KETAMINE-ASSISTED THERAPY (KAP)
This program prepares licensed clinicians to deliver off-label ketamine therapy
16-Weeks Certification Program | Next Cohort Starts 09/11/2025
Become a Certified Ketamine Therapist with Changa Institute
Duration: 16 Weeks
Next Cohort Starts: September 11, 2025
Duration: 16 Weeks | Thursdays 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm PST
Format: Live Online Sessions + Asynchronous Micro-lectures & Private Community Hub
CE Credits: 42 Hours
Tuition: $4,800
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This 16-week professional certification program equips you with the in-depth knowledge, essential skills, and practical tools to safely and effectively deliver Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), a groundbreaking therapeutic approach transforming lives and expanding the scope of modern mental health practice.
Moving beyond theoretical understanding, this program emphasizes ethical application, clinical precision, and patient-centered care. You will gain a profound understanding of ketamine's mechanisms of action, master the nuanced art of preparation, direct session support, and integration, and learn how to navigate the evolving legal and business landscape of KAP.
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Upon completion of this course, you will have the knowledge and skills necessary to confidently and ethically incorporate Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy into your professional practice, including the ability to:
Foundational Understanding: Describe the history, theoretical foundations, and proposed mechanisms of action for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), distinguishing it from other psychedelic and psychotherapeutic approaches.
Ethical & Legal Practice: Explain the ethical standards of KAP (including informed consent processes, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity) and navigate the current legal and regulatory landscape, including FDA approvals, off-label use, and practitioner licensing requirements.
Comprehensive Patient Assessment & Preparation: Explain criteria for selecting suitable KAP candidates (including contraindications), conduct thorough psychological and biological assessments, and prepare patients for their ketamine experiences by addressing common knowledge gaps, setting intentions, and establishing robust support systems.
Skilled Session Facilitation: Demonstrate the clinical techniques for supporting patients safely and effectively during ketamine sessions, including managing ketamine-induced states of consciousness, applying grounding techniques, utilizing supportive practices (music, touch, eyeshades), and identifying/managing potential risks and crises.
Masterful Integration Strategies: Apply various methods for integrating the ketamine experience into ongoing treatment, considering neuroplasticity, the dissociative state, and concepts like post-traumatic growth, spiritual emergence, and family systems, to foster lasting change.
Effective Outcome Evaluation & Conclusion: Evaluate therapeutic outcomes, discuss future directions with clients, and facilitate a seamless, ethical conclusion to the therapy process.
Professional Practice & Development: Assess the ethical implications of marketing KAP services, learn the practical steps to launch and sustain a KAP practice, and develop a self-care plan to maintain personal effectiveness and avoid burnout.
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On completion of this course, you will be able to:
Safely and effectively support patients before, during, and after ketamine experiences.
Conduct comprehensive screening and assessment for KAP suitability, including risk identification and mitigation.
Prepare clients for the psychological, biological, and cultural contexts of their ketamine journey, maximizing therapeutic benefits.
Facilitate ketamine dosing sessions with a deep understanding of ketamine-induced states, transference/countertransference, and supportive clinical techniques.
Develop individualized integration plans that address neuroplasticity, dissociative states, and diverse client experiences (challenging, positive, mystical, self-concept shifts).
Navigate complex ethical dilemmas and ensure legally compliant practice within the evolving KAP landscape.
Apply trauma-informed care and harm reduction principles throughout the KAP treatment journey.
Document and evaluate therapeutic outcomes specific to KAP.
Strategize and launch a sustainable ketamine therapy practice, including forging prescriber relationships and navigating the business landscape.
Maintain personal well-being and professional development in the specialized field of KAP.
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This Professional Certification Program in Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAP) is meticulously designed for licensed mental health professionals who are committed to expanding their practice, integrating cutting-edge, evidence-based treatments, and providing compassionate, ethical care in the evolving field of psychedelic medicine.
This program is ideal for:
Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, and other qualified healthcare providers seeking to integrate KAP legally and ethically into their existing scope of practice.
