The Transformative Potential of Low-Dose Ketamine in Counselling
By Sadaf Naji
Throughout my work as a psychedelic assisted therapist, I have witnessed how altered states of consciousness—when approached with respect, intention, and guidance—can open pathways to healing that conventional methods sometimes cannot reach. Low-dose ketamine, when integrated into counselling, is one such doorway.
A Medicine That Supports Change
In small, therapeutic doses, ketamine has a unique ability to create a state of openness. Unlike higher psychedelic doses that may dissolve the ordinary sense of self, a low dose allows one to remain present, grounded, and able to engage in the therapeutic process with clarity. It is not an escape but an invitation into a deeper dialogue with the self.
Modern neuroscience has shown us that ketamine enhances neuroplasticity—the brain’s natural capacity to form new connections. This is vital for change. When we are caught in cycles of depression, anxiety, or old patterns, it can feel as if the brain has “hardened” into certain pathways. Low-dose ketamine creates fertile ground for new insights and new ways of relating to oneself, others, and the world. In this state, counselling becomes amplified; the seeds planted during the session can take root more easily and grow into meaningful change.
A Deeper Connection to Self
At the psychological level, low-dose ketamine often softens the defences of the ego. People describe feeling a gentle spaciousness, a loosening of the rigid stories they have carried. Within this space, emotions can surface more safely, and long-buried truths can emerge with compassion. The medicine acts as a bridge to the inner world, allowing for a direct, felt experience of connection to the self—a connection that often endures long after the session ends.
Supporting Resilience and Emotional Flexibility
One of the most profound benefits of low-dose ketamine work is its ability to foster resilience. Many people describe feeling more flexible in how they respond to life’s challenges after sessions. Where once there was rigidity, there is room to pause, reflect, and choose a different response. This shift is not just chemical, it is experiential. The counselling process helps translate the new perspective into daily habits, empowering people to meet stress, grief, or conflict with greater clarity and strength.
The Role of Safety and Preparation
Equally important is the container in which the medicine is offered. Safety, trust, and preparation are essential elements. Before entering a ketamine-assisted counseling session, clients are guided to set intentions, explore their hopes, and prepare for the journey ahead. This groundwork allows the medicine experience to unfold within a safe and supportive framework, minimizing fear and maximizing the potential for healing. The therapeutic relationship becomes the anchor—a trusted presence to hold space for whatever arises.
Integration as the Key
The medicine is not the healing on its own. Rather, it is the catalyst. What transforms lives is the integration: the careful weaving of new insights into daily existence. With the support of counselling, the experience can be metabolized, understood, and carried forward as lasting change.
Low-dose ketamine, approached with care and intention, is not simply a treatment. It is a path toward wholeness—an invitation to meet ourselves with curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Meet Sadaf
Sadaf is a Registered Counsellor, Certified Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner, and Certified Breathwork Facilitator who specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, and relational healing. As part of Qi’s Low-Dose Ketamine program, Sadaf guides clients through preparation, therapeutic support, and integration, ensuring that the insights from ketamine-assisted sessions take root and translate into lasting change.
