You don’t need to talk in depth about what arises during this phase. In fact, I’ll ask you to simply notice much of what comes up for you.

The medicine often allows emotional material to surface with less fear or defensiveness. You may find yourself observing a difficult memory or emotion with a new perspective, or feeling a wave of release that had previously felt inaccessible.

My role during this time is to stay connected, grounded, and supportive, gently tracking your process and ensuring you feel safe throughout.

We won’t just explore difficult or distorted beliefs you may have been carrying about yourself. We’ll also identify and strengthen positive beliefs, even if they don’t yet feel believable or true. 

We’ll also scan the body and work with body sensations that arise, that may be linked with the memory or belief.

Integration Within the Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ Session

As the medicine’s effects begin to taper off, you’ll gradually return to a more alert state. We’ll spend time reflecting on what you experienced. This can include images, sensations, emotions, or insights gained.

Integration is not about interpreting or judging what happened, but rather allowing meaning to emerge naturally. Sometimes this involves linking new insights to past EMDR therapy work; other times, it’s about simply sitting with a sense of calm, clarity, or curiosity.

Many clients describe this part of the session as deeply grounding, a bridge between the inner world they explored and the external world they’re re-entering.

At this phase, reprocessing sessions will typically last a full 90 minutes to give us ample time to focus on each memory as it arises and to eventually return to a neutral state whether the reprocessing is complete or not. 

Final Steps: Integration Beyond the Session

The hours and days following a Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ Session are just as important as the session itself. I often recommend quiet reflection, journaling, or creative expression to help process what arose.

Because ketamine enhances neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections, the period after your session is a valuable window for consolidating positive change. You may notice subtle shifts in how you relate to yourself or others, or a newfound gentleness toward old patterns of thought.

In the following session, we’ll move through a process of re-evaluation in order to deepen understanding, reinforce insight, and set intentions for continued growth before moving on to the next memory in our target sequence plan.

Healing isn’t about “fixing” yourself, it’s about creating enough safety and openness for your nervous system to reorganize around compassion, trust, and truth.

What Clients Often Notice After Several Sessions

After a series of Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ sessions, clients often report a significant reduction in anxiety or depressive symptoms, increased capacity for emotional regulation and self-awareness, a sense of relief or spaciousness around previously painful memories, greater self-compassion, and a sense of inner calm.

For highly sensitive people (HSPs), this approach can feel especially supportive. The ketamine can help reduce emotional overstimulation or overwhelm, while EMDR therapy provides structure and grounding to integrate the memories and experience safely.

Is Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ Right for Me?

Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ may be helpful if you’ve been feeling stuck in traditional talk therapy or have a history of trauma, anxiety, or treatment-resistant depression. It can also support those navigating deep emotional blocks, grief, or self-critical patterns rooted in past experiences.

That said, it’s not for everyone. A medical evaluation is required to ensure safety, and we’ll always move at a pace that feels right for you. The process is never rushed. Each step is collaborative and grounded in respect for your body, mind, and readiness.

If You Still Have Questions About Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™, Consider Booking a Consultation

Healing is not linear, and it’s not about erasing the past. Therapy can support you in reclaiming your relationship with yourself. A Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ session can open new pathways for understanding, release, and growth, helping you reconnect with the parts of yourself that have been waiting to feel safe again.

If you’re curious about this approach or would like to learn more about how it might support your healing, I invite you to contact me to schedule a complementary 20-minute consultation. Together, we can explore whether Ketamine-Assisted EMDR therapy™ may be a good fit for you.

I tend to work best with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs), those with trauma or social anxiety that impacts their ability to form meaningful relationships, along with athletes and anyone struggling with overthinking. If Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy doesn’t feel like a good fit, I also provide traditional EMDR therapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Contact me today to learn more!

Disclaimer

This article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified medical provider before making decisions about your mental health care or medication use.