Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy in Encinitas, CA
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ combines trauma-focused EMDR with low-dose, medically prescribed ketamine to enhance emotional openness and neuroplasticity. Supporting documents include a detailed client information sheet outlining safety and side effects, and a 2025 clinical research study showing significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and functional impairment after treatment.
What Is Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™?
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ (KA-EMDR) combines two powerful approaches: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and low-dose ketamine treatment.
EMDR is a structured, trauma-focused psychotherapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or intrusive. Ketamine, when prescribed and administered at a low psycholytic dose, can enhance neuroplasticity and create a calm, open emotional state that supports deeper therapeutic work.
In a KA-EMDR session:
- Clients self-administer a low dose of ketamine that has been prescribed by a licensed medical provider.
- The dose keeps you alert and engaged, not sedated or disconnected.
- Once a therapeutic window is established, your therapist guides you through the EMDR protocol using bilateral stimulation.
- Together, we reprocess traumatic or “stuck” memories in a structured and supportive environment.
This approach is especially helpful for individuals with PTSD, complex trauma, sexual abuse, physical or emotional abuse histories, treatment-resistant depression, and chronic anxiety.
Supporting Documents and Research on Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™
We believe in transparency, informed consent, and grounding our work in research. If you are considering Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ in Encinitas, we encourage you to review the following documents to better understand how this approach works, what the research says, and what to expect.
1. Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ Client Information Sheet
This document provides a clear overview of:
- What Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ is
- How low-dose (psycholytic) sublingual ketamine is used alongside EMDR
- Why ketamine and EMDR may work synergistically
- Potential benefits and possible side effects
- Important disclaimers and safety considerations
It explains that ketamine is prescribed and overseen by a licensed medical provider, and that therapists do not administer or supply the medication. It also outlines common temporary side effects such as mild dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, or increased emotional sensitivity, as well as the importance of thorough screening prior to beginning treatment
We review this information with you during the consultation process so you can make an informed and confident decision about your care.
2. Clinical Research Article: Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ for PTSD
A 2025 clinical research article published in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology explored the combined use of low-dose sublingual ketamine with EMDR therapy for individuals diagnosed with PTSD
Key findings from the study include:
- Significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity after four KA-EMDR reprocessing sessions
- Significant decreases in functional impairment
- Large effect sizes (g = 1.01 for PTSD symptoms; g = 0.82 for functional impairment)
- Participants reported reduced fear, increased self-compassion, emotional clarity, and minimal adverse effects
The study also explains the neurobiological rationale for combining ketamine and EMDR, including:
- Enhanced neuroplasticity
- Support for adaptive memory reconsolidation
- Reduced activity in the Default Mode Network, which is associated with rumination and self-critical thinking
While the authors note that larger randomized controlled trials are needed, early findings suggest this combined approach may be particularly helpful for individuals with treatment-resistant trauma.
How KA-EMDR Supports Trauma and PTSD in Encinitas
When it comes to trauma recovery, creating safety in both the body and mind is essential. Ketamine can reduce the intensity of fear and hypervigilance, allowing clients to access painful material without becoming overwhelmed.
Clients often report:
- Greater emotional accessibility
- Reduced anxiety while reprocessing traumatic memories
- Faster movement through long-standing emotional blocks
- Increased self-compassion and insight
- A sense of relief from feeling stuck
By combining ketamine with EMDR, we are not bypassing the work. We are helping your nervous system stay regulated enough to actually complete it.
At Thrive Therapy, our approach remains humanistic and client-centered. You are not forced into content you are not ready to face. We work within your values and pace, honoring the belief that you ultimately know what is right for your healing.
Who Is a Good Fit for Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™?
KA-EMDR may be appropriate if you:
- Struggle with PTSD or unresolved trauma
- Have experienced sexual trauma, abuse, or significant loss
- Live with major depressive disorder or treatment-resistant depression
- Feel stuck in patterns of low self-worth or shame
- Experience generalized anxiety disorder or performance anxiety
- Have tried traditional therapy but feel progress has plateaued or have a desire to take healing to a deeper level
Some clients come to us after years of talk therapy with limited results. Others are beginning trauma work and want a more integrative approach from the start. We carefully assess appropriateness in collaboration with medical providers before beginning.
Our Collaborative and Structured Approach
Safety and structure are central to Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ at Thrive Therapy, Encinitas.
Each phase includes:
- Preparation and assessment
- Coordination with your prescribing medical provider
- Clear intention-setting before sessions
- Active EMDR reprocessing during the therapeutic window
- Post-session integration and follow-up
Kristyn Beckstrom completed her training in Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ (KA-EMDR) through the Integrated Healing Center. This specialized training ensures sessions are delivered within an ethical, evidence-informed framework that prioritizes your wellbeing.
At this time Kristyn Beckstrom is the only Therapist offering KA-EMDR
In-Person in Encinitas or Virtual Across California
We proudly serve:
- Encinitas, CA
- Oceanside, CA
- Carlsbad, CA
- Vista, CA
- Del Mar, CA
- Clients virtually throughout California
Our Encinitas office offers a calm, private setting for in-person sessions. KA-EMDR can also be done virtually from the comfort of your own home when clinically appropriate.
Timing and Investment
Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ sessions are longer than traditional therapy sessions to allow for preparation, active reprocessing, and integration.
- $360 for a 90-minute session
We can discuss frequency and treatment planning during your consultation to ensure the structure aligns with your goals.
A Path Forward If You Feel Stuck
Trauma can shape how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how safe the world feels. Depression can drain your motivation. Anxiety can keep your nervous system on high alert. None of this means you are broken.
KA-EMDR offers a structured path toward lasting change. By promoting new neural pathways and helping the brain integrate painful memories, this work can create real shifts in how you feel, think, and respond.
At Thrive Therapy, Encinitas, we believe healing happens in relationship, with collaboration and respect. You are not pushed. You are supported. You are guided. And you are always treated as the expert of your own life.
If you are ready to explore Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ in Encinitas, call 442-273-0202 or contact us to schedule a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ safe?
Yes. Ketamine is prescribed by a licensed medical professional who evaluates you prior to participation. Sessions are structured, intentional, and conducted in collaboration with your provider.
2. Will I be unconscious or out of control?
No. The psycholytic dose used in KA-EMDR keeps you alert and able to communicate. The goal is calm openness, not dissociation.
3. How is this different from regular EMDR?
Traditional EMDR is highly effective on its own. Adding low-dose ketamine may enhance emotional access and neuroplasticity, which can help clients who feel blocked or overwhelmed in standard sessions.
4. Can this help with treatment-resistant depression?
Many individuals with treatment-resistant depression have found relief through ketamine-supported therapies. We evaluate each case individually and coordinate with your prescribing provider.
5. Do you offer this therapy virtually?
Yes. Clients throughout California may participate virtually when clinically appropriate and coordinated with their medical provider.
If trauma, PTSD, anxiety, or depression have been holding you back, Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ at Thrive Therapy, Encinitas may be the next step toward deeper healing and meaningful change.