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Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Hamilton, Ontario
A Structured, Trauma-Informed Approach to Deep Therapeutic Healing
Feeling stuck in therapy or life despite doing “all the work”?
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) combines medically supervised ketamine sessions with psychotherapy to help people access emotions, perspectives, and insights that can sometimes be difficult to reach through talk therapy alone.
It’s not a magic fix.
But for some people, it opens a window so therapy can go deeper.
At Access Therapy, our psychedelic-assisted therapy (PaT) services are supported by ATMA CENA. As part of their national network of clinics, we’re able to offer access to this emerging field of care in Canada with a strong foundation behind us. ATMA CENA provides established clinical protocols, operational systems, and specialized training for therapists, helping ensure that our PaT services in Hamilton are delivered safely, ethically, and with consistency.
What Is Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy?
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy combines medically supervised ketamine sessions with psychotherapy.
The medicine temporarily creates a non-ordinary state of consciousness, which may allow people to:
• access difficult emotions
• see patterns from a new perspective
• explore memories or experiences more openly
• harness neuroplasticity for deep neural change
Therapy before and after the session helps make sense of what emerges and translate insights into lasting change.
Is PaT Right for You?
You may be drawn to psychedelic-assisted therapy if you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or caught in patterns that no longer respond to traditional approaches alone.
You may be drawn to PaT if you’re:
Caught in emotional patterns that keep repeating
Feeling stuck, even after trying traditional therapy
Experiencing numbness, disconnection, or difficulty accessing emotions
Wanting a deeper approach to healing and change
Interested in emerging, research-informed mental health care
Psychedelic-assisted therapy can offer a different way into the work — one that may help open new perspectives, deepen emotional processing, and support meaningful therapeutic change.
What PaT may support
Research has explored ketamine-assisted therapy for:
Depression, including treatment-resistant depression
OCD, anxiety, and panic-related symptoms
Trauma and PTSD
Other ongoing mental health concerns
PaT is not appropriate for everyone. That’s why we begin with thoughtful screening, preparation, and clinical support to make sure this approach is safe, appropriate, and aligned for you.
Wondering if this could be the right next step for you?
We’re here to help you explore that gently and thoughtfully. If you’re curious about PaT, we can talk through your questions, your hopes, and whether this approach feels like a good fit for you.
PaT works best as a structured therapeutic process, not a single experience.
Many people notice meaningful change after one session. But without continued support, that momentum often fades within a few weeks. A structured course of therapy and medicine sessions helps deepen healing, support lasting transformation, and make the most of the brain’s natural window for change.
Two Approaches to Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
Two Different Experiences
Psychedelic Sessions (Low Dose)
A deeper inward experience where:
• attention shifts more internally
• talking becomes minimal
• symbolic or reflective experiences may arise
Insights are explored afterward through integration therapy.
Psycholytic Sessions (Lower Dose)
A lower dose that allows you to:
• remain present and conversational
• work actively with your therapist
• explore emotions with gentle support
Often described as emotionally open but grounded.
You and the medical provider (Nurse Practitioner) will determine what pathway is appropriate and safe for you.
Curious Whether PaT Might Be Right for You?
The best place to start is with a conversation.
The Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Process
What the PaT Process Looks Like at Access Therapy
1. Free Virtual Info Session
Discuss questions, expectations, costs, and eligibility.
Dip your toe, scratch your curiosity itch.
No pressure.
2. Medical Assessment & Treatment Planning
A Nurse Practitioner reviews your medical history and medications + discusses your goals for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
The NP will recommend a treatment plan (the number and type of sessions) that feel most supportive for you and your needs. Ultimately, you decide what you do.
3. Preparation Sessions
1 session with your PaT therapist to help you set intentions.
1 session with the Registered Nurse and Compassionate Witness to complete a physical health assessment, build grounding skills, and shape what safety looks like for you.
4. Medicine Session(s)
The medicine is administered by medical staff while your vitals and wellbeing are monitored.
A Compassionate Witness stays with you throughout the entire session to offer presence and grounding when needed.
5. Integration
The real work begins.
Follow-up sessions with your PaT therapist help translate insights into meaningful change.
This is when the benefits can be integrated into real life.
Safety in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Every client begins with a comprehensive medical and psychiatric screening to ensure ketamine-assisted therapy is safe and appropriate.
But safety isn’t only medical. We place equal importance on emotional safety, consent, and trauma-informed care throughout the entire process.
Our team approaches this work with humility and care, grounded in our own clinical training and experience as therapists working in this field. We strive to create an environment that is trauma-informed, culturally aware, and responsive to each person’s unique story and identity.
Our safety protocols include:
• medical and psychiatric assessment by a licensed provider
• medication review and contraindication screening
• preparation sessions focused on emotional readiness and grounding
• continuous monitoring and support during medicine sessions
• trauma-informed, consent-based therapeutic care
• structured integration sessions after each experience
• medical follow-up when needed
Safety is not just a checklist for us — it’s the foundation of how we support your healing process.
The Details about Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy at Access Therapy
With this being an emerging field, we know that you have questions and you need details.
For anything that’s not answered here, please reach out or book a Virtual Info Session with our team.
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✔ Virtual Sessions for the Info-Call and the NP’s Assessments
✔ In-Person Medicine Session(s) in Hamilton, Ontario
✔ In-Person or Virtual Integration Sessions with your PaT Therapist
Our office is a calm, welcoming space designed to support comfort, presence, and grounded therapeutic work.
