Ketamine is a medication that has traditionally been used as an anesthetic in medical settings. In recent years, however, it has also been studied as a potential treatment for depression, anxiety, trauma and addiction. When used in the context of psychotherapy, ketamine is thought to work by disrupting the abnormal functioning of certain areas of the brain and generate (or regenerate), new neural pathways.

During a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy session, a person would typically be self-administer a low dose of ketamine under the supervision of a trained mental health provider. The ketamine is intended to produce a mild, short-lived dissociative state that allows the person to experience their emotions and thoughts in a different way. In the integration session, the psychotherapist can then help the person explore these experiences and work through any underlying issues that may be contributing to their issues.

While ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is still considered to be an off-label use, research has suggested that it may be effective in helping people who have not responded to other forms of treatment.