Group Ketamine FAQ

Why would I choose a group ketamine session? For generations, people have gathered in shared ceremonial spaces for deeply personal inner experiences. Plant medicine traditions, including ayahuasca ceremonies, are often experienced in community — not because everyone is having the same journey, but because there can be something meaningful about entering an intentional space together. Our group ketamine sessions borrow from that idea of shared space, individual journey while remaining a physician-supervised ketamine experience. You are not expected to interact with the other participants during your journey. Each person has their own experience, at their own pace, within the safety and structure of the group setting.

Is this group therapy? No. A group ketamine session is not group psychotherapy. You will not be asked to discuss your personal history, diagnosis, trauma, or reasons for seeking ketamine treatment with the other participants. There may be a brief shared welcome and preparation before the session, but what you choose to disclose is entirely up to you. Your story remains yours.

Will it feel strange having other people in the room? This is one of the most common concerns people have before considering a group experience. Before the medicine begins, you will be aware that other people are sharing the space with you. Once the ketamine experience deepens, however, attention typically turns inward. With eyes closed and optional headphones, the external room can become much less prominent as you enter your own experience. Think of it less as having an experience with strangers and more as having your own experience within a shared, intentionally held space.

Will I be aware of what everyone else is doing? You may have some awareness of the room, particularly at the beginning and as you return from your journey. During the deeper portion of the experience, many people become much more absorbed in their own internal experience. We also create the environment specifically to minimize unnecessary distraction and allow each participant to turn inward.

Do I have to tell the group why I’m receiving ketamine? No. You are never required to explain why you are there or share personal therapeutic information with the group. Some people arrive with very specific intentions. Others simply know that something in their life is ready to change. Both are welcome. Your intention can remain completely private.

Do we talk to each other during the ketamine experience? Generally, no. The journey itself is intended to be an inward experience. Once everyone is settled, the room becomes quiet and participants are encouraged to allow the medicine and their own inner experience to lead. There is nothing you need to say, perform, explain, or accomplish.

Are headphones available? Yes. Headphones are available and optional. For people who want an especially private experience, headphones can create an additional sense of separation from the surrounding room and allow you to become immersed in music and your own internal journey. Others may prefer experiencing the soundscape of the room. We can help you decide what feels most comfortable.

What about the Lucia N°03 light? The Lucia N°03 light experience is also completely optional, including during group sessions. Some participants enjoy combining light with their ketamine experience, while others prefer ketamine without it. You do not need to make the same choice as anyone else in your group. Your experience can be individualized within the shared session.

Is there something different about experiencing ketamine with other people? There can be. Across many contemplative and ceremonial traditions, people have intentionally gathered to meditate, pray, breathe, practice ritual, and experience plant medicine together. Ayahuasca ceremonies are one familiar example of an intensely personal experience occurring within a communal setting. There is a simple idea behind this: We can go inward individually while still being supported by the presence of community. Our group ketamine sessions are not ayahuasca ceremonies, and ketamine is a different substance used in a different clinical context. But the ceremonial model provides a useful way of understanding why sharing a carefully prepared space does not have to diminish privacy or individuality. For some people, knowing that others have also chosen to make this inward journey can actually make the experience feel less isolating.

What if I become emotional? That’s okay. Ketamine experiences can sometimes bring emotion to the surface. Our environment is intentionally designed to allow people to experience whatever arises without feeling that they need to explain or apologize for it. At the same time, the clinical team is present to support participants and respond if someone needs assistance.

What if someone else becomes emotional? Will that interrupt my experience? It is possible for another participant to express emotion during a session, just as can happen in other shared contemplative or ceremonial environments. Although, with ketamine, the vast majority of the time, people remain quiet, calm and non-expressive. The space and session are structured to protect each participant’s experience as much as possible. Optional headphones can provide additional privacy and reduce awareness of sounds around you. Our team is also there to attend to an individual who needs support so that the rest of the group can remain focused on their own journeys.

Can my partner and I do a session together? Absolutely. For couples, close friends, or family members who both independently qualify for ketamine treatment, sharing the experience can be particularly meaningful. You can journey individually while knowing that someone important to you is nearby.

What if I already have a group of friends who want to do this together? Perfect. We can arrange a private group session and select a date specifically for your group, subject to clinical eligibility and scheduling. This can be a beautiful option for friends who already feel safe and comfortable with one another and want to share the larger experience while still having their own individual ketamine journeys. Contact us and we can discuss arranging a private session for your group.

Will everyone receive the same ketamine treatment? Not necessarily. Even though you are sharing the space, ketamine treatment remains individualized. Each participant is medically evaluated and must be appropriate for treatment. Clinical decisions are made for each person rather than for the group as a whole. Shared session does not mean shared medical treatment.

What if I decide a group experience isn’t right for me? That’s completely okay. Some people love the feeling of journeying in a shared space. Others know immediately that they would be more comfortable in a private setting. Neither is better. The purpose of offering group sessions is simply to create another way to experience ketamine treatment — one that combines clinical supervision, personal privacy, intentional space, and the quiet presence of others making their own journey.