2 Hours / 2 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on the Ketamine Basics - The Clinical Foundation is is partnership with Joyous. 

Begin your educational journey with comprehensive training on ketamine's pharmacology, mechanisms, and clinical applications. This foundational module demystifies ketamine through evidence-based content covering its history, legal status, molecular and network-level mechanisms of action, dosing strategies, and administration methods. You'll gain confidence in patient selection through deep dives into contraindications, medication interactions, and side effect management. Special attention is given to addiction considerations and safety profiles, ensuring you can practice with both competence and ethical responsibility. By completing Part 1, you'll have the scientific literacy and clinical knowledge base essential for safe, informed practice.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the foundational concepts of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) and its role in modern mental health treatment
  • 2 Describe the ways ketamine’s mechanism of action differs from traditional psychiatric medications
  • 3 Describe the safety considerations associated with ketamine use, including common side effects and monitoring needs
  • 4 Describe how ketamine-induced neuroplasticity contributes to its clinical benefits
  • 5 Describe how ketamine affects major brain networks—including the DMN, CEN, and SN—and how these changes support therapeutic outcomes
  • 6 Describe the dose-dependent effects of ketamine across anesthetic, psychedelic, and psycholytic ranges
  • 7 Describe why buccal troches are preferred for psycholytic therapy and how they support patient engagement
  • 8 Describe the mechanisms through which ketamine supports symptom relief across these conditions
  • 9 Describe the major contraindications for ketamine treatment, including cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, and medical risk factors
  • 10 Describe the importance of medication screening and timing considerations in ketamine-assisted therapy
  • 11 Describe how therapists can support patients experiencing ketamine side effects through preparation, grounding, monitoring, and collaboration with the medical team
  • 12 Describe the differences between clinical and recreational ketamine use, including how dose, frequency, setting, bioavailability, and intention impact addiction risk

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.