Secure Your Certification
Meet Your Facilitator
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Lead Instructor
Carla Aspesberger is a conduit for holistic transformation, blending therapy, somatic work, and energy codes all through the heart of fascia to guide others on their journey of self-healing. Carla's journey as an integration specialist is a mosaic of dedication and a ceaseless thirst for wisdom. With over a decade of teaching across six countries, she has synthesized wisdom from Traditional Psychology, Eastern Vedic traditions, Shamanic rituals, and modern Biohacking to create a unique, integrative approach that works.
Her sessions combine ancient wisdom and contemporary science, offering an experience where breath becomes a bridge to the soul, inspiring profound self-discovery and awakening sovereign potential. Through the lens of fascia—the body’s connective intelligence—she helps unlock profound shifts in emotional, mental, and physical well-being. She specializes in depression and trauma-informed care.
In her presence, students discover that true transformation arises not from seeking externally, but from aligning with the divinity already within.
Accreditation
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), have approved and certified the Changa Institute’s program
Curriculum Overview
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Week 1: Orientation & The Landscape of Psychedelic Therapy
Connect with educators and peers, program overview.
Differentiate between Psychedelic Therapy and Psychedelic Harm Reduction & Integration Therapy (PHRI).
Identify and compare roles: investigators, therapists, facilitators, shamans, and sitters.
Key terms and roles in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Week 2: Core Clinical Concepts in Psychedelic Therapy
Understand concepts of intoxication, dissociation, and other core psychedelic therapy principles.
Explore therapeutic alliance, inner-directed approach, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction principles.
Learning Objective Connection: Core clinical concepts, differences between psychedelic therapy and PHRI.
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Week 3: History, Mechanisms, and Indications of KAP
Describe the history and theoretical foundations of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).
Explain the proposed mechanisms of action for ketamine (neuroscience-based narratives) and how these inform clinical practices.
Current indications, treatment models, and compare KAP with other psychotherapeutic approaches.
Learning Objective Connection: History & theoretical foundations, mechanisms of action, comparing approaches.
Week 4: Ethical & Legal Foundations of KAP
Establish crucial foundations with ethics and informed consent for KAP (clinical research & private practice).
Explore trauma-informed approaches and cultural sensitivity in KAP.
Setting a safe container for working with non-ordinary states.
Discuss the legal and regulatory landscape surrounding ketamine use (FDA approvals, off-label use, practitioner licensing).
Learning Objective Connection: Ethical standards, informed consent, legal & regulatory landscape.
Week 5: Patient Assessment & Risk Management in KAP
Explain criteria for selecting suitable candidates for KAP, including contraindications.
The importance of thorough psychological assessment.
Identify common knowledge gaps among patients regarding KAP and appropriate educational resources.
Demonstrate how to identify and manage potential risks (adverse reactions, crisis intervention strategies).
Learning Objective Connection: Selecting suitable candidates, managing risks.
Week 6: Ketamine Preparation Principles in Practice
Learn how to prepare patients for KAP, ensuring safety and maximizing benefits relative to life situation, diagnosis, and goals.
Key aspects of preparation: screening & assessment, establishing support systems, psychoeducation, expectation & intentions.
Learning Objective Connection: Prepare patients for KAP, maximizing benefits.
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Week 7: Ketamine Preparation in Practice: Contexts
Learn the specifics of preparing a client for ketamine therapy, including biological, psychological, and cultural contexts.
How to communicate ketamine's mechanisms, risks, and precautions to clients.
How to prepare an informed consent document to share with your client.
Learning Objective Connection: Preparing patients, communicating mechanisms & risks.
Week 8: Preparing for the Ketamine Session: Psychological Aspects
Develop a deep understanding of the psychological aspects of preparation.
Hone your skill in communicating this to your client.
Includes a deep dive into conducting a preparation session, with full demonstration.
Learning Objective Connection: Preparing patients, clinical techniques for openness.
