Why Principium Combines Ketamine With Psychotherapy

Author: Dr. Ziv Cohen

A major Cochrane review (August 2025) recently examined dozens of clinical trials involving ketamine for chronic pain. The findings were mixed, showing that ketamine may provide short-term benefits but that results vary and long-term outcomes are less clear.

At Principium, we view this not as a reason to abandon ketamine, but as evidence of something we have seen in practice for years: ketamine works best when combined with psychotherapy. While many of our patients receive ketamine infusions for depression on their own, we encourage everyone to consider therapy as part of their treatment plan.

The Role of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

Our clinicians practice ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP), which integrates ketamine treatment with structured therapeutic sessions. This model is part of the broader and growing field of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, which also includes ongoing studies into psilocybin assisted psychotherapy and MDMA assisted psychotherapy.

With KAP, ketamine sessions open the mind to new perspectives, while therapy helps patients process their experiences, build resilience, and make meaningful changes. Patients often find that therapy makes the benefits of ketamine more durable and more transformative.

Our Treatment Options

Principium offers comprehensive interventional psychiatry services, with offices across the U.S. Our patients can access:

• Ketamine infusions in New York, including Midtown Manhattan, Downtown Manhattan, and the Financial District.
• Ketamine infusions in Santa Monica and ketamine infusions in Los Angeles for our West Coast patients.
• Ketamine infusions in Greenwich, Connecticut, serving the tri-state community.
• Spravato treatment (esketamine) available in Santa Monica, New York, Manhattan, and Greenwich, Connecticut.
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, an FDA-approved, non-invasive option that many patients find highly effective.

We work with each patient to design an individualized plan, whether that includes ketamine infusions alone or a full program of ketamine assisted psychotherapy.

Why We Recommend Combining Ketamine With Therapy

Even for patients who benefit from infusions alone, we believe adding therapy is the best practice. Psychotherapy provides:

• Integration — helping patients make sense of the thoughts, emotions, and insights that emerge during treatment.
• Durability — extending the relief patients feel from their ketamine sessions into daily life.
• Personal Growth — guiding patients toward lasting change and a stronger sense of well-being.

This is why at Principium, ketamine is never “just an infusion.” Whether delivered alone or combined with therapy, it is always provided with thoughtful clinical oversight and personalized support.

The Principium Way

At Principium, we believe medications like ketamine, Spravato, and TMS can unlock new possibilities—but it is therapy that helps patients walk through the door. That is why we recommend pairing interventional treatments with psychotherapy whenever possible.

That is, and always will be, the Principium way.

Take the Next Step

If you are considering advanced treatments for depression or anxiety, we invite you to learn more about Principium’s integrative approach. We provide:

• Ketamine infusions for depression in New York, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Greenwich.
• Spravato treatment in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Manhattan, and Greenwich.
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression at multiple locations.
• Ketamine assisted psychotherapy, offered by experienced psychiatrists and therapists.