Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy – Beyond The Basics

This workshop provides a clinically grounded introduction to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) for licensed therapists and mental health professionals interested in integrating or collaborating within this model of care. 

Participants will gain an understanding of ketamine’s neurobiological effects, its impact on cognition and emotional processing, and how it can enhance therapeutic flexibility when used alongside psychotherapy. The session will also differentiate between common delivery methods (IV/IM, oral, intranasal) and how each influences the therapeutic experience and clinical outcomes.

Emphasis will be placed on patient selection, safety considerations, and the critical roles of preparation and integration in optimizing outcomes. Attendees will be introduced to a collaborative care model that outlines how therapists and medical providers work together to support patients throughout the treatment process, with the goal of helping participants confidently evaluate when ketamine therapy may be appropriate within their clinical practice.

Workshop Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Describe the basic neurobiological mechanisms of ketamine and its therapeutic effects
• Differentiate between common ketamine delivery methods and their clinical implications
• Identify appropriate candidates and contraindications for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
• Explain the roles of preparation, dosing sessions, and integration in the KAP process
• Recognize key safety considerations and risk mitigation strategies
• Understand the structure of a collaborative care model between therapist and medical provider
• Evaluate when referral for ketamine therapy may be appropriate within their practice

About the Speakers:

Richard Clark, CRNA, APRN, (He/him)

Richard has been working with ketamine for 26years as a Nurse Anesthetist. He takes a holistic integrative approach to health, wellness, life, and patient care at AyaFusion Ketamine Clinic. His passion is assisting people to take a more integrative approach to health and wellness, which includes diet, mindfulness, exercise, meditation, and more targeted strategies like ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) for mood disorders. He is continually inspired by the people who have been able to change the direction of their lives after years of suffering by using KAP and mindfulness practices to step out of the darkness of depression, pain, and despair.

Social Media:  @ayafusionketamine

www.ayafusionketamine.com

Autumn Starks, LCSW, (She/her)

​​​Autumn has been practicing psychotherapy for 14 years. She loves joining with clients and bearing witness to their growth, development, and healing.

Autumn works most with folks struggling with mood or anxiety, with or without a history of trauma. She has a passion for supporting those who have struggled to find relief, despite trying other approaches to recover from mental health struggles. She works especially well with those who are struggling to make sense of challenging experiences.

Before beginning her work with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Autumn worked with clients using a grounded and meditative approach to therapy called Internal Family Systems (IFS). IFS has been found to be an especially effective therapeutic framework for those integrating medicines such as Ketamine to their mental health treatment. 

Autumn brings a unique perspective to our team, offering innovative approaches to ketamine assisted therapy that have yielded remarkable results.

You can also work with Autumn in Oak Park at Starks Therapy Group.

https://www.starkstherapygroup.com/

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*Workshop participants who opt to receive CE certification, please select the CEU option under “Extra Service”. This workshop fulfills the requirements for 2 CE credits. CE sponsorship is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), credits are applicable to LCSW and transferrable to LCPC in Illinois. If you have a different licensure or are licensed outside of Illinois, please check with your licensure body before purchasing. 

Please note that we require your live attendance in order to issue CE certificates. If you are unable to attend live, please let us know at least 48 hours before the event.