Exploring the Gentle Power of Psycholytic (low-dose) Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

The term psycholytic comes from Greek: psyche (soul) and lytic (dissolving). Coined by Dr. Ronald Sandison, a pioneer in LSD-assisted therapy, it describes an approach that uses low doses of psychedelics to support ongoing psychotherapy. Rather than seeking an intense or dissociative experience, psycholytic sessions aim to gently relax the defenses that block emotional insight. This creates more of a trance-like, meditative state while keeping clients present and connected.

A Brief History

Psycholytic therapy first emerged in Europe during the 1950s and 60s as an alternative to the high-dose psychedelic models being explored in North America. At the time, the European Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy supported its development, using medicines like LSD and psilocybin in conjunction with psychoanalytic techniques. Legal restrictions eventually halted this work in the 1970s. But today, psycholytic therapy is returning as part of the “psychedelic renaissance” (Grof, 2008).

Introducing Ketamine into the Psycholytic Model

While classic psychedelics remain heavily regulated, ketamine is legally available for off-label use in mental health treatment. In psycholytic ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, ketamine is self-administered in very low doses (50-75mg) or moderately low doses (100–200mg). Clients will often experience a softened sense of reality, new perspectives, and increased openness to inner work.

Unlike higher-dose psychedelic KAP which often emphasizes the journey itself and postpones integration for a few days, psycholytic KAP allows for therapy to happen during the session while the medicine is active. The therapist’s presence is more than just supportive. Co-regulation, attunement, and deep listening can help reorganize neural patterns and support lasting change. The therapist becomes an anchor for the client’s exploration.

What Does a Session Look Like?

Psycholytic sessions usually last 90–120 minutes. In very low-dose sessions; clients may engage in traditional talk therapy, expressive modalities, or somatic work throughout. At slightly higher doses, the first part of the session might be quieter or more introspective; gradually unfolding into a relaxed and open state where profound material can surface for processing.

Why Consider Psycholytic KAP?

There are several compelling reasons to explore this approach:

• More cost-effective than high-dose models

• Gentler and more accessible for new or sensitive clients

• Fewer time constraints, with clients re-oriented more quickly

• Enhanced therapeutic engagement during the altered state

  
  

For those who may be hesitant about the intensity of traditional psychedelic work, psycholytic KAP offers a bridge to working with expanded states of consciousness.

Learn more about psycholytic KAP at Integrative Journey Modern Psychotherapy co. here.

References:

Grof, S. (2008). LSD psychotherapy (4th ed.). MAPS.

Uthaug, M. V., Luoma, J. B., Škulta, J., Matanova, A., & Girn, M. (2022). The case for low dose psychedelics: A narrative review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 1020505. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1020505

Wolfson, L. (2022). Psychedelic psychotherapy: A user-friendly guide to navigating transformative states. North Atlantic Books.