Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Q&A with Margot Kahn at Modern Therapy
There’s been a lot of buzz around psychedelic-assisted therapy, but what does it mean? Who is it for? Is it safe? These questions are absolutely vital because as dedicated health practitioners in this field, we know in our bones how important it is to approach psychedelic work with all the insight we need to feel grounded, safe, and informed. It’s a completely normal and healthy reaction of protection that can come up when you consider opening up to a new way of healing within an altered state. We’re here to walk this with our fullest commitment to your safety and healing.
As we reflected on various ways to empower you with insight, we created this blog to be a safe space to land as you explore your curiosity. You never have to have things completely figured out on your own; and whether you’re all in to try psychedelic-assisted therapy or you’re just dipping your toe in to learn more, this blog aims to help you build understanding.
Choosing your healing modalities is such a personal question and that’s why we thought it would be a great idea to bring in our psychedelic-trained therapist, Margot Kahn, to answer some of the questions you may have on your mind when it comes specifically to ketamine-assisted therapy which we’ve started to introduce at Modern Therapy over the last year or so.
If you’ve met her already, you already know that Margot RADIATES warmth and authenticity and she’s here to offer a new lens on the topic and help you to explore it gently while getting to the bottom of any myths, misconceptions, or fears.
Let’s dive in!
Q: Let’s start with the basics! Can you explain what ketamine-assisted therapy is and how it works?
Margot: My pleasure! Ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP) is a healing approach where we combine the impact of ketamine in therapeutic doses with the unique safety of traditional therapy sessions to process it all together. Ketamine is used because of its unique effect on the brain. This powerful intervention has been found to open neural pathways and encourage new connections in mind, like hitting a reset button that allows you to break patterns and cycles that may make you feel a bit stuck.
We love to bring the ketamine to the traditional therapy setting so that we can sit together and establish some firm goals, intentions, and boundaries that make it the best experience possible. I’m here to guide you through the entire process as we explore what comes up in the safety of the space we’ve created here in our offices (or online from the comfort of your home).
The results we aim for are to find new ways to navigate depression, anxiety, trauma, and emotional pain. Everyone’s journey is a little bit different, but I’ve loved sitting alongside so many individuals and their unique way of maximizing the unleashing impact of ketamine.
Q: So, is ketamine an antidepressant? Can you tell us a bit more about how it helps with mental health?
Margot: I love the curiosity and that’s such a good question because we always want to know the “why” behind exploring a new way of healing. Especially with these alternative methods of therapy, understanding research and studies was so important to me.
Ketamine isn’t a traditional antidepressant like the type you might take daily in pill form. Instead, it works differently to impact the neurotransmitter glutamate, which plays a big role in your emotions. By activating this system, ketamine helps you break through those deep-seated emotional patterns that can feel hard to shift with talk therapy alone.
Ketamine offers a really unique pathway for people who are dealing with depression, especially if other treatments haven’t worked. It helps to create a space where you can access emotions and thought patterns that you might not be able to otherwise, allowing for deep healing and a fresh perspective.
So, when we use it in therapeutic doses occasionally under the supervision of a trained therapist or medical provider (or both), it can offer quick relief from depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, especially when paired with talk therapy.
We partner with Journey Clinical as a trusted medical provider that will discuss dosing, cadence for follow-up medical appointments, cost, and maintenance sessions so you can rest assured you’re in great hands.
[will insert this video clip talking to the state of depression from your kap event]
Q: I’d love to hear what makes ketamine therapy different from other therapies or medications
Margot: Ah, yes! This is a common question, and I love to dive deep into the ways that ketamine-assisted therapy (or any psychedelic-assisted therapy) is not necessarily better than other therapies but an option to enhance results for the right people who need something a bit different from what they’ve been doing.
One of the things that makes ketamine therapy stand out is that it gives you an entirely new way to engage with your emotions and memories. Ketamine helps you detach from your immediate thoughts to observe them from a distance and see things more clearly than you might otherwise. This is really helpful when you’re working through things like trauma or anxiety because it creates space for you to process difficult emotions without feeling overwhelmed. It’s not a replacement for talk therapy but rather a fantastic tool to use alongside it.
This isn’t to say psychedelic therapy is for everyone by any means, but I love it when people get curious and open themselves to learning more and asking questions from their trusted support system of therapists and medical providers to see what they need most.
Q: If you think about who ketamine-assisted therapy is for, what would be helpful to share with our community?
