COUPLES KETAMINE-ASSISTED THERAPY
You understand the pattern.
But you keep getting pulled back into it.
A more experiential approach to couples therapy for partners who want to explore familiar emotional reactions, protective patterns, and connection in a different way.
Limited couples ketamine-assisted psychotherapy availability is planned in Berkeley, California.
Susan M. Regan, LMFT
California License #31600 · Massachusetts Marriage and Family Therapist License #1924
Psychotherapy is available to eligible clients located in California and Massachusetts.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy requires clinical assessment, appropriate medical screening and oversight, informed consent, and eligibility for Susan's clinical services.
THE RELATIONAL PROBLEM
What if knowing the pattern hasn't been enough to change it?
You may already know the language: pursuing and withdrawing, defensiveness, triggers, listening, validating, and communicating differently.
And yet, when something important gets activated, old reactions can return quickly. One of you becomes reactive. The other withdraws. Both leave the conversation feeling misunderstood, hurt, or alone.
Understanding the pattern matters. But understanding and experiencing the relationship differently are not always the same thing.
Ketamine-assisted couples therapy offers an opportunity to explore familiar emotional and relational patterns through a more experiential therapeutic process.
HEAR FROM SUSAN
Hear Susan explain the approach
Susan explains why couples can understand their patterns intellectually and still be pulled into familiar reactions, and how a more experiential approach may provide a different therapeutic opportunity.
MOVING BEYOND INSIGHT
Sometimes insight is only part of the work.
Sometimes the challenge isn't knowing what to do. It's that reactions happen faster than intentions.
Under appropriate clinical conditions, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may help some people approach familiar emotions, memories, and protective responses with more openness and curiosity.
For couples, the purpose is not an unusual experience for its own sake, but a chance to notice yourself, your partner, and the relationship differently — then bring that awareness back to daily life.
Research specifically involving ketamine-assisted couples psychotherapy remains limited. This is an emerging clinical approach, not a guaranteed outcome.
POSSIBILITIES TO EXPLORE
What can become possible when the pattern loosens?
These are areas to explore in therapy, not guaranteed results.
Recognize the cycle
Understand repeating arguments, triggers, and protective responses.
Reduce reactivity
Notice the space between a trigger and a familiar defensive response.
Deepen compassion
Become more curious about what lies beneath each partner's reaction.
Practice vulnerability
Make room for feelings beneath anger, withdrawal, criticism, or fear.
Build emotional safety
Practice listening, responding, and staying connected through difficulty.
Bring insight into daily life
Translate experiences into relationship practices beyond the session.
THE THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCE
Different experiences can serve different purposes
When clinically appropriate, Susan may incorporate different forms of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy into an individualized treatment plan.
Psycholytic ketamine-assisted therapy
A lower-dose experience that generally allows more active engagement with Susan during the session. It may help explore emotions, reactions, and chronic relational patterns with greater openness.
Longer ketamine-assisted experience
A longer, more immersive experience that may allow for emotional exploration, reflection, and fresh perspectives. Preparation and integration are essential parts of the therapeutic work.
AN INDIVIDUALIZED PROCESS
An individualized process for your relationship
Every couple arrives with different histories, patterns, and goals. The process is tailored to your clinical needs.
Couples intake & preparation
Explore the relationship history, recurring patterns, challenges, and treatment goals.
Individual intake & preparation
Each partner has time to discuss personal experiences, emotional responses, and individual goals.
Medical screening & eligibility
Licensed medical professionals handle evaluation, contraindications, prescribing, and medication management.
Ketamine-assisted experiences
When appropriate, Susan provides psychotherapy around psycholytic and/or longer ketamine-assisted experiences.
Couples integration
Reflect on what emerged and practice awareness, compassion, and communication in everyday life.
INTEGRATION
The experience is only one part of the work.
Integration means exploring what emerged and how to bring that understanding back into daily relationship life.
What did you notice about yourself? What became clearer about your partner? What happened to your usual reaction? What felt different — and how could you practice that difference when things get difficult again?
Susan may incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR when clinically appropriate to explore protective responses, triggers, and material that arises in therapy.
“The goal isn't simply to understand your relationship differently. It's to begin experiencing each other differently.”
RELATIONAL PATTERNS
The pattern often makes sense — even when it hurts.
One reaches for connection while the other feels overwhelmed. One becomes reactive while the other pulls away.
One feels criticized. The other feels unseen. Over time these responses may become automatic.
What looks like anger, criticism, distance, or defensiveness can cover more vulnerable feelings — fear, hurt, shame, rejection, uncertainty, or old ways of protecting ourselves.
Susan approaches these patterns with curiosity rather than blame. It isn't about deciding which partner is the problem. It's about understanding what happens between you.
IS THIS FOR US?
Could this approach be right for us?
It may be worth exploring if:
- You understand the patterns but keep repeating them
- Traditional couples therapy has helped intellectually, but change remains difficult
- Both partners will engage in preparation and integration
- You are open to an experiential approach
- Both partners agree to appropriate clinical and medical assessment
- You understand no treatment can promise relationship improvement
This approach is not appropriate for every couple or individual. Susan and the medical provider assess eligibility separately. Couples safety, coercion, and violence concerns also require careful evaluation.
COLLABORATIVE CARE
A collaborative clinical model
Susan and the medical provider have separate responsibilities.
