KAP 101
at The Ko-Op
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a therapeutic approach that combines ketamine with structured psychotherapy. At The Ko-Op, KAP is introduced gently and clearly, helping individuals understand what ketamine is, how therapy and medicine work together, and why guidance, safety, and intention matter throughout the process.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
What Is KAP Foundationally?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a carefully guided treatment that combines low-dose ketamine with professional psychotherapy support. As clinicians, we’ve seen how KAP can help reduce emotional distress, increase psychological flexibility, and open space for meaningful insight when traditional therapy hasn’t been enough.
KAP isn’t about numbing or avoiding emotions. It’s a structured, medically supervised process designed to support safety, reflection, and integration. Each experience is guided by licensed professionals trained in this work. For those feeling stuck, KAP may offer a clinically grounded path toward clarity, healing, and lasting change.
KAP as a Therapeutic Framework
KAP is not a standardized protocol or a one-size-fits-all treatment. It is a flexible therapeutic framework that adapts to each person’s history, nervous system, and therapeutic goals, allowing care to evolve rather than follow a fixed formula.
Beginning With Readiness, Not Medication
At The Ko-Op, treatment begins with readiness—not dosing. Psychological stability, emotional capacity, coping skills, and support systems are assessed before ketamine is introduced to ensure the work unfolds safely and meaningfully.
The KAP Process at The Ko-Op
KAP at The Ko-Op is a collaborative, phased process that integrates medical care and psychotherapy. Each stage builds on the last, allowing treatment to progress at a pace that supports both safety and depth treatment.
Integrated Medical & Psychological Assessment
Medical and psychological evaluations are conducted collaboratively rather than in isolation. Prescribers and therapists work together to assess eligibility, risks, and readiness, creating a shared foundation for individualized care.
Designing an Individualized Dosing Strategy
There is no universal ketamine dose. Dosing decisions are tailored to each client based on sensitivity, trauma history, anxiety levels, dissociation tolerance, and therapeutic goals, with adjustments made over time as needed.
Choosing the Right Setting for Your Care
KAP sessions may occur in-office or at home, depending on clinical needs and support systems. Safety planning, monitoring requirements, and environmental considerations are carefully reviewed to ensure the setting supports regulation and trust.
Preparation for Our KAP Clients & Creating the Therapeutic Container
Preparation sessions help clients understand what to expect and how to work with ketamine therapeutically. Together with a therapist, clients develop intentions, grounding tools, and emotional supports that create a safe and meaningful therapeutic container.
Medicine Sessions Held in Therapeutic Relationship
Medicine sessions are always held within an ongoing therapeutic relationship, allowing experiences to be supported, paced, and integrated. Medicine is only provided within a therapeutic frame.
Integration: Turning Insight Into Change
Integration sessions help translate ketamine experiences into lasting change. Clients process insights, emotions, and patterns in therapy, ensuring the work continues beyond the medicine session itself.
Why Our Model Is Different
The Ko-Op prioritizes collaboration, individualized care, and ethical pacing. Rather than focusing on access or rapid dosing, we emphasize safety, integration, and alignment between medicine and psychotherapy.
Is KAP Right for You?
KAP can be helpful for many people, but it is not appropriate for everyone. Eligibility depends on medical history, psychological readiness, and available support, and we are committed to helping individuals make informed decisions about their care.
Hi, I’m Katharine Berg, LCSW.
For over twenty years, I’ve been drawn to the places where people feel most stuck, moments when insight alone isn’t enough and something deeper is asking for attention. Early in my career, I worked with individuals handling complex trauma and survival-based patterns, shaping how I understand the nervous system’s role in healing. That work taught me that meaningful change often begins in uncomfortable spaces.
Over time, I sought approaches that help quiet the busy mind and create space to listen inward. This led me to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), which I integrate as a supportive, intentional process. I work collaboratively, emphasizing safety, curiosity, and integration, and I offer sliding-scale options when possible.
📍 Offering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Pennsylvania, with in-person and virtual options.
Hi, I’m Dr. Christopher Deussing, LCSW, DSW.
