Ketamine-Assisted EMDR for Perinatal Trauma and Anxiety in San Diego

A gentle, evidence-informed option for deeper healing

Some moments in the perinatal journey leave an imprint that standard therapy alone cannot always reach. Traumatic births, NICU experiences, pregnancy loss, medical trauma, high-risk pregnancies, infertility, and persistent postpartum anxiety can all create layers of distress that feel stuck in the body.

Ketamine-assisted EMDR combines low-dose sublingual ketamine with structured EMDR trauma processing to help the nervous system access and resolve experiences that have felt too overwhelming to touch in standard therapy. This approach uses low sub-anesthetic doses, not psychedelic or dissociative ones. You remain awake, grounded, and fully engaged, with softened fear responses and a widened window of tolerance that allows EMDR to move more smoothly.

This work is not about bypassing emotions. It gently expands your capacity to process what has felt too heavy, too painful, or too tightly held.

I offer ketamine-assisted EMDR in my San Diego office and virtually throughout California and Arizona in collaboration with trusted, ketamine-trained medical providers.

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How Ketamine + EMDR Work Together

Why ketamine helps

At low therapeutic doses, ketamine can support trauma healing by helping you:

Reduce fear and hyperarousal. Loosen trauma-locked neural pathways. Increase emotional flexibility and self-compassion. Access insight without losing control.

You stay conscious and connected, with softened barriers and increased internal spaciousness that often allows EMDR to move more smoothly.

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What a Session Looks Like (90 Minutes)

  • We begin with grounding and intention setting. You take your sublingual ketamine dose, which is provided by the medical provider I collaborate with.

  • As the medicine gently begins to take effect, we orient your body, regulate your breath, and assess your readiness for EMDR.

  • Using bilateral stimulation through audio or tactile cues, we process a specific memory or emotional block. Ketamine often reduces emotional reactivity and opens the door for deeper, steadier work.

  • We close the session with reflection, meaning making, grounding, and clear post session care. You leave with tools that support continued integration.

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Who This Approach Can Help

Ketamine assisted EMDR may support people navigating:

  • Traumatic or medically complex births.

  • C-section trauma, anesthesia complications, or feeling unheard during labor.

  • NICU experiences.

  • Pregnancy or infant loss.

  • High-risk pregnancies or chronic medical anxiety.

  • Fertility trauma.

  • Postpartum depression, anxiety, or OCD. Persistent guilt, shame, or fear after birth.

If you are unsure whether this is right for you, we can explore your history, medical eligibility, and goals together.

Safety Is Central

You are medically evaluated by a ketamine trained provider

  • You remain awake and able to participate

  • Doses are intentionally low, not psychedelic

  • You are monitored throughout the entire session

  • We move at a pace that honors your consent and your nervous system

Why Perinatal Specialization Matters

Ketamine-assisted EMDR is a powerful modality, and context shapes everything about how it lands. The perinatal period carries its own emotional architecture: grief layered with love, identity in flux, a nervous system that has been through something enormous and is still trying to make sense of it. A therapist who understands that architecture, who knows the difference between birth trauma and general trauma, who can hold the complexity of loss during IVF or terror during a NICU stay, brings something different to this work than a general trauma therapist offering the same modality.

As an LCSW and PMH-C with advanced training in perinatal trauma and IADC grief work, I draw on EMDR, parts work, somatic grounding, and attachment-focused support to meet you where you are. At Flourish, ketamine-assisted EMDR is not a protocol applied to perinatal experiences. It is trauma processing designed from the inside of those experiences, held with compassion, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the perinatal landscape.

Session Structure & Investment

Ketamine-assisted EMDR is offered in structured formats to ensure safety, containment, and meaningful therapeutic progress. Because this modality combines extended EMDR, medication support, and medical coordination, sessions are more comprehensive than standard therapy and are designed with perinatal trauma in mind.

Three Session Ketamine+EMDR Package

A structured series designed for gradual, supported ketamine-assisted therapy. Sessions are spaced to allow for integration, making this a good fit for those who want to move at a steady, supported pace.