Week 9: Ketamine Protocols & Treatment Design
Learn about ketamine-induced states of consciousness and subjective effects.
Develop a keen understanding of the variables that impact ketamine therapy.
Be prepared to create your own comprehensive treatment protocol.
Learning Objective Connection: Ketamine-induced states, treatment protocols.
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Week 10: The Ketamine Dosing Session: Therapist's Role
Understand the therapist's role and how to support clients during their ketamine experience.
Demonstrate grounding techniques to help clients stay present and engaged during sessions.
Apply mindfulness for self- and client-care during sessions.
Explore the role of music and other supportive practices (touch, eyeshades).
Learning Objective Connection: Therapist's role, grounding techniques, supportive practices.
Week 11: Navigating KAP Sessions in Practice
Learn real-world considerations through role-plays and case studies.
Understand transference and countertransference in KAP.
Learn how to deal with traumatic or repressed memories and navigate challenging vs. positive experiences.
Practice writing a progress note specifically for ketamine sessions.
Includes watching a recorded ketamine session and practice with fellow students.
Learning Objective Connection: Managing challenging experiences, mindfulness for self/client care.
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Week 12: Integration in Ketamine Therapy: Unique Considerations
Understand the crucial importance of psychedelic integration.
Learn how integration in ketamine therapy is different from other molecules (duration of neuroplasticity, impact of the dissociative state).
Explore key integration concepts: spiritual emergence vs. emergency, remembering/forgetting, post-traumatic growth, state-to-trait changes, family systems, spiritual bypassing.
Learning Objective Connection: Integrating ketamine experience, unique aspects of KAP integration, psychological mechanisms.
Week 13: Ketamine Integration in Practice
Understand the various domains of integration by practicing with peers.
Learn from expert educators who have been offering ketamine treatments for years.
Present various methods for integrating the ketamine experience into ongoing treatment (considering therapeutic framework & patient history).
Learning Objective Connection: Methods for integrating, practitioner's framework, patient history.
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Week 14: Broader Sociocultural Aspects & Ethical Marketing of KAP
Describe the broader sociocultural aspects of drug-assisted psychotherapy, including potential stigma and judgment faced by patients and practitioners.
Assess the ethical implications of marketing KAP services and public communication (accuracy of information, managing expectations).
Learning Objective Connection: Sociocultural aspects, ethical marketing.
Week 15: The Business of Ketamine Therapy
Explore the evolving business landscape of ketamine therapy.
Learn essential strategies for identifying suitable practicum sites and forging connections with prescribers to facilitate this transformative treatment.
Navigate this space with integrity, sustainability, and success.
Learning Objective Connection: Business landscape, practicum sites, prescriber connections.
Week 16: Launching Your KAP Practice & Ongoing Development
Learn the practical steps to launch a successful ketamine therapy practice.
Evaluate therapeutic outcomes, discuss future directions with clients, and facilitate a seamless conclusion to the therapy process.
Understand the role of therapists' self-care and personal development in maintaining effectiveness and avoiding burnout.
You’ll leave equipped with essential tools, insights, and a supportive peer network, ready to make a meaningful impact in the field of ketamine therapy.
Learning Objective Connection: Launching practice, evaluating outcomes, self-care & personal development.
What You Leave With
Upon successful completion of this 16-week Professional Certification Program, you won't just have theoretical knowledge, you'll be equipped with a comprehensive, ready-to-implement toolkit and an elevated professional standing to confidently offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy:
Professional Certification: A formal Professional Certificate in Ketamine-Assisted Therapy from Changa Institute, signaling your expertise and commitment to ethical, evidence-based KAP.
Deep Clinical Competency: The advanced skills to safely and effectively conduct patient screening, preparation, direct session facilitation, and robust integration for diverse client needs.
Comprehensive Protocols & Guides: Practical templates and guidelines including detailed KAP treatment protocols, informed consent documents, session progress note templates, and crisis intervention strategies.
