Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
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A New Path Forward for Treatment-Resistant Depression
If standard medications and therapy haven’t given you the results you’ve been hoping for, you’re not alone — and you haven’t run out of options.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is an evidence-based treatment that combines the therapeutic effects of ketamine medicine with expert psychiatric care. At Capstone Mental Health, our board-certified providers offer KAP — including Spravato® (esketamine), an FDA-approved option for adults living with treatment-resistant depression. All ketamine and Spravato treatments are administered in person at our Mesa and Tempe, AZ offices, under the direct supervision of your care team.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore KAP or you’ve been researching it for a while, we’re here to answer your questions and help you take the next step with confidence.
“For the first time in years, I felt like the noise in my head got quiet enough for me to finally hear myself.” — Patient reflection
When Standard Treatment Isn’t Enough
Most mental health treatments work well for most people. However, if you’re still struggling after trying multiple medications or years of therapy, that’s not a failure on your part — it’s simply a sign you may need a different approach.
- "I’ve tried six different antidepressants and nothing sticks."
- "Talk therapy helps in the room, but the moment I leave, the patterns come back."
- "My brain works differently. Most treatments weren’t built for people like me."
- "I’m functioning — but I’m not living. I’m just surviving."
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy works differently. Unlike traditional treatments, KAP doesn’t just manage symptoms — it creates the conditions for genuine healing. Specifically, ketamine temporarily increases flexibility in the brain’s thought patterns, which opens a window for meaningful therapeutic work. As a result, many patients experience real, lasting change.
If you are having thoughts of suicide or are in crisis, help is available right now. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Who We Help
At Capstone Mental Health, we support adults for whom conventional care hasn’t provided lasting relief, matching each patient’s diagnosis and history to the right ketamine-based option. We treat:
Treatment-Resistant Depression
When depression doesn’t respond to antidepressants or traditional therapy, it can feel like you’ve run out of options — you haven’t. Ketamine often brings rapid relief for treatment-resistant depression, sometimes within days. Eligible patients may receive Spravato® (esketamine), an FDA-approved nasal spray we administer in our Mesa and Tempe, AZ offices under direct clinical supervision; full prescribing details are at spravato.com.
AuDHD (Co-Occurring Autism & ADHD)
Living with AuDHD means navigating a world that doesn’t match how your nervous system works. Emotional dysregulation, anxiety, sensory overwhelm, and the exhaustion of masking take a real toll. We take a neurodivergent-affirming approach, adapting every step of KAP to fit your mind — not the other way around.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
For those living with OCD, intrusive thoughts and compulsive responses can feel exhausting and impossible to escape. KAP can interrupt that cycle: by easing the brain’s rigidity, it opens space for new perspectives therapy can help you build on.
Anxiety
Whether anxiety shows up as chronic worry, social fear, panic, or a constant low hum of dread, it can quietly shape your choices and relationships. KAP addresses fear-based patterns at their root, not just the surface — many patients describe a real sense of relief.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy — including Spravato — isn’t right for every patient with these diagnoses, and it’s never a first-line treatment. We recommend it only after standard treatments haven’t worked. If your evaluation confirms you’re a candidate, we’ll enroll you in Capstone’s ketamine program before treatment begins.
What to Expect
Our process is straightforward, personalized, and designed to support you every step of the way. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Schedule Your Appointment
Getting started is simple. Call us or book online, and our team will walk you through what to expect before your first visit at our Mesa and Tempe, AZ offices. You don’t need every answer yet — just take the first step.
Step 2: Clinical Assessment & Candidacy Evaluation
Before treatment begins, our providers complete a full clinical evaluation — reviewing your mental health history, past treatments, current medications, and goals — to confirm KAP is a safe, appropriate fit. We also verify your insurance benefits and coordinate coverage upfront, so you know what to expect financially. Not everyone qualifies; we’ll tell you honestly if KAP isn’t right for you. We want to understand you as a whole person, not just your diagnosis.
Step 3: Preparation Sessions
Once we confirm you’re a candidate, we take time to prepare you before we introduce any medicine. Together we build a strong therapeutic foundation, set clear intentions, and make sure you feel ready — emotionally, mentally, and practically. This is where meaningful progress begins.
Step 4: KAP Medicine & Integration Together
Your ketamine and integration therapy happen in the same in-office appointment at our Mesa and Tempe, AZ locations — a seamless experience from start to finish. In a calm, closely monitored clinical setting, you receive treatment while your provider offers grounded, attentive support throughout; most people describe it as deeply relaxing and emotionally meaningful. When the session ends, your provider guides you directly into integration work while the experience is still fresh, helping you process what arose and build those insights into daily life. You’re never alone, and we never rush you. If Spravato is part of your plan, your provider walks you through your specific dosing schedule — typically twice weekly at first — before your first session.
