Getting Ready for Your Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Dosing Session: A Complete Preparation Guide
You’ve made it through the early steps of your KAP journey—completing the intake process, attending your preparation session, undergoing your medical screening with Journey Clinical, and finally, receiving your medication. Now, you’re ready for your first dosing session! This moment is exciting, but preparing properly can make a huge difference in ensuring a smooth and meaningful experience.
In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to do before your session, from setting intentions to practical prep like charging devices and setting up your space. Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Journaling & Setting Intentions
Journaling before your session can help ground you and clarify what you hope to get from the experience. You might choose a guided journal like The Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Journal to reflect on your goals, emotions, and any questions you have leading into the session or you may prefer a more individualized approach. Writing down your intentions can help anchor your experience and make it easier to integrate insights afterward.
Here are a few prompts to choose from to get you started:
What aspects of your life or personal growth would you like to gain clarity about during this experience?
Are there any specific patterns, behaviors, or thought processes you hope to transform or release through this journey?
What emotions do you want to create space for? Where can you build empathy, self-compassion, and openness?
What fears or worries do you have about embarking on this journey? How can you acknowledge them with compassion?
Based on your reflections, choose an intention for your ketamine journey. We can think of your intention as a gentle invitation to yourself. Here are a few examples: “I would like to invite the medicine to help me explore sitting in feelings of sadness,” or “I would like to bring into my medicine journey a curiosity about my pattern of shying away from conflict.”
Step 2: Fuel, Fast, and Hydrate
Ketamine sessions work best when your body is prepared, and that starts with what (or what not) to eat.
✅ Fast for at least 4 hours before your session. This helps reduce the chance of nausea and ensures a smoother experience.
✅ Have a light snack ready for after dosing. Something gentle on the stomach, like fruit, crackers, or a smoothie, can help you ease back into the present moment once your session ends.
✅ Stay hydrated, but don’t overdo it. Drink water in the hours leading up to your session, but avoid chugging a large amount right before—needing to get up frequently to use the restroom can disrupt your experience.
Step 3: Power Up!
Since your session will be virtual, ensuring all your tech is working is key.
🔋 Charge your devices (laptop, phone, headphones) fully, and keep chargers nearby just in case.
🎧 Use headphones for an immersive experience. If possible, have a spare pair handy in case of any unexpected problems. Those wired headphones you got for free with your cell phone three years ago are welcome here!
🔊 Test your music setup. You’ll want a commercial-free, calming playlist to accompany your journey. Try searching Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, or Tidal for “KAP playlist” or “ketamine therapy music.” Make sure to listen to a few tracks beforehand to ensure the vibe feels right. Happy to help in finding the playlist that’s right for you!
Step 4: Curate Your Cozy Cave
A comfortable, distraction-free space will enhance your experience. Here’s how to set it up:
🛏️ Choose a cozy spot. A bed, couch, or reclining chair with plenty of pillows and blankets is ideal.
🕶️ Dim the lights. Ketamine can make you sensitive to light, so low lighting or blackout curtains can help create a more relaxing atmosphere.
👚 Wear comfortable clothing. Loose-fitting clothes, warm socks, and soft layers can make a big difference in how relaxed you feel.
🐾 Plan for pets. If you have pets, decide whether they’ll stay in the room with you or if they need to be in another space. Your support person can help if they become distracting.
Step 5: Assemble Your Support Crew
Having a trusted person with you is an essential and required part of your dosing session. Their role is to provide comfort, assist with any needs, and be present in case of an unlikely emergency.
Before your session, discuss what kind of support would be helpful (and what wouldn’t). For example:
✅ Helpful: Bringing you water, adjusting blankets, keeping the space quiet.
🚫 Unhelpful: Talking to you during the dosing session unless necessary.
Clear communication with your support person ensures they know how to best assist you while allowing you to stay immersed in your journey.
Step 6: Gathering Essential Items
Having everything you need within reach can help prevent unnecessary disruptions. Here’s a what I recommend for a seamless journey:
✅ Blood pressure cuff: taking vitals ensures your safety pre- and post-journey
✅ Journal & pen: review intentions before and record insights after
✅ Tissues/towel: for emotional moments, nasal drips, extra saliva, or all of the above!
✅ Headphones & eye shades: to minimize distractions and encourage an immersive inward focus
✅ Water bottle with a straw: extreme temps can feel overwhelming—room temp or slightly cool is best
✅ Spit cup/bucket: we use a swish and spit method with in-home lozenge dosing, so you will need a container to spit out the medication; consider an additional or spacious container in the event of nausea/vomiting just in case (rare occurrence)
o Pro tip: Use a lightweight, non-reflective bowl—shiny metal bowls can contribute to dizziness; heavy bowls may be difficult to maneuver due to dissociative effects of the medicine
✅ Medication & container: remove from the original packaging and have it organized and ready to go
o Pro tip: Have doses separated and labeled (e.g. dose 1, dose 2, booster, anti-nausea); masking tape, painters tape, or washi tape work great!
Want a walk through of the recommended items? I’ve got you covered in this video (13 minutes).
Click the button below to download a checklist of all the supplies!
Step 7: The Final Countdown
You’re almost ready! Here are the last-minute things to do before beginning:
🚻 Use the bathroom. It’s tough to get up once dosing starts—so pee first. We’ll spend the beginning of our dosing session reviewing intentions, expectations, and grounding. Before we jump in, I’ll give you a reminder about a bathroom break!
🦷 Brush your teeth. This enhances medication absorption through your gums and helps with taste. A win-win!
🎶 Start your music. Press play on your curated playlist and adjust the volume to a comfortable level.
You’re Ready! What Happens Next?
Once you’ve completed these preparation steps, you’re set for your dosing session. You’ll spend the next hour in a guided, introspective journey, followed by an hour of post-session discussion to begin processing your experience. Now, all that’s left is to relax, trust the process, and let your journey unfold. Happy dosing!
💡 Integration is key. Within 24-48 hours, you’ll have an integration session to make the most of your brain’s neuroplastic window. This is when insights are solidified, and meaningful change takes root.
💬 Have questions? Let’s connect! If you’re ready to start your KAP journey or have any lingering questions, schedule a consultation today. Together, we’ll ensure you feel informed, prepared, and excited for this transformative experience.
📅 Click here to book your session and begin your healing journey.