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We offer a single session option for people who want to thoughtfully explore whether PaT is the right fit.
It gives you a chance to experience how you respond to the medicine, how the process feels for your nervous system, and whether this approach feels aligned before stepping into a full treatment plan.
Please note that most research outcomes are based on 4-8 KaT sessions.
Starting at $1549
Includes;
- All assessments with Nurse Practitioner (1.5 hours)
- Preparation with Registered Nurse and Compassionate Witness (1.5 hours)
- Intention setting session with your PaT therapist (1 hour)
- 1 KaT medicine session with Registered Nurse and Compassionate Witness (3 hours)
- 1 integration session with your PaT Therapist (1 hours)
- Follow-up with NP and RNThe single-session fee can be fully applied to any package within 5 months
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This is the most common number of sessions in a treatment package. (8 session packages can be built and are recommended for more persistent mental health challenges)
Packages can be customized with different number of medicine sessions and whether they are psycholytic or psychedelic doses.
6 Sessions Package Starts at $4999
Includes;
- All assessments with Nurse Practitioner (1.5 hours)
- Preparation with Registered Nurse and Compassionate Witness (1.5 hours)
- Intention setting session with your PaT therapist (1 hour)
- 6 KaT medicine sessions with Registered Nurse and Compassionate Witness (3 hours each)
- 7+ integration sessions with your PaT Therapist (7+ hours)
- Follow-up with NP and RNThe single-session fee can be fully applied to any package within 5 months.
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Receipts will be issued for all appointment types.
Most extended health insurance plans will cover sessions with the PaT Therapist (Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers).
Some folks have additional coverage for Nursing services which might cover the Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse fee.
Please reach out to your extended health insurance provider to find out more.
You might need some other details.
The best place to start is with a conversation.
The Psychedelic-Assisted Therapists
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Carlin Palme, he/him
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Registered Psychotherapist
Lead Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist -
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Marion Roberts, they/she/he
Registered Social Worker
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist -
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Zach Cochrane, he/him
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist -
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Erin Saunders, she/her
THERAPY TEAM LEAD
Registered Psychotherapist
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist -
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Zavera Ghadially, sheher
Registered Psychotherapist
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist
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Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a form of PaT that uses ketamine, a legally approved medication in Canada, alongside therapy.
Unlike traditional talk therapy alone, KAP works with both the mind and brain—creating a temporary shift in perception and increasing neuroplasticity, which can help people access emotions, process difficult experiences, and form new perspectives more effectively.
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Yes. Ketamine is a legal, approved medication in Canada and can be prescribed by qualified medical professionals. When used in a therapeutic setting alongside psychotherapy, it is considered an evidence-informed, off-label treatment.
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Ketamine therapy works by increasing neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections), reducing rigid thought patterns like rumination, and creating a state where emotions and memories may be more accessible.
In a therapeutic setting, this allows people to:
See their experiences from new perspectives
Access emotions that may feel blocked
Loosen deeply ingrained patterns
This is why therapy and integration are essential—ketamine opens the window, but the therapeutic process helps create lasting change.
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Experiences vary, but many people report:
A sense of distance from usual thought patterns
Increased introspection or insight
Visual or sensory changes
A dreamlike or meditative state
Some sessions feel expansive, while others may bring up difficult emotions. Both can be valuable when supported properly. You remain aware throughout, and a trained therapist is there to guide you.
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Many people notice a shift after one session. However, those effects often fade within a couple of weeks without continued support. We like to say “ketamine opens the door, integration therapy helps you walk through it” and often there are multiple doors to walk through for meaningful change to stick.
Lasting results typically come from a structured process that includes:
Preparation
Multiple ketamine sessions
Ongoing integration therapy
This allows changes to deepen and stabilize over time.
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A single session can be meaningful and, for some people, clarifying. It can help you understand how you respond to the medicine and whether this approach feels right for you.
However, without continued therapy and additional sessions, the benefits are often temporary. PaT is most effective when approached as an ongoing therapeutic process. This is why PaT is prescribed as a treatment plan and not a singular dose.
Having one session with a therapist, osteopath, chiropractor, dentist, doctor etc. is rarely enough - ketamine-assisted therapy is no exception.
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Ketamine has been used in medical settings for decades and has a strong safety profile when administered in a controlled, clinical environment. Unlike many anesthetics, it generally does not significantly suppress breathing at therapeutic doses, which contributes to its safety when used under proper medical supervision, including in ketamine-assisted therapy.
Safety depends on:
Thorough medical and psychological screening
Appropriate dosing and monitoring
Care from a trained clinical team
This is why preparation and assessment are essential parts of the process.
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Ketamine therapy is not appropriate for everyone. It may not be recommended for individuals with:
A history of psychosis or certain psychiatric conditions
Certain cardiovascular or medical risks
Specific medication interactions
A comprehensive assessment helps determine whether this approach is safe and appropriate for you.
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Integration is the process of making sense of your experience and applying insights to your daily life.
Without integration, even powerful sessions can fade. With integration, people can:
Understand and process what arose during sessions
Turn insights into meaningful life changes
Reinforce new patterns and behaviors
This is where much of the long-term healing happens.
Ketamine helps open a door, therapy helps you walk through that door and choose a new pathway.
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Some people experience noticeable shifts within hours or days after a session—especially with depression. This is significantly faster than many traditional antidepressants.
However, rapid improvement does not always mean lasting change. Ongoing therapy and integration are what help sustain those early gains.