KAP without integration is like planting a seed and walking away. By combining both in a single appointment, we make sure that nothing is left unattended.
Options We Offer
Spravato® (esketamine)
Spravato® (esketamine) is a prescription nasal spray related to ketamine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it in March 2019 for adults with treatment-resistant depression, used together with an oral antidepressant. In January 2025, the FDA expanded its approval to allow Spravato to be used on its own (monotherapy) in adults.
- Administered via an in-person visit with a Capstone provider
- Covered by insurance
Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Capstone also offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) as its own dedicated service. Because KAP combines ketamine with structured therapeutic support, we deliver every session in person, under direct provider supervision. As a result, patients can expect a fully in-office, therapy-integrated experience built around their treatment goals.
- We conduct all KAP sessions in person at our Mesa, AZ and Tempe, AZ offices.
- Patients cover the cost of ketamine out-of-pocket
Safety & Transparency
We believe informed patients get better outcomes, so here’s what you should know.
Medical providers have used ketamine safely in clinical settings for more than 50 years. At the doses used in KAP, patients generally tolerate it well. In addition, it carries a well-established safety profile when trained clinicians administer it. Before treatment begins, every patient completes a thorough medical and psychiatric screening.
That said, KAP isn’t appropriate for everyone. We’ll always be straightforward with you about whether we believe this is the right path — and if it isn’t, we’ll do our best to connect you with care that is. You’ll never feel pressured, and we’ll never rush you.
If your plan includes Spravato, keep in mind it carries additional FDA-required safety information, including a boxed warning. For full details, review the Prescribing Information and Medication Guide at spravato.com, or ask your provider for a copy.
Our first commitment is to your safety. Our second is to your healing. In that order, always.
Common Questions
Is ketamine legal?
Yes. Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance that has been FDA-approved for medical use since 1970. When administered by a licensed clinician within a structured therapeutic program, it is both legal and carefully regulated.
What is Spravato®?
Spravato® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray specifically indicated for treatment-resistant depression. It’s one of the ketamine-based options we may use as part of your KAP program at Capstone, administered in-office in Mesa, AZ under direct clinical supervision. For full prescribing and safety information, visit spravato.com.
Will I lose control or feel disoriented?
At the doses used in KAP, ketamine produces a gentle, dream-like state rather than a loss of consciousness or control. Most people describe it as deeply relaxing, sometimes emotionally moving, and manageable. Your provider is present with you throughout the entire session.
Where is treatment administered?
All ketamine and Spravato sessions take place in person at our Mesa, AZ office. This is a supervised, in-clinic treatment — it is never sent home with patients or self-administered outside our office.
Is this approach right for neurodivergent people?
Yes. Our approach is neurodivergent-affirming from the ground up. If you have AUDHD, autism, ADHD, or another neurodivergent profile, we adapt the process to fit how your mind works. We do not ask you to mask or conform. We meet you where you are.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies from person to person. Most initial programs include preparation, medicine, and integration sessions over several weeks. We work collaboratively with you to build a plan that fits your history, goals, and response to treatment.
Does insurance cover KAP?
Coverage varies by plan. The therapy component may be covered; the ketamine medicine itself often is not. We provide documentation to support reimbursement requests and offer transparent pricing. We do not want cost to be a barrier to care, and we’re happy to discuss your options.
Can I continue my current medications?
In many cases, yes. However, certain medications can affect how ketamine works. Our clinical team reviews everything during your initial evaluation and works collaboratively with your existing providers as needed.
Your Path to Mental Wellness Starts Here
If standard treatments haven’t given you the results you’ve been looking for — for yourself or for someone you love — we’re here to help you explore what’s possible.
We offer a free 20-minute consultation. No pressure, no commitment — just a conversation about where you are, what you’ve tried, and whether we might be the right fit.
“You are not too complex to heal. You just need a path that was built for you.”
All consultations are completely confidential. Our board-certified providers are ready to support you with in-person and telehealth care. All ketamine treatment takes place in person at our Mesa and Tempe, AZ offices.
Disclaimer & Legal
This page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. It is not a substitute for a clinical evaluation. Only a licensed provider can determine whether KAP or Spravato is appropriate for you.
SPRAVATO® is a registered trademark of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. Capstone Mental Health is not affiliated with or endorsed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. or Johnson & Johnson. Spravato is a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act and is available only through the Spravato REMS program, in a certified healthcare setting.
