The Power of KAP Integration: Life After Your Ketamine Dosing Session

This image depicts a highly magnified view of a tardigrade, also known as a water bear or moss piglet, a microscopic invertebrate renowned for its extreme resilience.

Let’s start with the disco-dancing tardigrade.

Yes, really.

See, before I guided people in KAP, I wanted to take the journey myself so I could guide people from a personal place of knowing what to expect, preparation, integration, etc. I participated in eight guided sessions held every two weeks for a period of sixteen weeks. During one of my ketamine journeys, I saw a series of images: moss growing on a log, a fox, and then... a microscopic creature I hadn’t thought about in years: a tardigrade*. Only this one was dancing under a disco ball. Sparkly, joyful, completely unfazed. I could practically hear the music. Why was there this practically indestructible, almost immortal, mini bug in my head bopping its way through space and time?

At first, I was thinking, "what does this have to do with all the uncertainty I’ve been facing in my life?" I’d come into the session with the intention to grow my capacity to tolerate the unknown, to find some peace in the not-knowing.

And then this little creature shows up.

I won't spoil the full interpretation here, you can watch a short video I recorded recently below if you want to hear the whole vision and how it landed. (It’s under 5 minutes.)

If you don't want to watch it, let's just say, it clicked. The image of that tiny, resilient, ridiculous tardigrade stuck with me. It made me laugh. It softened something. And when life started to feel too heavy again, that same image popped into my mind. Part of my integration was to put a background pic of a tardigrade on my cell phone. My inner world reflected right back at me whenever I look at my phone. With a little laugh, I tell myself “I’m a tardigrade” and keep moving forward.

🦠 What even is a tardigrade?

If you’ve never heard of them, tardigrades (aka “water bears” or "moss piglets") are microscopic creatures that survive boiling, freezing, dehydration, radiation, and even outer space. They are known as one of the most resilient micro-animals known. And apparently they are not above a little dance break.

Why Integration Matters

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) doesn’t end when the medicine wears off. In fact, that’s when the most meaningful transition can actually begin. You actually have a two-week window of increased neuroplasticity (your brain is more open to learning, adapting and rewiring). The insights that rise up during a journey, whether they come through images, sensations, memories are invitations. The REAL transformation occurs when you integrate this into your daily life. (And don’t worry, I’m here to make that process easy and gentle. We’ll talk about how in a minute).

Let’s get to the science! There’s science behind this: after a ketamine session, your brain enters a unique state with three major benefits:

Improved mood (think: a spark of hopefulness)

Quieted Default Mode Network (less overthinking and self-criticism)

Increased neuroplasticity (your brain is more open to learning, adapting, and rewiring—for about 2 weeks)

That window of neuroplasticity is like having your inner pathways freshly tilled—ready for new synapses to grow. It means you can gently start practicing new behaviors, noticing old patterns with more compassion, or even building fresh routines that support the version of you you're becoming.

The question we’re asking in integration is: what can I do with these benefits now that I have them? What things that might’ve felt impossible before can I try now?

The beautiful thing about Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is the revolutionary way that it can help you view yourself more gently and allow your actions and new practices to rewire your brain.

"BUT WHAT IF IT'S SCARY!"

Let’s talk about that! By the time we get to your first KAP session, we’ve already built a foundation of trust. If we are working together, you are either already a client or you’ve reached out specifically for this process. You’ve been through the initial consultation and completed the medical screening and we’ve checked all the boxes to ensure that it’s physically and psychologically safe to take the dose. We’ve also prepped you thoroughly. We’ve had this exact “What if it’s scary” conversation multiple times because I want you to feel solid. We have a plan, a list of internal and external resources that help you feel safe. On the actual dosing day, the first hour includes setting intentions, reviewing your resources for feeling safe, and getting suuuuper comfortable (we call this “nesting”). Only after all that slow, peaceful prep do we support you in embarking on the 45-minute ketamine journey. That’s so quick! If the worst case scenario happens, and it's a painful experience for you (I haven't had that happen yet!) it’s over quickly. After, if you have words for your experience, we'll explore what came up for you. We look at what came up and I’ll ask things like: “What did that vision mean to you?” “What thoughts, feelings, or memories came up when you saw the elk?” I’m not here to interpret your experience for you (i.e. “Seeing an elk means you’re connecting to your divine masculine”). I’m here to connect you with your inner knowing and walk that path alongside you.