I believe deeply in the potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to support healing of the mind, body, and spirit. With more than twenty-five years of clinical experience, I’ve seen how this work can help people access emotions, insights, and perspectives that often feel out of reach through traditional therapy alone.
In my practice, I focus on Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) as a way to create meaningful openings for growth and change. I prioritize safety, intention, and strong therapeutic support, and I work collaboratively to develop a treatment approach that reflects each client’s needs, readiness, and goals.
📍 Providing KAP services across Pennsylvania, both in person and online.
Hi, I’m Sarah Lobb, LSW.
I practice psychotherapy from a psychodynamic and relational lens, with a deep appreciation for how past experiences shape our present lives. I’m drawn to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for its ability to expand awareness and invite people into meaningful, honest encounters with themselves. This work often allows new insights, emotions, and perspectives to emerge in ways that feel both profound and grounding.
I support individuals navigating grief and loss, life transitions, and shifts in motivation or focus. I also work with those impacted by compulsive patterns, both personally and within family systems. My approach emphasizes attuned presence, resilience, and creating space for reconnection with oneself.
📍 Serving clients in Pennsylvania through Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, in person and remotely.
Hi, I’m Gwenn Prinbeck, LSW, PCC.
I view psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as a way to support openness, self-exploration, and meaningful connection, especially for those feeling stuck or disconnected. My role is to create a safe, supportive space where each experience can unfold at its own pace, with care given to preparation, intention, and integration.
I work collaboratively my approach is compassionate and contemplative, informed by family systems and experiential methods, including somatic and mindful practices. I’m committed to helping clients heal emotional wounds, strengthen self-acceptance, and build deeper, more resilient relationships with themselves and others.
📍 KAP services available in Pennsylvania, including virtual and in-office sessions.
Hi, I’m Diane Nachamkin, MSN, CRNP.
I’m a nurse practitioner with over thirty years of experience in medical care, much of my work focused on supporting individuals through complex and life-changing health conditions. Over time, I became increasingly aware of the emotional and psychological impact that often remains long after medical treatment ends.
My professional journey led me to explore integrative and mind-body approaches, including Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). After completing specialized KAP training, I joined the Ko-Op in order to provide this emerging therapy in a safe, thoughtful, and clinically responsible way. My goal is to support both physical and emotional healing by combining medical expertise with compassionate, whole-person care.
📍 Medical prescriber offering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy services throughout Pennsylvania, virtually and in person.
Hi, I’m Dr. Sophia Brandstetter, LCSW, PsyD.
I’m a licensed psychotherapist and the Clinical Director of The Ko-Op, with a background rooted in psychodynamic, relational, and psychoanalytic approaches. My work focuses on understanding how emotional patterns, past experiences, and unconscious narratives shape present-day life. Over time, I’ve become deeply attuned to the importance of safety, trust, and witnessing in creating meaningful therapeutic change.
My professional path led me to incorporate Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) as a way to support deeper exploration and integration of mind and body. I approach this work as a collaborative and intentional process, grounded in strong therapeutic support. My goal is to help clients access insight, healing, and lasting change through thoughtful, relationship-centered care.
📍 Supporting clients in Pennsylvania with in-person and online Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Hi, I’m L’Oréal Porçeia McCollum, LCSW, LICSW, CST, CCTP.
At the heart of my work is care for moments when people feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward. My practice integrates somatic awareness, parts work, and relational therapy to support healing across trauma, identity shifts, grief, sexuality, and creativity. I’m drawn to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) for the spaciousness it offers—allowing the body to soften and quieter parts of the self to be heard.
Through my work with The Ko-Op, I provide KAP that is culturally attuned, affirming, and rooted in liberation-centered care. I’m committed to creating accessible, inclusive spaces where clients can bring their full selves into the healing process.
📍 Offering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy to individuals throughout Pennsylvania, virtually and in person.
Hi, I’m Elizabeth Purdy, LCSW, licensed in New Jersey.
I provide Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) exclusively through telehealth to adults living in New Jersey. My background includes clinical social work across diverse settings, which shaped my interest in trauma and the mind–body connection. I integrate traditional psychotherapy with holistic approaches to support anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, and life transitions.
