Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAP) is a breakthrough in mental health care, offering relief for those struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. At the Temenos Center of Integrative Psychology, we are committed to providing therapies that are not only effective but also fully compliant with California’s legal and ethical standards.
Here’s why we’ve chosen KAP as a cornerstone of our practice, a brief history of its legal use, and what you need to know about the future of psychedelics in mental health care.
What is Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy combines the therapeutic use of ketamine with psychotherapy to create a powerful healing experience. Ketamine’s unique properties help quiet negative thought patterns, making it easier to access emotions, gain new perspectives, and process difficult experiences during therapy.
In California, ketamine is fully legal for medical use, including mental health treatment, when administered by licensed professionals. This allows us to provide KAP in a safe, regulated environment while adhering to the highest standards of care.
A Brief History of Ketamine in Mental Health
Ketamine has been a trusted medical tool since the 1970s, first approved by the FDA as an anesthetic (Domino et al., 1982). Its safety and effectiveness in surgery, emergency care, and pain management have made it an indispensable part of modern medicine.
In the early 2000s, researchers discovered its rapid antidepressant effects. Studies like those by Zarate et al. (2006) found that low doses of ketamine could alleviate symptoms of depression within hours, even for individuals resistant to other treatments. This groundbreaking discovery paved the way for Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, now a legally recognized and evidence-based treatment for mental health conditions.
Ketamine Beyond Mental Health
Before its role in psychotherapy, ketamine was widely used in surgery and emergency medicine for its safety and effectiveness. It remains a life-saving medication in trauma care and chronic pain management (Dahan et al., 2014), reinforcing its reputation as a reliable and versatile tool.
The Future of Psychedelics in Mental Health
Beyond ketamine, other psychedelics such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms), MDMA, and ayahuasca are showing tremendous promise in treating PTSD, depression, and addiction (Carhart-Harris et al., 2018). These substances are currently being studied in clinical trials, with early results highlighting their potential to transform mental health care.
However, these therapies are not yet legal for general use. In 2025, California’s SB 58 sought to decriminalize certain psychedelics for therapeutic use, but the bill did not pass. While the future of psychedelic-assisted therapy is exciting, it remains out of reach for now.
SB 58 Information
Why We Choose Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
At the Temenos Center of Integrative Psychology, we believe in providing the most effective and legally sound options for our clients. Here’s why ketamine is our choice:
Legal and Regulated: Ketamine is fully legal for mental health care in California, ensuring we can provide therapy within the bounds of the law.
Proven Effectiveness: Decades of research support ketamine’s ability to rapidly alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Safety First: Ketamine has a long-standing safety record in both medical and therapeutic settings.
Integrated Care: We combine ketamine sessions with psychotherapy to help clients achieve lasting, meaningful results.
Ethical Practice: By focusing on ketamine, we adhere to rigorous ethical and clinical standards while staying informed about the evolving field of psychedelic therapy.
While we remain hopeful about the future of psychedelic-assisted treatments, ketamine is the safest and most accessible choice available today.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
If you’ve been searching for a transformative approach to mental health care, Ketamine-Assisted Therapy could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Contact us today to schedule a phone consultation and learn how KAP can help you move forward.
Visit our website or call [insert phone number].
At Temenos Center of Integrative Psychology, we choose ketamine because it’s safe, legal, and effective. Let us help you choose healing.
References
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, M., Rucker, J., Day, C. M., Erritzoe, D., Kaelen, M., ... & Nutt, D. J. (2018). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 399-408.
Dahan, A., Sarton, E., van der Schrier, R., & Smith, T. W. (2014). An update on ketamine analgesia. Current Opinion in Anesthesiology, 27(4), 468-473.
Domino, E. F., Chodoff, P., & Corssen, G. (1982). Pharmacologic effects of CI-581, a new dissociative anesthetic, in man. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 6(3), 279-291.
Zarate, C. A., Singh, J. B., Carlson, P. J., Brutsche, N. E., Ameli, R., Luckenbaugh, D. A., ... & Manji, H. K. (2006). A randomized trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist in treatment-resistant major depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(8), 856-864.
Comments