Mastery of Ethical & Legal Frameworks: A clear understanding of the evolving legal and regulatory landscapeof KAP, coupled with an ethical framework to ensure compliant and responsible practice.
Client-Centered Tools: Interview scripts, assessment rubrics, and psychoeducation resources to maximize client safety and therapeutic outcomes across the KAP journey.
Integration Expertise: Specific strategies and tools for facilitating lasting integration of ketamine experiences, including addressing neuroplasticity, dissociative states, and various psychological and spiritual phenomena.
Business & Practice Launch Blueprint: Actionable insights and strategies for launching and sustaining a successful KAP practice, including navigating the business landscape and forging prescriber relationships.
Personalized Self-Care Strategies: A developed plan to maintain your own well-being and prevent burnout, ensuring long-term effectiveness in this specialized field.
A Powerful Professional Network: Connection to a supportive community of peers and expert educators, providing ongoing mentorship and collaborative opportunities within the Changa Institute ecosystem.
What students have to say about our program
“I had a challenging case that left me uncertain about my approach. In my one-on-one session with Samantha, her insightful guidance and compassionate support helped me reframe the situation and gain clarity. Her expert feedback gave me the confidence and tools to navigate the case effectively.”
Greg T. Licensed Psilocybin Facilitator
“The trainers at Changa Institute are what reaffirm my confidence in being in the right place. Their deep reverence and commitment to this work are evident. As a licensed professional counselor, I recognize the importance of safety and ethical integrity in training environments. Changa delivered a level of psychological safety and professionalism I had not encountered in other programs I had trained with or researched. The trainers' expertise, presence, and intentionality create this secure and supportive learning space.”
Lana Hurst, LPC Specialist in Psychedelic Integration
“My experience with Changa has been outstanding. The instructors are leaders in the field of psychedelic therapy, many of whom are actively engaged in clinical research and frequently published in scientific literature. Their expertise and contributions to the field make this program truly exceptional.”
Laura Johnson, LCSW Psilocybin Facilitator
Legal Framework & Your Scope of Practice
At Changa Institute, we teach you to practice confidently and ethically within evolving legal frameworks. The legal landscape for psychedelic therapy is dynamic, with opportunities emerging within existing professions or new types of licenses. Practitioners can navigate these complexities by staying informed about local laws and integrating psychedelics into therapy in compliant ways. Changa provides essential resources and training to help professionals responsibly and ethically explore this groundbreaking field, ensuring you work within your scope of practice. With a Professional Certificate from Changa Institute, you can confidently explore this groundbreaking field.
FAQs
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This certification is meticulously curated for licensed mental health professionals who are passionate about expanding their therapeutic toolkit and stepping into the forefront of psychedelic-assisted care. We welcome:
Licensed Psychotherapists (e.g., LPC, LMFT, LCSW, etc.)
Psychologists
Physicians
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
And other duly licensed professionals who possess the legal authority to provide mental health care and a foundational background in psychotherapy.
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This Professional Certificate from Changa Institute empowers licensed clinicians to confidently and competently integrate Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) within the boundaries of their existing legal scope of practice. You'll gain:
Profound insights into KAP's therapeutic mechanisms and applications.
Practical, hands-on skills essential for safe and effective KAP delivery.
A robust ethical framework to guide your practice with integrity.
Important Note: While this program provides unparalleled training, your ability to legally practice KAP will ultimately be governed by your specific professional license, the regulations in your state or region, and the prevailing legal landscape concerning ketamine administration. We equip you with the knowledge; your license defines your scope.
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This transformative 16-week journey designed for busy professionals. While each week features a dedicated 2-hour live virtual session, your comprehensive learning experience extends with approximately 3-5 hours of flexible, asynchronous engagement. This includes diving into insightful pre-recorded lectures, engaging with assigned readings, applying your knowledge through practical exercises, and connecting with a vibrant peer community. Expect to dedicate roughly 5-8 hours per week to truly immerse yourself in the material and cultivate mastery.
