Bridging EMDR and Ketamine Therapy: A Combined Path to Healing
Some experiences get stuck in the body and mind in ways that feel hard to reach through words alone. You might know something happened years ago, but the impact still lives in your nervous system — in your sleep, your relationships, your sense of safety in the world.
That’s where combining EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) with ketamine-assisted therapy can offer something unique. These two approaches—each powerful on their own—can create a layered healing experience that helps you reach and release what’s been stuck.
Why Combine EMDR and Ketamine?
EMDR is known for its ability to gently process traumatic memories using bilateral stimulation, often eye movements. It helps the brain file past events in a way that no longer hijacks your nervous system. But sometimes, the protective layers we’ve built around those memories are thick. Ketamine helps soften those layers, opening up access to material that might otherwise stay hidden or out of reach.
Ketamine shifts brain activity in a way that allows for new connections and perspectives. It also temporarily loosens rigid thought patterns, which makes it easier to approach painful experiences without shutting down or getting overwhelmed. When you bring EMDR into that softened, flexible mental space, you can often get to the heart of the wound more directly and compassionately.
A Grounded, Somatic Approach
In my practice, I don’t see ketamine as a standalone experience. I use lozenges (also called troches), and I incorporate somatic therapy throughout the process—before, during, and after each session. This means we pay close attention to what your body is telling us. We give space to the sensations, movements, and emotions that arise—not just the thoughts.
When we pair this somatic approach with EMDR, it’s not about “fixing” you. It’s about helping your system move toward integration, safety, and a felt sense of resolution.
What This Might Look Like
Here’s one way it can unfold:
Preparation: We talk about your history, your goals, and what’s been hard to reach through talk therapy alone. We build a sense of safety and clarity around the upcoming sessions.
The Ketamine + EMDR Session: You’ll take a lozenge in a calm, supportive setting. As the experience begins, I guide you using gentle EMDR techniques that align with what your system is ready for. It’s not about pushing—it’s about staying attuned to what’s emerging.
Integration: After the session, we work together to make sense of what came up. This might include body-based processing, continued EMDR, or just space to reflect. Integration is where the real changes settle in.
Who This Can Help
This approach can be especially helpful if you:
Have done talk therapy but still feel stuck
Experience complex trauma or early developmental wounds
Feel like you “know” the story but haven’t been able to shift how it lives in your body
Want to move through old pain without re-traumatizing yourself
Not a Shortcut, but a Deepening
This isn’t about hacking your brain or chasing insight. It’s about deepening your relationship with yourself—at a pace that honors your system. Ketamine and EMDR together don’t erase what happened, but they can change how it lives in you. And from there, real healing becomes possible.
If you're curious about whether this combined approach could support your path, you're not alone. Many people are looking for more than just coping—they’re looking for a way to feel whole again. I’d be honored to walk with you as we explore that path together.