Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy for eating disorders in California.
A gentle, innovative path to healing
For many women, traditional eating disorder treatments alone don’t always bring the full relief they’re longing for. Feelings of fear, self-criticism, and food-related anxiety can keep looping, even with years of effort.
At my practice in Berkeley, California, ketamine-assisted therapy offers a different way forward. By combining the healing potential of ketamine with the safety and guidance of a skilled therapist, clients often experience breakthroughs that can feel out of reach in ordinary talk therapy.
Why Ketamine for Eating Disorders?
Ketamine is a medicine that has been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and rigid thought patterns. In the context of eating disorders, this can mean:
Easing the grip of obsessive food thoughts
Soothing harsh self-criticism and body shame
Opening space for self-compassion and curiosity
Increasing flexibility to try new, nourishing behaviors
While ketamine is not a “magic cure,” research and clinical experience suggest that, when paired with psychotherapy, it can help unlock stuck patterns and support deep healing.
Ketamine-assisted therapy for eating disorders may be right for you if:
You live in or can travel to Berkeley, California
You feel trapped in cycles of restriction, bingeing, or purging
You struggle with body image and food anxiety
You’ve tried other therapies without the progress you hoped for
You want a gentle, research-informed alternative
Who It’s For
How It Works (at my Berkeley office)
Medical Screening
You’ll receive a full medical evaluation through our collaborating physician in Berkeley to ensure ketamine is safe for you.Preparation Sessions
Together, we set intentions and create a plan so you feel supported going in.In-Person Ketamine Sessions
Sessions take place in a safe, comfortable setting in Berkeley, California, with warmth and care.Integration Therapy
After each session, we meet to process insights and apply them directly to your eating disorder recovery.
FAQs
-
Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mentalhealth conditions, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. Ketamine hasrapidly-acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin totake effect within 1-2 hrs. after treatment and last for up to 2 weeks. It works byblocking the brain’s NMDA receptors as well as by stimulating AMPA receptors,which are thought to help form new synaptic connections and boost neuralcircuits that regulate stress and mood. Ketamine has also been shown toenhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.
-
Once we decide that KAP is something you’d like to try, you’ll schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment, and determine if you are eligible.
If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you.
Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a ketamine prescription for you, and enough medicine for the first 2 KAP sessions will be sent to you.
-
Preparation Sessions
Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, we will schedule our KAP preparation, dosing, and integration sessions. Preparation sessions will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of preparation sessions is to align on the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.
KAP Dosing Session
A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 3-4 hours and takes place in person at my office or depending on location and other factors, in the comfort of your own home.
During a dosing session, you will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.
Integration Sessions
After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts, and insights that arose during your dosing session, and if applicable, to prepare for your next dosing session.
Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical
After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team schedules regular follow-ups with you to monitor outcomes and, as appropriate, prescribe ketamine lozenge refills for future sessions. The frequency of follow-ups depends on your unique treatment plan.
-
Cost of Treatment
Preparation and Integration sessions are my regular rate of $225/50-minute session. Ketamine dosing sessions range from 3-4 hours and are $700 for a 3 hr session and $900 for a 4 hr session.
I do recommend a series for 4 sessions for maximum benefit and efficacy of treatment.
-
No, many clients travel to Berkeley for treatment sessions. I can travel to your location in California with ample planning.