In the Professionals category of the Clínica Synaptica blog, you will find articles written by specialists in mental health and neuroscience. It is a space where psychologists, psychiatrists, and other professionals share their knowledge, clinical experience, and reflections to better understand the brain, behaviour, and emotional well-being from a scientific and human perspective.
This years Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy training expands theoretical and experiential learning for health professionals. In this blog we go over our Foundations one-day KAP course. Join us to learn more!
In this engaging interview conducted by Dr. Joan Obiols, Phil Wolfson, founder of the Ketamine Research Foundation, speaks passionately about the pivotal events in his life and what led him to become a world-renowned expert in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Ketamine therapy can be delivered intravenously or intramuscularly, each offering distinct therapeutic experiences. IV administration provides gradual delivery, precise titration and close monitoring, often preferred in acute settings. IM administration offers rapid onset, high bioavailability and a more immersive experience, with simpler logistics and greater comfort for many patients. Research shows both routes are similarly safe and effective for depression, anxiety, PTSD and pain, especially when combined with psychotherapy and structured integration. Patient preference, clinical goals and context should guide route selection.
Treatment-resistant depression affects up to one third of patients with major depressive disorder and is linked to severe impairment and suicide risk. Real-world clinical data show that ketamine offers rapid antidepressant effects, with meaningful symptom reduction in nearly half of treated patients and remission in around one third. Benefits often appear within hours or days and can be maintained over time with follow-up treatment. Evidence also indicates good tolerability, low risk of symptom worsening and effectiveness in both unipolar and bipolar depression.
This article introduces the speakers for the Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy training program taking place in Barcelona in 2025. The program brings together internationally renowned professionals in psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, and psychedelic therapies. The instructors contribute decades of clinical experience, scientific research, and the development of innovative therapeutic models. Understanding their backgrounds allows us to appreciate the academic, clinical, and humanistic rigor of the training, as well as the diverse approaches that converge in this unique educational offering.
The Ketamine Research Foundation, led by Dr. Phil Wolfson, has published a comprehensive guide for the safe and ethical use of ketamine. The document addresses responsible personal use, clinical application within ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and a professional ethical code developed by the Ketamine Psychotherapy Associates. It offers practical guidance for preparation, accompaniment, and integration, aiming to minimize risks and maximize therapeutic benefit. The guide reinforces KRF’s leadership in setting high ethical, clinical, and educational standards for ketamine-assisted therapy worldwide.
José Carlos Bouso, psychologist and PhD in Pharmacology, reflects on the present and future of psychedelic therapy in an interview recorded during a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy training in Barcelona. He reviews the historical importance of psychedelic research in psychiatry, addresses current regulatory and sociopolitical challenges, and discusses the influence of the pharmaceutical industry. Bouso also highlights his long-standing interest in schizophrenia and its potential responsiveness to psychedelic-assisted approaches, expressing strong optimism that we are entering a uniquely promising era for psychedelic medicine.
During our recent Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy training, we had the privilege of welcoming Vladislav Matrenitsky, founder of Expio Clinic in Kyiv. A medical doctor and transpersonal psychotherapist, Dr. Matrenitsky integrates psychedelic medicine with non-Western traditions such as Qigong and Sufism. Since 2018, he has worked therapeutically with ketamine, with a special focus on soldiers suffering from PTSD, contributing both to clinical care and to the growing body of research on ketamine-assisted therapy.
Phil Wolfson, creator of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and director of the Ketamine Research Foundation, shares an in-depth reflection on his life, clinical work, and the future of psychedelic medicine. In this interview, recorded during the 2024 KAP training in Barcelona, Wolfson discusses ketamine’s unique therapeutic flexibility, the risks of over-medicalization, and the importance of integrating psychotherapy with psychedelic treatments. He also offers a critical perspective on regulation, corporatization, and access in Europe.
Phil Wolfson, creator of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and director of the Ketamine Research Foundation, shares his vision on the future of psychedelic psychotherapy in this in-depth interview. Drawing from decades of clinical practice and research, he reflects on ketamine’s unique therapeutic flexibility, the risks of over-regulation and corporatization, and the importance of preserving the psychedelic experience within clinical care. Wolfson also discusses training, ethics, accessibility, and why ketamine currently plays a central role in advancing mental health treatment worldwide.
From its synthesis in 1962 to its current use in mental health, discover how ketamine acts on NMDA receptors, glutamate, and BDNF to support neuroplasticity and relieve depressive symptoms.