Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Rochester, NY
There is no doubt that evidence-based psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, or a combination of the two can be life-changing for many people.
Unfortunately, there are times when these interventions do not provide sufficient relief. Some find themselves dealing with persistent treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, or trauma symptoms despite multiple treatment attempts. Others struggle with "diminishing returns" on their medications – finding them less effective over time and often accompanied by significant side effects.
If antidepressants have stopped working, or if you feel stuck despite years of therapy, you are not alone – and there may be a path forward.
Who Is KAP For?
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in Rochester, NY may be right for you if you are:
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Struggling with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or trauma-related symptoms, and...
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Have already tried first-line treatments – therapy, antidepressants, or both – without achieving lasting relief.
We have also observed meaningful benefits for patients living with chronic pain. Along with improved depression and anxiety, these patients report reduced pain interference and improved quality of life after KAP treatment. For those dealing with the difficult overlap of chronic pain and depression or anxiety, KAP offers a treatment approach that addresses both simultaneously – something few interventions can do.
Regardless of the initial referral reason – chronic pain, PTSD, treatment-resistant anxiety, depression, or OCD – KAP helps people break the cycles that have kept them stuck.
KAP is not safe for individuals with a history of a psychotic disorder or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
How It Works
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with a decades-long safety record in anesthesia, emergency medicine, and pain clinics. In the context of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), it works by increasing neuroplasticity through the glutamate neurotransmitter network. In therapeutic doses, it elicits a non-ordinary state of consciousness that encourages reflection and observation of a person's inner world. Psychedelic in nature, ketamine experiences can allow new perspectives on challenging or painful patterns of thinking.
When used alone as a medication, ketamine can offer immediate reduction in symptoms. This is the model used by ketamine infusion clinics – medication without accompanying psychotherapy. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is different: working with a therapist trained in KAP provides valuable assistance in preparation, intention setting, and treatment planning – and most importantly, the integration of insights gained during the experience into lasting behavioral and emotional change.
The supportive process of KAP allows for deeper processing and application, which can lead to lasting changes – ultimately reducing or eliminating the need for ongoing medication sessions.
At Rezenity Health in Pittsford, NY, we use a research-validated protocol to ensure safety and high-quality results. Our process for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy involves a comprehensive intake, preparatory sessions, medicated psychotherapy sessions lasting 3 hours, and integration sessions. Most individuals have a positive response to treatment by the fourth medicated session.
Preparation, Dosing, and Integration
Preparation
Prior to beginning any dosing, individuals complete a series of preparation sessions (at least 4, with additional sessions as clinically indicated). Guided by their KAP therapist, individuals identify where they have plateaued in their treatment and create meaningful, clinically relevant intentions for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Preparation involves psychoeducation, detailed history gathering, preparing for possible outcomes and experiences, treatment planning, and building rapport.
This process also allows for the development of comfort and trust prior to entering a non-ordinary state of consciousness – an important safety element that sets KAP apart from taking ketamine without therapeutic support.
Dosing – Connecting the Cognitive and the Experiential
It is one thing to "know" that anxiety or trauma responses are unhelpful in the moment – and quite another to change the feeling in the body. This is the gap that ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is uniquely positioned to bridge.
Ketamine produces an altered state of consciousness, and individuals may have dream-like visual or sensory experiences infused with personal meaning and symbolism. While under the influence (typically 60–90 minutes), this altered state allows people to confront experiences or themes they might otherwise avoid. In doing so, they often observe a shift in their physiological reaction to triggers, and an enhanced ability to offer compassion to themselves.
At Rezenity Health, dosing sessions are scheduled for three hours. This allows time for settling in, self-administering the medication, and then beginning discussion of themes at the end of the session. Your KAP therapist will be present during the entire experience – able to offer support, grounding, and guidance as needed. We only conduct dosing sessions in person.
Integration – Building Lasting Change
Integration begins immediately following dosing, with the KAP therapist facilitating translation of the individual's experience into intentional steps toward change. This is what transforms a ketamine session into lasting therapeutic progress – not simply using a medicine to feel better until it wears off.
Concrete goals are set for the 48 hours following dosing to maximize the benefit of the increased neuroplasticity provided by ketamine. Integration sessions are held within 48 hours of ketamine sessions to follow up on progress and set additional goals for optimal benefit.
What Makes Rezenity Different
Safety
We work with local, trusted medical providers for evaluation and prescribing. Dosing sessions only occur after substantial preparation with our KAP-trained therapist – and your therapist is present for your entire 3-hour dosing session. Unlike ketamine infusion clinics where medication is administered without a psychotherapist in the room, Rezenity's model is therapist-led from start to finish.
Cost and Insurance Access
Compared to ketamine taken on its own, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy offers more lasting benefit and is more cost-effective for patients over the long term. Importantly, all preparation and integration sessions can be billed through your insurance as standard psychotherapy services – a significant advantage over ketamine infusion clinics, where all sessions are self-pay. Dosing sessions are not covered by insurance and are self-pay. Financial hardship options are available for those who qualify.
Results
Our research-backed model of preparation, dosing, and integration works. We recommend a minimum trial of 4 dosing sessions and measure symptoms at regular intervals. On average, patients experience 50% or greater symptom reduction after 4 dosing sessions, with many reaching remission status by the end of the first trial – including patients with long-standing treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and chronic pain.
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Proven Safety Record: Ketamine has a decades-long history of safe clinical use in anesthesia, emergency rooms, pain clinics, and psychiatric care.
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Mild, Temporary Side Effects: The most common side effects — dissociation, nausea, headache, anxiety, or temporary changes in heart rate and blood pressure — are usually mild and resolve on their own.
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Effective for Mental Health: KAP is a proven, evidence-based treatment option for managing treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and chronic pain-related conditions.
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An Extra Layer of Support: Combining ketamine with psychotherapy helps you safely navigate and process intense or traumatic memories that may surface during the experience — making therapist-led KAP safer and more effective than ketamine taken without trained therapeutic support.
Additional peer-reviewed research on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy:
The Research Behind KAP
Insurance and Pricing
Does Insurance Cover Ketamine-Assisted Therapy?
One of the most common questions we hear from patients exploring KAP in Rochester is whether insurance will help cover the cost. The answer: yes — in part, and it's a meaningful difference.
If you choose to use your insurance, we can bill all preparatory and integration sessions as psychotherapy services under your benefits. This typically covers 12 or more sessions across a full treatment protocol — sessions that at a standard self-pay rate would cost $2,400 or more.
The ketamine dosing sessions are not covered by any insurance and are self-pay only. Our 3-hour dosing sessions are $600 each. A minimum of 4 dosing sessions is recommended — a total dosing cost of $2,400 for a full first trial.
Understanding Your Investment
Investing in your mental health is a significant step, and we want to make the financial side as transparent and affordable as possible. Our treatment protocol offers a very high potential for fast and lasting relief — and by utilizing your insurance, you may be able to significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Here is how the cost typically breaks down when using insurance versus self-pay:
Because deductible and co-pay structures vary, your final out-of-pocket savings will depend on your specific provider. Our admissions team is happy to help you run a complimentary benefits check. You may also use HSA or FSA funds toward KAP treatment. Payment plans through Prosper or Affirm are available, and income-based financial hardship rates are available for qualifying patients.
FAQ About Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
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