I’m drawn to KAP for its ability to create meaningful access to deeper self-awareness when talk therapy alone feels limited. My approach is collaborative, grounding, and client-centered, with an emphasis on safety, integration, and authentic healing. I aim to help clients reconnect with themselves and move toward growth with greater clarity and compassion.
📍 Pennsylvania-based KAP services, with flexible in-person and online care options.
Hi, I’m Eriach Fox, LPC, MHS, LCADC.
I have over twenty-five years of experience in behavioral health and believe psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can support people in integrating their lived experiences and reconnecting with a sense of wholeness. My approach is grounded in compassion, safety, and understanding how different parts of the self carry both protection and pain.
I integrate Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) with supportive modalities such as EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help identify and heal burdened parts. I work collaboratively to create an experience that feels contained and meaningful, guiding clients toward greater balance, self-trust, and integration in both mind and body
📍 Providing accessible Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy across Pennsylvania, in person or online.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What conditions can KAP support?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) can support individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma-related symptoms, and mood disorders that have not fully responded to traditional treatments. It may also be helpful for people experiencing existential distress or rigid emotional patterns. KAP is a therapeutic tool that can increase psychological flexibility and insight, allowing for new ways of relating to emotions, experiences, and long-standing patterns.
2. Is ketamine safe?
Ketamine has a long history of medical use and is considered safe when administered in a controlled, clinical setting with proper screening and monitoring. Prior to treatment, clients undergo a thorough medical and psychological evaluation to assess risk factors and contraindications, and dosing is carefully managed by a licensed prescriber. Ketamine is an anesthetic that has a calming effect on the nervous system, which can reduce defensive responses and create greater capacity for emotional processing. This temporary shift can allow individuals to access and work through traumatic material that may feel blocked or overwhelming in ordinary waking consciousness. Side effects are typically short-lived and discussed in advance, and safety remains a central focus throughout the entire process.
3. Will I be dissociated or out of control during sessions?
Some clients experience a mild to moderate dissociative state, which can feel like increased distance from everyday thoughts or sensations. Most people remain aware, able to communicate, and oriented throughout the session. The intention of this work is to create what is known as a psycholytic effect, which is achieved through lower doses of medicine so the experience remains therapeutic and relational. This allows clients to stay present, talk through the session, and work actively with the therapist. Higher doses, which are more commonly associated with IV ketamine treatments, often produce deeper dissociation and typically do not include therapeutic support; in KAP, the goal is safety, collaboration, and meaningful psychological work—not loss of control.
4. How many KAP sessions will I need?
The number of sessions varies depending on individual needs, goals, and responses to treatment. Some clients benefit from a short series of sessions, while others engage in longer-term work. KAP is often structured around preparation, medicine sessions, and integration therapy. Progress is reviewed regularly to guide next steps. There is no predetermined “one-size-fits-all” timeline.
5. Is KAP done in person or at home?
KAP can be offered in person or, in some cases, through carefully structured at-home sessions. The format depends on clinical appropriateness, safety considerations, and provider recommendations. Some clients begin with in-person sessions before transitioning to remote work. All options include therapeutic support and integration. The setting is chosen to maximize safety and therapeutic benefit.
6. Do I need to be in therapy to do KAP?
Yes, ongoing psychotherapy is a core component of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. The medicine alone is not the treatment—the therapeutic relationship and integration work are essential. Therapy helps prepare for the experience and make meaning of what emerges afterward. Clients may work with a therapist within our practice or an outside provider. Coordination of care is prioritized.
7. What if KAP isn’t right for me?
KAP is not appropriate for everyone, and that determination is made thoughtfully and collaboratively. If ketamine is not a good fit, we will discuss alternative treatment options and referrals. Declining or discontinuing KAP does not mean you have failed or run out of options—many paths to healing exist. This is also why we do not require monthly packages or bundled treatment plans; we believe clients should have flexibility and autonomy in shaping their care. Our goal is to support your wellbeing in the safest, most ethical, and most effective way.
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