Combined treatment produces more robust and sustained improvements than either approach alone
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Friendswood: Deeper Healing Through Expert-Guided Treatment
Discover the restorative reach of ketamine paired with guided psychotherapy at Catalyst Health and Wellness, delivered through our partnership with Houston Healing Collective. Overseen by Dr. Ho and trained KAP clinicians. Three Houston-area locations welcome Friendswood residents daily from 5 am to 9 pm.
Discover Renewed Hope with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
If therapy and medication alone have not brought the shift you are looking for, you are far from alone in Friendswood. Many people find that conventional approaches ease symptoms for a while but leave the deeper patterns untouched. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) offers another route forward, one that pairs the fast-acting neurobiological response of ketamine with the depth of guided psychotherapy.
At Catalyst Health and Wellness, we bring Friendswood families access to this approach through our partnership with Houston Healing Collective, detailed further in our flagship Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy program. Our collaboration pairs Dr. Ho’s medical background with KAP therapists Jennifer Lancaster, Linda Barnard, Rachel Chang, and Jamie Weiser. With three Houston-area locations and hours built around your calendar, we aim to help you find not only eased symptoms but real, personal growth.

Understanding Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Care
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) marks a notable shift in how mental health care can be delivered, and Cleveland Clinic notes that pairing ketamine with psychotherapy may strengthen and extend the medication’s benefits. Rather than treating a standalone infusion as the whole intervention, KAP folds ketamine’s distinct properties into a broader therapeutic process meant to extend and deepen what the medication offers.
This framework explains why KAP can reach people other approaches have not. Ketamine briefly softens the rigid thinking patterns and emotional guardedness that keep many people locked in place. Guided by a trained therapist during that window, you can face difficult material with less dread, turning a fleeting insight into something you can actually build on.
Research consistently shows powerful results:
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Our KAP Collaboration
We work alongside Houston Healing Collective to deliver comprehensive Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, joining medical oversight with dedicated therapeutic support for every patient we see.
Medical Care with Dr. Ho at Catalyst Health & Wellness
Dr. Ho oversees ketamine administration by IV, IM, or sublingual route, drawing on more than three decades of medical practice. His dual training as an anesthesiologist and pediatrician shapes a calm, attentive approach to care across our modern treatment spaces. Catalyst manages every medical component of your KAP experience.
Learn more about Ketamine TreatmentTherapeutic Support with Houston Healing Collective
Houston Healing Collective's KAP-trained therapists guide preparation, sit with you during sessions, and lead integration work afterward. Their training spans psychedelic-assisted therapy, trauma-focused care, and established frameworks including EMDR and parts work drawn from IFS.
Learn more about Houston Healing CollectiveConditions We Address with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Friendswood
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy has drawn attention for conditions that have not responded fully to standard care. At Catalyst Health and Wellness, our KAP program is offered for patients dealing with:
Treatment-Resistant Depression
Deeper healing when medications alone haven't worked
Read MoreAnxiety Disorders
Breaking free from persistent worry and fear patterns
Read MorePTSD & Complex Trauma
Processing traumatic memories with reduced emotional distress
Read MoreOCD
Disrupting rigid thought patterns and compulsive behaviors
Read MoreEating Disorders
Addressing underlying trauma and rigid thinking patterns
Read MoreAddiction & Recovery Support
Reducing cravings and supporting lasting sobriety
Read MoreEvery condition tends to respond through overlapping mechanisms: a window of heightened neuroplasticity opens room for change, while guided therapy helps you carry insight into daily practice. Your individual plan will be shaped around your specific symptoms and goals, since outcomes vary from patient to patient.
Your KAP Treatment Journey
We have built each stage of the KAP experience around safety, comfort, and therapeutic value. Here is what Friendswood patients can expect when choosing Catalyst and Houston Healing Collective for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
Step 1: Free Phone Consultation
Your journey begins with a no-cost, confidential phone consultation. This isn’t a sales pitch but a genuine conversation where we explore whether KAP is right for you.
During your consultation, you’ll:
- Ask all your questions about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
- Share your treatment history and current challenges
- Learn what the KAP process involves
- Get to know our team in a pressure-free environment
Receive honest guidance on whether this treatment fits your needs
There’s absolutely no charge and no obligation to continue.
Step 2: Comprehensive Assessment
If you decide to move forward, you’ll complete a thorough assessment process with both our medical team and your KAP therapist. We want to understand you as a whole person: mind, body, and spirit. This includes reviewing your medical history, current symptoms, treatment goals, and any trauma history that may be relevant to your care.
