Approaches to ketamine-assisted couple therapy
Frontiers in Psychology June 4, 2026 David O. Avruch
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is increasingly used in mainstream mental healthcare, but its application in couple therapy is underexplored. Interviews with nine psychotherapists from four couple therapy modalities revealed diverse strategies for using ketamine to facilitate attachment processes. Respondents reported that ketamine helps couples reduce fearfulness, deepen emotional expression, communicate frankly, enhance trust, gain perspective on relational dysfunction, and address trauma. Different therapeutic modalities conceptualize ketamine's role uniquely. The study, limited by its small sample, contributes to the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted couple therapy.