Margot: If you’re someone who’s feeling stuck in old patterns, whether it’s depression, anxiety, trauma, or even chronic pain, ketamine therapy can be a game-changer. It’s also great for couples looking to break negative communication cycles and see each other in a new light. That’s right–couples are more than welcome to experience ketamine-assisted therapy together, and it’s something I love guiding them through.
If you feel yourself hitting walls when you try to access certain parts of yourself in therapy, ketamine can be that fresh approach we take to unblock a bit and allow your walls to come down in the way you’re comfortable with. It’s always important to be sure you’re ready to try this approach to healing, and we’ll never force or recommend it to anyone who isn’t in a good mindset to get started.
Q: Can ketamine therapy support addiction?
Margot: Yes, it absolutely can if the addiction is not severe and you feel like you still have a level of self control. An example might be, “I haven’t had issues stopping my alcohol intake for dry January” or “I didn’t have issues not drinking during my pregnancy”, but you find yourself saying things like, “I just don’t like the habit I have of drinking a glass of wine (or two) at night because I’m stressed” or “sometimes I drink too much and feel terrible afterward.” We call this, “addiction-ish.” You have enough control that you don’t really feel fully in that category so to speak, but it’s enough of an issue to know that it’s personally a sticky point in your life. Ketamine’s ability to break negative thought patterns and help you see things from a new perspective makes it a potent tool for people struggling with addiction. It helps shift how you respond to old triggers and opens up new pathways for healing. It’s not a magic fix, but it can be a key part of a holistic approach to recovery.
If addiction is moderate to severe, an IV form of ketamine might be a better option administered by a medical professional. While this isn’t something we do at Modern Therapy, it might be worth asking about based on where you’re at.
We never know exactly what the results may be, but giving ketamine-assisted therapy a try if your healthcare providers and support team feel you’re in a good place with your addiction journey can be a transformative experience that may bring you a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationship to substances.
Q: What does a typical session look like?
Margot: This is something I’ll always review with you before we get started so you’re feeling so prepared and in your element as we get started. Each session starts with us talking about what you’re hoping to work through and setting an intention for the experience. Then you’ll take the ketamine lozenge, and we’ll begin the journey together.
I’m right there with you the whole time, holding space as you process whatever comes up. Afterward, we’ll have an integration session to talk about what you experienced and help you make sense of it. It’s all about making sure you feel supported and that we can take what you’ve learned and integrate it into your everyday life.
We can always continue our therapy sessions to process after the ketamine experience to deepen the insights and help you unpack them, so you never feel like you’re on your own to make sense of it all. I love moments when I can help people connect dots between their ketamine journey and other conversations we’ve had to slowly peel away the layers and help them feel at home with themselves in new ways.
Q: What can clients expect after their ketamine-assisted therapy sessions?
Margot: After a session, many people feel lighter, more open, and clearer. It’s like a weight has been lifted for them. The insights you gain can really shift the way you look at yourself and your life. Over time, these shifts can lead to deeper, lasting changes. It’s a journey, but a transformative one.
Sometimes, it's an emotional experience, and that’s why I think the combination of therapeutic support with the medication makes for the most comforting and enjoyable journey. It’s been incredible watching people step into this space and arrive at clarity they didn’t even know they were looking for.
Q: I imagine people would wonder, how long does it take to see results?
Margot: Totally, and it’s amazing to ask these questions so you feel informed and ready to step into the experience from the journey itself to the weeks following. Results can vary, but many people start feeling relief after just a few sessions.
It’s all about giving yourself the time and space to experience the changes. Sometimes, it’s a quick shift; other times, it takes a bit longer to integrate everything. What I can promise is that we’ll go at your pace and I’ll be there with you every step of the way.
This is another reason that therapy is always here to be your support system and enhance the potential for results to come into your life.
Q: Is there anything else you want people to know?
Margot: The biggest takeaway I’ve noticed that I would love to share with anyone learning more about ketamine-assisted therapy is that life or your symptoms don't have to be "so bad" in order to get the benefits of ketamine. Some people might want to try a new approach to learning about themselves and shake off old things that don't serve them. Where talk therapy falls short of accessing that release, ketamine can help your brain loosen and your soul open.
Ready to Explore? Let’s Connect.
If you're even a little curious about how ketamine-assisted therapy could help you on your journey, I invite you to schedule a free consultation with me to chat openly and honestly. This is a no-pressure space where we can discuss your goals, answer any questions, and explore if this approach is right for you. Healing doesn’t have to be a solo journey, and you deserve to feel supported every step of the way.
I’m excited to help you explore this transformative experience and see how ketamine-assisted therapy might be the key to unlocking deeper healing for you.