Step 3: Preparation Sessions
Before your first ketamine session, you’ll meet with your therapist from Houston Healing Collective for preparation sessions. These aren’t optional add-ons; they’re essential to maximizing your KAP outcomes.
Preparation includes:
- Building rapport and trust with your therapist
- Setting clear intentions for your treatment
- Learning what to expect during ketamine experiences
- Developing tools for navigating challenging material
- Creating a framework for integrating insights into daily life
Step 4: Day of Treatment
Preparation is simple:
- Avoid eating for 6 hours before your appointment (for IV/IM) or 2 hours (for sublingual)
- Only small amounts of clear liquids 2 hours before
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing
When you arrive:
- We’ll review any last-minute questions
- Check your vital signs
- Your therapist will help you settle in and reconnect with your intentions
Step 5: Your KAP Session
You’ll settle into a comfortable, reclinable chair in our private treatment room. We create a calm, peaceful environment optimized for therapeutic work.
Your comfort matters:
- Private treatment room
- Noise-cancelling headphones available
- Carefully curated music
- Eye mask if desired
- Warm blanket
- Adjustable lighting
During your session:
Depending on your treatment plan, ketamine may be administered via IV, intramuscular injection, or sublingual lozenges. Your therapist remains with you throughout the experience, providing support and guidance as needed. The level of verbal interaction varies based on your dose and therapeutic approach.
Sessions typically last 2-3 hours, including preparation, ketamine administration, the experience itself, and initial processing. Throughout your session, Dr. Ho or another member of our medical team monitors your vital signs while your therapist tends to your psychological experience.
Step 6: Recovery & Integration
After your ketamine experience, you’ll have time for immediate processing with your therapist while insights are still fresh.
Important aftercare instructions:
- You cannot drive yourself home (arrange transportation in advance)
- Plan to relax for the rest of the day
- Stay in the company of a responsible adult when possible
- Avoid important decisions, vigorous activity, or operating heavy machinery
Between sessions:
You’ll meet with your therapist for integration sessions to process insights, develop strategies for implementing changes in daily life, and prepare for your next ketamine session. This ongoing therapeutic work is what transforms temporary relief into lasting change.
Step 7: Treatment Course & Maintenance
A typical KAP course includes preparation, 4-6 ketamine sessions over 3-4 weeks, and integration sessions throughout.
Our typical protocol:
- Preparation sessions before beginning ketamine treatment
- Initial series: 4-6 ketamine sessions with therapeutic support
- Integration sessions between each ketamine experience
- Personalized maintenance schedule based on your results
- Ongoing integration support to sustain improvements
Since everyone’s needs are unique, we customize this approach based on your individual response and therapeutic goals.
The Research Behind Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Researchers at Yale have spent years tracing how ketamine interacts with the brain’s glutamate system, a pathway distinct from the one targeted by conventional antidepressants, and their findings continue to shape how clinicians think about pairing the medication with structured psychotherapy for lasting benefit.
Separate clinical work published on PubMed has tracked outcomes among hospital psychiatry patients who received ketamine after standard antidepressant trials failed them. That research offers a data-supported picture of how the medication performs once it moves beyond a research-only setting.
Recurring findings across the literature include:
- Ketamine opens a window of heightened neuroplasticity that may make the brain more open to therapeutic change.
- Structured psychotherapy appears to help extend benefits that would otherwise fade quickly on their own.
- Combined treatment may reduce how many ketamine sessions a patient ultimately needs.
- KAP shows particular relevance for complex trauma, treatment-resistant depression, and substance use patterns.

Why Choose Catalyst Health & Wellness for KAP Care
01
Expert Partnership
02
Led by Dr. Ho – Expert Medical Care
Dr. Ho brings a distinct combination of training to your KAP care. As a board-certified anesthesiologist, he carries deep experience in medication safety and patient monitoring. His pediatric background gives him a particular skill for easing nervous patients through medical procedures.
03
Specialized KAP Therapists
Houston Healing Collective’s therapists have completed structured training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and continue tracking new research and protocols. Their focus spans trauma, complex pain, and conditions that have resisted conventional treatment, bringing real depth to each session.
04
Whole-Person Approach
We treat people, not just symptoms. KAP by nature addresses the psychological patterns, relationships, and life circumstances behind suffering, not just neurochemistry. This means:
What this means for you:
- Treatment plans built around your personal history
- Attention to your current symptoms and specific goals
- Ongoing adjustments based on how you respond
- Care that shifts as you move through treatment
05
Extended Hours & Flexible Scheduling
Sessions in this program take real time, and a nine-to-five schedule rarely leaves room for that. That is why our doors stay open from five in the morning until nine at night, every day of the week. Whether an early appointment before work suits you better or a weekend slot fits your life more easily, our Heights location closest to Timbergrove can accommodate it.