This package includes:

A comprehensive preparation session. Three 90-minute ketamine-assisted EMDR sessions. Integration and grounding after each session. Ongoing coordination with your ketamine-prescribing medical provider.

Most clients experience their most meaningful shifts within this three-session structure.

Add-On for EMDR Intensives: Ketamine-Assisted Processing

For clients participating in a weekend EMDR Intensive, you may choose to incorporate two ketamine-assisted EMDR sessions within the intensive container. This add-on supports deeper access to trauma material and can accelerate emotional resolution.

This add-on includes:

  • Two 90-minute ketamine-assisted EMDR sessions folded into your intensive.

  • Trauma-specific preparation for working with ketamine.

  • Integration support across the intensive weekend.

  • Coordination with your ketamine-trained medical provider.

Medical Costs

Medical evaluation and the ketamine prescription are paid directly to your prescribing medical provider. These costs are intentionally separate so that your medical care and your therapy remain clearly defined and safely distinct.

BOOK A CONSULTATION
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Ketamine + EMDR FAQ

  • I offer two structured options to ensure safety, stability, and meaningful progress:

    Three-Session Ketamine + EMDR Package — $1530

    Includes:

    • A comprehensive preparation session

    • Three 90-minute ketamine-assisted EMDR sessions

    • Integration support after each session

    • Coordination with your medical provider

    If you’re looking to go deeper, ketamine can also be incorporated into a full EMDR intensive.

    In that setting, ketamine is thoughtfully integrated into a focused weekend of care, allowing for more continuous and in-depth processing.

    Medical Costs:
    The medical evaluation and the ketamine prescription itself are paid directly to your prescribing medical provider and are not included in my fees. This keeps therapy and medical care clearly and safely separate.

  • Because research on ketamine use in pregnancy is extremely limited, ketamine-assisted EMDR is not recommended during pregnancy.
    If you’re pregnant, we can continue EMDR, somatic work, and parts work without medication support.

  • Current evidence suggests ketamine appears in breastmilk in very small amounts and clears quickly. Many medical providers consider at the low, sub-anesthetic doses used in this work likely compatible with breastfeeding.

    You may choose to:

    • Continue nursing without interruption

    • Pump and save milk beforehand

    • Pause breastfeeding for 6–12 hours after dosing (based on comfort)

    We’ll talk through what feels right for you.

  • This work uses a two-provider model for safety:

    • A ketamine-trained medical provider handles the evaluation and prescription.

    • I provide trauma processing, EMDR, and integration during your dosing session.

    Keeping these roles distinct ensures the highest ethical, medical, and therapeutic standards.

  • At the low, psychoanalytic doses used in this work, you stay aware, conversational, and grounded. Clients often describe feeling “softer,” “more open,” or “less defended,” not out of control.

    You will need:

    • A calm rest-of-day

    • No driving

    • Light support if caring for little ones

    Most parents feel steady enough for gentle tasks after their session.

  • It’s recommended (not required) to have someone available that afternoon or evening, especially if you’re caring for infants or toddlers. Many clients plan for childcare just to give themselves space to rest.

  • Your ketamine-trained medical provider will:

    • Complete a medical evaluation

    • Determine if ketamine is safe for you

    • Prescribe a low-dose sublingual ketamine lozenge

    • Provide dosing and safety instructions

    • Be available for medical questions

    I coordinate with them to ensure your therapeutic work is supported and safe.

    • You prefer a gradual, supported pace

    • You want time between sessions to integrate

    • You’re newer to trauma work or feeling unsure about diving in deeply

    • Your nervous system tends to feel easily overwhelmed

    • You’d like a structured starting point with consistent support

  • Ketamine may not be appropriate if you have:

    • Certain blood pressure or cardiac conditions

    • Active psychosis

    • Untreated bipolar mania

    • Significant dissociation

    • Certain medication interactions

    Your medical provider will screen for all safety considerations.