Wiser Counseling offers ketamine-assisted therapy in Scottsdale & Tempe, AZ for adults whose depression, anxiety, or trauma has not eased with medication and talk therapy alone. A carefully screened, medically supervised ketamine experience is paired with preparation and integration sessions with a licensed therapist, so the openness a session brings can turn into real, lasting change.
Ketamine was first developed as an anesthetic. At much lower doses, it acts on the brain’s NMDA receptors and sets off a surge of glutamate, which supports neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections. Ketamine-assisted therapy, also called ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), pairs that window of flexibility with psychotherapy. Ketamine is a prescription medicine, so it is prescribed and monitored by a licensed medical provider after a medical screening, while your Wiser therapist guides the therapy before, during, and after each session.
Care starts with a full review of your mental health and medical history: past diagnoses, the medications you have tried, current prescriptions and supplements, and family history. A medical screening checks blood pressure, heart health, possible drug interactions, and pregnancy status, so ketamine is only offered when it is a safe fit for you.
Before any ketamine session, you meet with your therapist to set clear intentions, talk through what the experience may feel like, and practice grounding skills. This groundwork builds trust and helps you feel safe and ready, which matters as much as the medicine itself.
Sessions take place in a calm, comfortable setting with your vital signs monitored. Ketamine can bring a relaxed, dreamlike state and some distance from painful thoughts, and you are supported throughout. Plan for a ride home afterward, since driving is not safe for the rest of the day.
In the days after a session, integration therapy helps you make sense of what came up and turn new insights into everyday change. Your therapist may weave in approaches such as EMDR, IFS / parts work, or psychodynamic therapy, so progress continues long after the medicine wears off.
Ketamine-assisted therapy typically costs about $400–$800 per session nationwide, and Scottsdale-area clinics often charge around $550 for a 90-minute session that includes the medication. An initial medical evaluation is usually billed separately. Ketamine itself is rarely covered by insurance, while preparation and integration sessions with your therapist may be billed like regular therapy. Book a consultation for an accurate quote for your treatment plan.
Ketamine-assisted therapy at Wiser Counseling in Scottsdale & Tempe is offered by therapists trained in this approach, including our founder, Anna Liu, LCSW, who brings more than 18 years of clinical experience and training in psychedelic integration, and Tiffani Robinson, LAC. As a trauma-informed, attachment-based practice, we treat ketamine as one part of real therapy, never a quick fix, and we only recommend it when it truly fits your needs.
-Q. Imandel
THERAPY THAT FITS YOU