06
Comprehensive Treatment Options
Beyond KAP, we offer additional innovative treatments that can complement your care:
Ketamine Therapy
Standalone infusions for rapid symptom relief
TMS Therapy
Non-invasive brain stimulation for depression
Spravato Treatment
FDA-approved nasal esketamine therapy
Our goal is to find the right combination of treatments for your unique situation.
07
Safe, Comfortable Environment
Every treatment room is designed with comfort and therapeutic depth in mind, featuring reclinable chairs, adjustable lighting, noise-cancelling headphones, curated music, eye masks, and warm blankets, with your therapist and medical team working together throughout.

KAP Retreats
For those wanting a deeper immersive path, we offer ketamine retreats alongside Houston Healing Collective. These multi-day gatherings blend medically supervised ketamine sessions with group therapy, movement work, sound healing, art, and integration practices inside a supportive community setting.
Retreats include:
Visit Houston Healing Collective for upcoming retreat dates and registration.
Getting Started with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Friendswood

You have spent enough time wrestling with symptoms that will not budge under standard care. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy offers another route toward deeper healing, grounded in a growing body of research and real accounts from people navigating something similar to what you are facing.
Friendswood, governed locally through Friendswood City Hall, sits within reach of all three of our Houston area locations, and taking the first step is simple. Call us at 800-772-1242 for a free, no-obligation phone consultation. We will walk through your history, answer your questions, and help you decide whether KAP fits your needs. Nothing about the call is pressured, and everything you share stays confidential.
With three Houston area locations open from 5am to 9pm every day of the week, reaching the care you need should not be the hard part. Our location at 104 W. 12th Street, Suite B, Houston, TX 77008, approximately 26 miles from Friendswood. Dr. Ho, our partners at Houston Healing Collective, and our full team are ready to support you through each stage of this process.
Monday-Sunday, 6am-9pm
Free consultation
Personalized care
Three Houston locations
Expert medical and therapeutic team
Commonly Asked Questions
Get Help NowHow does KAP differ from ketamine infusions alone?
While ketamine infusions primarily focus on the neurobiological effects of ketamine, KAP integrates these effects with professional psychotherapy before, during, and after ketamine administration. This comprehensive approach helps maximize and extend ketamine’s benefits, often requiring fewer total ketamine sessions for lasting improvement. The therapeutic component helps turn temporary relief into enduring change.
What happens during a KAP session?
A typical KAP session lasts 2-3 hours. After brief preparation, ketamine is administered (via IV, injection, or sublingual lozenge), and you’ll recline comfortably while the medicine takes effect. A trained therapist remains with you throughout the experience, providing support and guidance as needed. Following the active ketamine phase, your therapist helps you begin processing the experience while insights are fresh.
How quickly will I notice results?
Many patients experience significant relief from symptoms after the very first ketamine session, often within hours. However, the full benefits of KAP typically develop over the course of treatment as insights are integrated and new perspectives are applied to daily life. The combination of rapid symptom relief plus ongoing therapeutic work creates both immediate and lasting improvements.
How many sessions will I need?
Most patients benefit from an initial series of 4-6 ketamine sessions over 3-4 weeks, with preparation and integration sessions scheduled accordingly. After this initial series, some patients choose to continue with occasional maintenance sessions. Your treatment plan will be customized based on your specific needs and response.
What does KAP feel like?
Experiences vary from person to person and depend on the dose used. Many patients describe feeling relaxed, peaceful, or somewhat disconnected from their surroundings. Some people experience meaningful insights, emotional release, or shifts in perspective. Your therapist helps you navigate whatever arises and make meaning from the experience. Most patients find KAP sessions profound and therapeutic.
Can I drive after a KAP session?
No, you cannot drive yourself home after KAP treatment. You’ll need to arrange transportation. By the time you leave our facility, you’ll feel much clearer, but for your safety, you should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or make important decisions for the rest of the day.
Is KAP covered by insurance?
Ketamine for mental health conditions is considered off-label use and typically isn’t covered by insurance. However, some aspects of the psychotherapy component may be eligible for coverage. Our team will work with you to explore all options for making treatment accessible.
Who is a good candidate for KAP?
KAP may be appropriate for individuals with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, eating disorders, and addiction who haven’t responded adequately to conventional treatments. During your consultation, we’ll assess whether KAP is right for your specific situation and goals.
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