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The Professional Certificate in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy program is an intensive 16-week course. It is led by expert Changa Institute trainer(s) and consists of weekly live virtual sessions, complemented by asynchronous micro-lectures, practical assignments, and engagement within a private community hub. Specific dates for each cohort are provided upon enrollment.
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Yes, Changa Institute programs are accredited. This course meets continuing education requirements for licensed professionals in Colorado (DORA) and Oregon (HECC/OHA). We encourage applicants from other states or regions to verify with their specific licensing board regarding the applicability of our CE credits for their individual requirements.
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While foundational knowledge or personal experience within psychedelic contexts is beneficial for understanding the material, this program is designed to provide comprehensive training in KAP specifically. Our curriculum builds from core concepts to advanced clinical application.
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You will receive support through live Q&A sessions with expert trainers, a dedicated private community hub for peer interaction and discussion, and access to practical tools and resources. Our trainers are committed to providing a rich and interactive learning environment.
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Upon successful completion, you will receive a Professional Certificate, along with a comprehensive toolkit that includes: KAP treatment protocols, informed consent templates, session progress note examples, crisis intervention strategies, client assessment rubrics, integration planning guides, and resources for ethical practice and practice launch.
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The total cost of the program is $4,800. Please visit our enrollment page for detailed pricing information and any available payment plan options.
Elevate your practice through expert consultation, advanced training, and curated retreat experiences.
Experiences
Retreats
Consultation
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Colorado’s draft regulations indicate that 40 hours of consultation over a six month period will be a required component of training for psilocybin facilitators in the state of Colorado.
Changa Institute clinical supervision is specifically designed for individuals who fall into the following categories:
LPCCs seeking Colorado DORA-required supervision to fulfill licensure obligations.
Those in search of PDA hours to meet the LPC licensure renewal requirements.
*Professional Development Activity (PDA) hours are mandatory during the 2-year renewal cycle for LPCs in the state ofColorado.
Clinical supervision is $110 for 30 minutes, $165 for 45 minutes, or $200 for 60 minutes.
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Changa Institute provides professional consultation services to ensure you or your team remain well-informed about the latest developments in psychedelic therapy and client care. These services are offered alongside their psychedelic therapy training program.
Professional consultation is available to both licensed clinical professionals and non-licensed practitioners seeking:
Guidance with adding psychedelic-assisted therapy to your existing practice.
Best practices for helping clients process and integrate their psychedelic experiences.
Case consultation around ethics or safety.
Psychedelic education and harm reduction.
Discussion around the philosophies, approaches, and skills of psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Setting up your psychedelic-assisted therapy or support services practice.
Changa provides both one-on-one and group professional consultations. The cost of an individual consultation is $110 for a duration of 30 minutes, $165 for a duration of 45 minutes, or $200 for a duration of 1 hour.
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For practitioners and individuals seeking to stay updated on the latest developments in the mental health sector, specifically about psychedelic therapy and client care, Changa Institute offers coaching that can help you:
Set up an independent practice.
Grow your practice.
Practice your psychedelic work with authenticity and integrity.
Discover and develop your work style and inner talents.
Overcome the imposter syndrome.
Use entheogens and psychedelics for your own personal growth and healing, including integration into your business and career.
Individual coaching is $200 per hour. For group coaching, join our mailing list.
Changa provides both one-on-one and group professional consultations. The cost of an individual consultation is $110 for a duration of 30 minutes, $165 for a duration of 45 minutes, or $200 for a duration of 1 hour.
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Are you a new or experienced psilocybin facilitator? Are you looking for a casual and professional environment to connect with other providers who are doing the same? Do you have case consultation, best practice, or other questions you'd like to get input on? Join our Psilocybin Facilitator Virtual Consultation Group.
Our professional consultation group meets quarterly and all groups are drop-in style. Confirm your space each timeby registering here and paying a sliding scale drop-in rate (suggested $50-$75). A link to join the consultation group will be shared in the reminder email you receive on the day of the group.
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What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.
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What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.
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