Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) — Medically Supervised by a Naturopathic Physician
KAP at Integrative Recovery Medicine is an evidence-informed option for individuals in Tucson and Southern Arizona who have not found sufficient relief through traditional approaches. Care is provided in a trauma-informed, integrative medical setting, with careful screening, medical oversight, and individualized support throughout the process.
Integrative Recovery Medicine offers medically supervised ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Dawn Bantel, NMD, is a naturopathic physician with over three years of experience providing ketamine therapy — bringing a whole-person, root-cause perspective to this work that is distinct from conventional infusion clinics.
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy in Tucson, Arizona
Ketamine-assisted therapy Tucson may be appropriate for:
- Depression, including treatment-resistant depression
- Anxiety disorders
- PTSD and trauma
- Grief and life transitions
- Existential distress
- Mood disorders that have not responded to medication or talk therapy alone
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) — Medically Supervised by a Naturopathic Physician
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy in Tucson, Arizona
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy “KAP”
Integrative Recovery Medicine offers medically supervised ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Dawn Bantel, NMD, is a naturopathic physician with over three years of experience providing ketamine therapy — bringing a whole-person, root-cause perspective to this work that is distinct from conventional infusion clinics.
Ketamine can be an effective tool to augment the therapeutic process. It permits people the ability to step out of their typical thought patterns (the default mode network or “DMN”). Ketamine temporarily reduces defensive barriers, increases neuroplasticity, and facilitates access to unconscious material. This state allows clients to engage more openly with therapeutic processes, integrate insights more effectively, and break through entrenched patterns that might otherwise resist change in traditional therapy alone. This is ketamine therapy at its most integrative — grounded in both medical safety and the therapeutic relationship.
I have worked with this medicine for over three years and continue to be excited about how effective it is. The set and setting in this work is extremely important. At Zola, our therapists are experienced, and the space is comfortable. Participants feel nurtured and safe. Our Tucson patients consistently describe the experience as one of the most meaningful steps in their healing journey.
Dr. Bantel also integrates functional medicine and hormone support for patients whose mental health symptoms are rooted in underlying physiological imbalances.
KAP at Integrative Recovery Medicine is an evidence-informed option for individuals in Tucson and Southern Arizona who have not found sufficient relief through traditional approaches. Care is provided in a trauma-informed, integrative medical setting, with careful screening, medical oversight, and individualized support throughout the process.
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Yes. Integrative Recovery Medicine offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) right here in Tucson, Arizona, at our location inside Zola Healing CoLab at 1200 N. El Dorado Place. Dr. Dawn Bantel, NMD, provides medical oversight for all KAP patients, with experienced therapists at Zola guiding the therapeutic components. Tucson-area patients do not need to travel to Phoenix or out of state to access high-quality, medically supervised ketamine therapy.
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Most ketamine clinics in Tucson and nationally operate on a medical infusion model — ketamine is administered with vital sign monitoring but minimal therapeutic support. At Integrative Recovery Medicine, KAP is provided within a collaborative integrative care setting. As a naturopathic physician, Dr. Bantel approaches each patient's mental health within the broader context of their physiology, lab data, and overall health history. The ketamine experience is paired with therapist preparation and integration support — not offered as a standalone procedure.
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You contact Zola (because our KAP is a collaboration), and we will share a screening form. Our medical provider (usually Dr. Dawn) will review it. If there are no contraindications, we’ll schedule you for a medical clearance appointment (30 mins).
Once cleared, you’ll have a prep appointment with the therapist. You can ask questions, receive an overview of the process, get familiar with the space, and meet with other participants (if attending a group).
Next is the ketamine medicine session.
Finally, the integration group to process the medicine session and your experiences afterwards.
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We have a screening process that involves having you fill out a form that is reviewed by Dr. Dawn or another Zola medical provider before we schedule you for your medical clearance appointment.
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Part of the screening process is to review medications that you are taking. Most medications, including anti-depressants, are not contraindicated. Some medications, like benzodiazepines and opiates, are contraindicated depending on the frequency of use.
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There are situations where we may recommend individual treatments, but most of the time it’s up to you. We encourage attending groups as these can foster a sense of community. Another benefit to group work is that it can be more economical.
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We typically give it by injection into the shoulder muscle (with a very small needle). This has a few advantages over oral lozenges including the dosing being more predictable, faster onset, no drooling, lower risk of nausea, and the post-treatment grogginess doesn’t linger as long.
Ready to take the next step?
If you're in Tucson or Southern Arizona and want to explore whether ketamine-assisted therapy is right for you, the first step is a brief screening form. Dr. Bantel reviews all screenings personally before scheduling.
zola group calendar & more ketamine therapy Info
zola group calendar & more ketamine therapy Info
Integrative Recovery Medicine works in close collaboration with the team at Zola Healing. For group KAP schedules, pricing, and additional information about the therapeutic side of the program: