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

  • Intended Audience

    Licensed mental health professionals who are curious about or preparing to integrate psycholytic ketamine into their psychotherapy practice. This foundational training is designed for therapists (not prescribers) who need a working understanding of ketamine's pharmacology, mechanisms, dosing, safety profile, and contraindications in order to collaborate effectively with prescribing programs.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Licensed Clinical Psychologists (PhD/PsyD)
    • Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
    • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs)
    • Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)
    • Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs)
    • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) interested in collaborative therapy
    • Pre-licensed clinicians and postdoctoral fellows under supervision

  • Experience Level

    No prior experience with ketamine or psychedelic-assisted therapy is required. This is the foundational module of the series and establishes the medical and pharmacological context that therapists need before moving into clinical application.

    • Introductory: Licensed clinicians new to psychedelic-assisted or medicine-assisted therapy who want a clear, science-based grounding in ketamine before deciding whether to integrate it into their work.

    • Intermediate: Therapists with some exposure to ketamine-assisted work (KAP) or other psychedelic-assisted modalities seeking a structured refresher on mechanisms of action, dosing ranges, and contraindications specific to psycholytic (sub-anesthetic) dosing.

  • Practice Setting

    Outpatient psychotherapy settings where clinicians may collaborate with ketamine prescribing programs or refer patients for ketamine-assisted care.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private practice psychotherapy (solo or group)
    • Outpatient mental health clinics
    • Integrative and holistic mental health practices
    • Telehealth-based therapy practices
    • Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) collaborative practices
    • Community mental health centers
    • University counseling centers with integrative care offerings

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).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

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), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #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. Palo Alto University 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. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by 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.