What does integration look like

If you were an avid hiker, when you went on a trip, you probably take a few tools with you to be responsible, right? You'd need appropriate footwear or mobility aids, maybe some type of bug repellant and water at the very least. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy is no different. We don't responsibility deep dive into our brain without the appropriate tools and I help you do that. Integration tools include any practice that helps connect the insights from your journey to your therapy goals. That might include journaling, painting, exercise, affirmations, vision boards, curated playlists, exposure practices, or using your notes app for friendly reminder. Together, we’ll choose the integration tools that match both your goals and your style. You don’t have to take up painting if it brings out your worst inner critic! We will find a way to stay in touch with your insights that works for you. A dancing tardigrade phone picture reminds me of my resilience. Maybe you saw roses, and smelled a beautiful lilac scent in your journey and that meant something to you so you pick up some essential oils to help you reconnect with the smell whenever you need a reminder.

We also look at your growth edges and we make sure you're mindful of not leaping out of the window of tolerance. Think of your Window of Tolerance as your nervous system’s sweet spot, where you're grounded and clear enough to sense growth, excitement, or even a flutter of butterflies, but not so far out that you slip into overwhelm or shut down entirely. In behavioral science we use that term to describe the range in which we can handle stress while still functioning optimally, outside that range, we either get hyper‑aroused (think fight‑or‑flight, panic, racing heart) or hypo‑aroused (think freeze or collapse: numbness, disconnection).

The nervous system gives you important info to protect you from doing things that are too distressing. In integration, we’re looking to notice what gives us a little butterflies, excitement, or hope, NOT overwhelm and shutdown (in other words, staying in your window of tolerance). American culture values urgency and perfectionism and that often sneaks into the therapy room. I’m kicking them out! In our work, we focus on creating experiences of success in order to keep the momentum going.

So what does all this look like in action for ME?

If the goal of KAP as a whole is to practice more self-love in action, our first tasks might be noticing where you’re not doing that, before we even think about changing it. We don’t jump in with the boss-level task of telling off your overbearing mom, ya know? And if you come to the next session and haven’t done any of our planned integration work, no sweat. The goal is not to get a good grade in integration by checking off the list. The goal is learning about how you grow, what helps and hurts, and getting the support you need to take whatever step is next.

Quick Recap of What We’ve Covered

You receive powerful insights during your KAP session that soften fear and expand possibility.

After the session, you enter a two‑week window of heightened neuroplasticity, where your brain is primed to learn, adapt, and rewrite old patterns, sometimes even ones that have been blocking you for years.

Your brain also enjoys improved mood and a quieter Default Mode Network, which means less overthinking and self-criticism.

The real transformation happens when you bring those insights into daily life (said simply, when you let your body and habits catch up with your mind).

Integration isn’t about grand gestures or perfect checklists. It’s about loving self-awareness, noticing what sparks hope or uplift and gently working within your Window of Tolerance so you don’t overwhelm or shut down.

Also, if you feel nervous or stuck, know that I’ve built trust, preparation, and care into every step of your journey. Integration is simple, compassionate, and always aligned with where you are right now.

You’re Worth This, Every Step of the Way

Taking a chance on yourself with KAP means leaning into uncertainty and letting the journey show you who you can be. It's about choosing yourself, exactly as you are in this messy, beautiful moment. I really could talk about this forever, but for now I’ll offer the

full talk from the clip above (25min watch) about KAP as a path back to self-trust (and why that might be important for you if you are a recovering people pleaser). Or if you prefer another option to read, you can take a look at my other Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy blog posts linked here.

If you’re curious about the full KAP experience, from preparation and dosing to ceremony and integration or want support crafting an integration plan that fits you, let’s talk. Because transformation doesn’t happen in one big leap. It happens in the tiny moments of self-awareness, compassion, and choice that follow.

I’m here, cheering you on, every tardigrade dance step of the way.

Book a Consult

The Power of KAP Integration: Life After Your Ketamine Dosing

Why Integration Matters

"BUT WHAT IF IT'S SCARY!"

What does integration look like

So what does all this look like in action for ME?

You’re Worth This, Every Step of the Way

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