All About “PAT” (Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy)
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably asking real questions — not just logistical ones, but the deeper kind. Is this right for me? Is it safe? What does it actually feel like to do this kind of work? I want this page to answer those honestly, in plain language, without the clinical distance that makes something unfamiliar feel even more intimidating.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is some of the most profound work I’ve witnessed in my practice — and also some of the most misunderstood. So before we get into the specifics, here’s what I want you to know: this work is intentional, it’s relational, it’s carefully structured, and it’s always, always your choice. Browse the questions below, and if something’s still unanswered, reach out. That’s what I’m here for.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is exactly what it sounds like — therapeutic work that intentionally incorporates a medicine experience as part of the healing process. It’s not about taking a substance and seeing what happens. It’s a structured, clinically supported arc of preparation, experience, and integration — and honestly, the integration is where most of the real work happens.
In my practice, I currently work with two modalities: cannabis-assisted therapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). Both are offered within my licensed clinical practice as an LPC in Minnesota. The medicine is a tool. The therapeutic relationship and the container we build together are what make it transformative.
Great question, and worth understanding before we talk about fit.
Cannabis-assisted therapy uses cannabis as a legal medicine (in Minnesota) to support deeper access to sensation, emotion, and memory during a therapy session. It tends to be gentler in its dissociative effects and can be a good fit for people who want to stay relatively grounded while still accessing material that’s hard to reach in ordinary states.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy involves a prescription ketamine protocol — I partner with a prescriber who evaluates you medically and writes the Rx, and then I provide the therapeutic container before, during, and after your medicine experience. Ketamine is currently the only legal psychedelic medicine at the federal level, and it has a well-established research base for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions. It tends to produce a more pronounced altered state than cannabis — often described as dissociative or even mystical — which can be profound and also requires careful preparation and skilled support.
Neither is better than the other. They’re different tools, and the right fit depends on your history, your goals, and what you’re ready for.
No. Never.
Medicine work is always optional and offered only when it’s clinically appropriate and something you genuinely want. A lot of meaningful therapeutic work happens through somatic therapy, parts work, breathwork, and the relationship itself. If you come to me curious about psychedelic-assisted work but not sure it’s for you, we can explore that without any pressure to proceed.
This work tends to be a strong fit if:
You have some prior therapy experience and feel ready to go deeper. You’re psychologically stable — not in active crisis. You’re genuinely curious about the medicine, not just looking for a shortcut. You understand that preparation and integration are as important as the experience itself. You’re willing to show up for the full arc, not just the session.
This work isn’t a good fit if you’re in acute psychiatric instability, actively psychotic, or looking for a rapid fix without the relational container. Everyone goes through a thorough intake and screening process before we begin — that’s non-negotiable, and it’s for your safety.
For KAP, you don’t get a prescription from me — I’m a therapist, not a prescriber. What I do is connect you with a trusted medical prescriber who will evaluate you, determine if ketamine is medically appropriate, and write the Rx if so. Once that’s in place, I provide everything else: the preparation work, the therapeutic container during your medicine session, and the integration support afterward.
This is a collaborative model by design. You get medical oversight and psychological depth — not one or the other.
Cannabis works through your body’s endocannabinoid system and is generally well-tolerated when used in a titrated, intentional clinical setting — which looks very different from recreational use.
That said, it’s not appropriate for everyone.
Cannabis-assisted sessions are not recommended if you have:
Active or history of psychosis. Untreated bipolar disorder with mania. Significant substance misuse patterns. Certain medical conditions that require physician oversight.
If you’ve had a difficult or scary experience with cannabis before, that doesn’t automatically rule you out — context matters enormously. Therapeutic, dosed, supported use is a very different experience than unstructured recreational use. We’ll talk through your history carefully before making any decisions.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with a strong safety record when used in medical settings. The prescriber I work with conducts a thorough medical screening before any prescription is written.
KAP is generally not appropriate if you have: Uncontrolled high blood pressure. Active psychosis or a personal or family history of psychotic disorders. Certain cardiovascular conditions. Active substance use disorder (particularly with dissociatives or depressants).
The prescriber will review your full medical history. My role is to make sure the psychological preparation is thorough enough that you feel genuinely ready — not just cleared — to enter the experience.
My role is to hold the container so you can go where you need to go.
I’m not directing your experience or interpreting it in real time. I’m tracking you — your nervous system, your pacing, what’s arising — and I’m available to offer grounding, co-regulation, or a steady presence if things get intense. I’m there to make sure you stay embodied rather than getting lost, and to help you feel safe enough to actually let the medicine work.
The experience is yours. I’m just the person sitting at the edge of the fire with you.
This is worth addressing directly.
Both cannabis and ketamine can be misused, and I take that seriously. Cannabis can reinforce avoidant patterns when used habitually and without intention. Ketamine has a known potential for psychological dependency, particularly with frequent use outside of a clinical structure.
What we’re doing here is the opposite of that. Sessions are clinically screened, intentionally dosed, embedded within a therapeutic arc, and focused on increasing your capacity for presence — not numbing it. Part of my intake process is an honest conversation about your relationship with substances. If there are red flags, we address them. If this isn’t the right path for you, I’ll tell you that directly.
The goal is more of yourself, not more of the medicine.
Yes. If you’re pursuing a ketamine clinic, a retreat experience, or any other medicine journey outside of my direct practice, I’m happy to support the psychological preparation beforehand and the integration work afterward. Reach out and we can talk about what that looks like.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Minnesota, I’m legally and ethically bound by HIPAA and Minnesota state law to protect your confidentiality. Everything you share — in session, in writing, in the medicine space — stays between us, with the standard exceptions: imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, or a court order requiring disclosure.
We’ll go through all of this in detail during intake. You can ask me anything about it at any time.
If you’re coming in for a medicine session, you cannot drive yourself home. Period. Please arrange transportation in advance.
Full cancellation, scheduling, and billing policies are covered during intake.
I am an out-of-network provider. I don’t bill insurance directly, but I can provide a superbill — a detailed receipt with diagnosis and service codes — that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement if you have out-of-network mental health benefits. I’d recommend calling your insurance ahead of time to ask about your specific coverage.
Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected costs before we begin. Just ask.
My practice operates within the scope of my licensure as an LPC in Minnesota. I do not provide medical or legal advice. Psychedelic-assisted therapy involves real risks, and preparation, screening, and integration reduce — but do not eliminate — those risks. Everything on this page is for educational purposes and reflects my current clinical practice; as laws and research evolve, so will this page.