What Ketamine Feels Like
A Grounded Guide from a Psychiatric NP
By Emma Smith, PMHNP
If you're considering ketamine therapy, you might be wondering: What does it actually feel like? As a psychiatric nurse practitioner offering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), I hear this question often. The truth is, every experience is different — but there are some common themes that can help you feel more prepared.
This post is for the curious, the cautious, and those who've tried other treatments without relief. My hope is to demystify the experience and help you decide if ketamine could be a helpful tool on your healing journey.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that’s been used safely for decades. At lower doses, it creates a shift in awareness that can help people feel unstuck from rigid thought patterns, emotional numbness, or deep despair. In a therapeutic setting, ketamine can soften inner defenses and create space for clarity, emotional release, and self-compassion.
What You Might Feel During a Session
Everyone’s experience is unique, but here are some common effects:
Dissociation
You may feel a gentle separation from your usual thoughts or sense of self. Many describe it as “floating,” “observing from a distance,” or “being outside of time.” Rather than feeling disconnected, many people report a sense of spaciousness — a break from anxiety, shame, or overwhelm.
Imagery and Inner Experience
Some people see shifting colors, patterns, or dreamlike scenes. Others revisit memories or experience symbolic insights — like walking through a childhood home or feeling connected to something greater than themselves. These inner experiences can hold meaning and offer new emotional understanding.
Emotional Clarity or Release
Ketamine can lower the volume on your inner critic, making space for repressed emotions or buried insights to surface. Some people cry, laugh, or feel unexpected peace. Others don’t feel much during the session, but notice a subtle emotional shift in the days afterward.
What It Doesn’t Feel Like
Ketamine isn’t a euphoric or “out-of-control” experience when administered responsibly. It’s not about escaping — it’s about shifting perspective. In this setting, the goal isn’t to chase a high, but to access something meaningful, honest, and potentially transformative.
Why Integration Matters
The session is just one piece of the process. What happens afterward — how you reflect, journal, and talk through your experience — is often where the healing deepens. That’s what makes ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) different from a standalone infusion.
In our work together, we create space to understand what came up, how it connects to your life, and what shifts you want to carry forward.
Final Thoughts
Ketamine isn’t right for everyone, but it can be a powerful option for people who feel stuck in depression, anxiety, or trauma. It helps many people reconnect with themselves in a way that’s hard to access through talk therapy or medication alone.
If you're curious about whether it's a good fit for you, I offer free 10-minute consultations to answer questions and explore next steps.
You don’t have to keep suffering. There is another way forward — and I’d be honored to support you in finding it.