Susan Regan, LMFT
Susan provides psychotherapy: assessment and treatment planning, couples and individual preparation, therapeutic support during appropriate ketamine-assisted sessions, integration, ongoing relationship care when appropriate, and coordination.
Medical provider
An appropriately licensed medical professional handles medical evaluation, contraindication screening, prescribing, medication instructions, management, and medical monitoring or oversight.
PSYCHOTHERAPY FEES
Session fees
Treatment plans are individualized. Susan reviews the expected psychotherapy services and fees before treatment begins.
PREPARATION, COUPLES THERAPY & INTEGRATION
$265 per 50 minutes
Longer sessions are prorated based on session length.
KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY SESSIONS
$240 per hour
Session length varies depending on the individualized treatment plan and type of ketamine-assisted experience.
Medical services are separate. Medical evaluation, prescribing, medication, and related medical-provider fees are not included in Susan’s psychotherapy fees.
Before beginning, Susan reviews the recommended process, expected session lengths, and anticipated psychotherapy fees.
THE PROCESS
Meaningful change takes time.
This is a process of preparation, therapeutic experience, reflection, and ongoing practice.
Preparation
Experiential work
Integration
Everyday relationship practice
Timing and the number of sessions are individualized. There is no fixed treatment duration or quick-fix promise. Change takes repetition, reflection, and practice.
LOCATION & AVAILABILITY
In-person in Berkeley, California
Limited in-person couples ketamine-assisted psychotherapy availability is planned in Berkeley, California.
Psychotherapy is available only to eligible clients located in California and Massachusetts. In-person ketamine-assisted couples psychotherapy is planned in Berkeley, California. Participation requires clinical assessment and separate medical evaluation and eligibility for ketamine.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
A few questions about clinical care, medical roles, and what to expect.
IS KETAMINE INCLUDED IN SUSAN'S FEES?
No. Susan's fees cover her psychotherapy services. Medical evaluation, prescribing, medication, and other medical-provider fees are separate.
WHO PRESCRIBES THE KETAMINE?
Ketamine is prescribed and medically managed by an appropriately licensed medical provider. Susan provides the psychotherapy component of the work.
DOES KETAMINE GUARANTEE THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WILL IMPROVE?
No. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy cannot guarantee a particular therapeutic or relationship outcome. The work also includes preparation, participation, integration, and continued relationship work outside the ketamine-assisted sessions.
DO WE BOTH HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN KETAMINE-ASSISTED SESSIONS?
The treatment plan is individualized. Susan will discuss the role of each partner, the sequence of sessions, and what is clinically appropriate during the assessment and preparation process.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING INTEGRATION?
Integration helps couples reflect on what emerged during the experience and explore how new awareness might translate into everyday communication, emotional regulation, connection, and relationship choices.
WHAT IF WE ALREADY HAVE A COUPLES THERAPIST?
Coordination with an existing therapist may be possible when clinically appropriate and with appropriate consent. This can be discussed during the assessment process.
IS THIS THE SAME AS A KETAMINE RETREAT?
No. This is clinical psychotherapy, not a recreational or wellness retreat. Participation requires clinical and medical screening, informed consent, preparation, and therapeutic integration.
WHAT IF ONE PARTNER DOESN’T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE KETAMINE PORTION OF THE TREATMENT? CAN WE STILL DO THIS WORK TOGETHER?
In some cases, one partner may participate in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy while the other takes part in the couples therapy process without taking ketamine, when clinically appropriate.
There are many understandable reasons someone may feel hesitant about an altered state of consciousness or simply decide that ketamine is not right for them.
Both partners do not necessarily need to have the same ketamine experience for meaningful relationship work to take place.
When one person begins exploring their own emotional reactions, protective patterns, and ways of relating, it can create new opportunities for both partners to notice what happens between them.
Both partners must be willing to participate in the therapeutic process. Planning is individualized and depends on clinical appropriateness. Any partner receiving ketamine requires separate medical evaluation and eligibility.
If one of you is interested and the other is uncertain, that can be part of the conversation.
IMPORTANT CLINICAL INFORMATION
Clinical scope & eligibility
Couples ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a clinical service available only when Susan is legally permitted to provide the care and both partners are clinically appropriate.
Susan M. Regan, LMFT
California License #31600 · Massachusetts Marriage and Family Therapist License #1924
Psychotherapy is available to eligible clients located in California and Massachusetts.
In-person ketamine-assisted couples psychotherapy is planned in Berkeley, California. A separate appropriately licensed medical provider evaluates, screens, prescribes, and oversees ketamine. Participation is not guaranteed after inquiry or intake.
Please do not send private clinical or health information through a Kajabi marketing form. Private intake, communication, scheduling, and records belong in Susan's secure SimplePractice clinical workflow.
A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT
What if you could experience the relationship differently?
You may have spent years feeling frustrated, disappointed, or disconnected. That doesn't necessarily mean there is nothing left to discover.
The first step is a conversation about your relationship, what you've already tried, and whether this approach may be appropriate for both of you.
Limited in-person couples ketamine-assisted psychotherapy availability is planned in Berkeley, California.
15 minutes · No fee
Clinical and medical eligibility requirements apply. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Psychotherapy is available to eligible clients located in California and Massachusetts.
Coaching, education, mediation, workshops, groups, and other non-clinical offerings have different scopes and eligibility requirements.
