Utilizing EMDR with Ketamine
An Experiential EMDR Training with Psycholytic Doses of Ketamine
This intensive training is designed for licensed, EMDR-trained clinicians who want to safely and effectively integrate Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) into trauma treatment. The training explores the synergies between EMDR and KAP, emphasizing safe and ethical implementation, including rigorous medical and psychological screening for contraindications, and practical knowledge of different routes of administration (ROAs). A core component involves developing practical skills through supervised experiential practice dyads utilizing low-dose Ketamine, and learning how to incorporate interweaves and somatic/IFS-informed practices. The training will also cover the essential steps for setting up a functional KAP practice, ensuring participants are equipped to deliver cutting-edge, safe, and effective trauma care.
THE DETAILS
When:
Friday, April 17th, to Monday, April 20th, 2026, 09:00 AM-5:00 PM PST.
Where:
In-Person in Santa Barbara, CA (address disclosed upon registration)
Lodging is available for out-of-town attendees; please contact Brian at bdelshad@protonmail.com for details.
Instructors:
Beverly Taylor, MA, LMFT (Founder of the Family Counseling & Trauma Healing Center), Brian Delshad, LMFT, MA (Founder of The Santa Barbara Therapy Collective). See below for instructor bios.
Tuition:
4 Day Training: $2,460 (includes medical intake)
Additional $75 for CEs (20 CE for 4-day training)
Course Description:
This specialized, intensive course is for licensed, EMDR-trained clinicians seeking to safely and effectively integrate Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) into their trauma treatment. The training provides a deep dive into the pharmacology and neurobiological effects of Ketamine, focusing on its mechanism of action as an NMDA receptor antagonist and its rapid enhancement of neuroplasticity. You will learn how this neurobiological window creates an ideal state for memory reconsolidation and trauma processing by helping clients increase their window of tolerance, reduce resistance, and facilitate new perspectives during the EMDR phases. We will explore the theoretical underpinnings and synergies between EMDR’s structured reprocessing and ketamine’s psychological effects, drawing from current research and emerging evidence for combined approaches.
A core focus is on the safe and ethical implementation of KAP/EMDR, including comprehensive medical and psychiatric screening to identify contraindications (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, psychosis) and assess client suitability. You’ll gain a practical understanding of different routes of administration (ROAs) for Ketamine and their clinical applications, along with critical knowledge of cautions, contraindications, and potential psychological and physiological side effects. The training emphasizes the therapist’s role in guiding the experience, incorporating interweaves and applying practices from other modalities such as somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and depth psychology to deepen the healing process.
The course culminates in essential practical skills development, including supervised experiential practice dyads utilizing low-dose Ketamine to familiarize clinicians with the client’s experience in a controlled, learning environment. You will learn comprehensive strategies for supporting clients in meaningful integration, helping them translate the profound insights and emotional shifts from the ketamine-enhanced EMDR session into lasting personal growth and symptom reduction. Finally, this training will teach participants how to set up a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) practice, including legal and ethical standards, informed consent, documentation, and how to partner with a medical provider. This training is essential for clinicians committed to providing cutting-edge, safe, and effective trauma treatment.
Target Audience:
This course is designed for licensed mental health professionals who are trained in EMDR, including PsyDs, PhDs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs. At least 2 years of practicing EMDR is recommended before taking this course.
Accessibility:
To request accommodations, please email the program administrator at bdelshad@protonmail.com
Cancellation Policy:
To inquire about refunds and the cancellation policy, please email the program administrator at bdelshad@protonmail.com
Grievances:
To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance, please email bdelshad@protonmail.com
Information on Continuing Education Credit for Mental Health Professionals
CE credits are provided by NeuroTransmit which is co-sponsoring this program. NeuroTransmit is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. NeuroTransmit maintains responsibility for this program and its content. For questions about enrolling in CE or receiving your Certificate of Attendance or any other CE questions, contact info@neurotransmit.org
Learning Objectives
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
- Explain the pharmacology of ketamine, focusing on its mechanism as an NMDA receptor antagonist and neurological effects that assist trauma reprocessing during EMDR.
- Discuss current research and emerging evidence supporting the efficacy of combined KAP/EMDR approaches.
- Differentiate the clinical applications of various routes of administration (ROAs) for ketamine.
- Identify absolute and relative contraindications and potential psychological side effects of ketamine.
- Articulate the theoretical synergy between EMDR’s reprocessing and ketamine’s effect on the window of tolerance.
- Apply the specialized KAP/EMDR protocol, including the strategic timing of ketamine administration.
- Integrate practices from somatic therapy, IFS, and depth psychology into the KAP/EMDR session.
- Demonstrate the ability to safely hold the therapeutic space during the ketamine-altered state.
- Develop effective strategies for supporting clients in the meaningful integration of the KAP/EMDR experience.
- Practice using interweaves during the EMDR phases to facilitate deeper access to memory and emotion while under the influence of ketamine.
- List possible outcomes using KAP/EMDR via actual case presentations.
- Set up a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) practice, including documentation, informed consent, and participation with a medical provider.
Meet the Instructors
Beverly Taylor, LMFT
Lead Trainer
Beverly Taylor is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with nearly 30 years of experience working in the trauma and addiction fields, both on the East Coast and in California. She is certified as an EMDR practitioner with both the Parnell Institute and EMDRIA. Beverly provides a variety of psychotherapy services for individuals, couples, families, and groups. She holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, California, a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Social Work from Salisbury University, and an Addictions Studies certification from Worcester/Wicomico Institute in Salisbury, Maryland.
Beverly previously owned and operated Anodos, an addictions healing center on the East Coast, and she is currently the founder and operating owner of the Family Counseling and Trauma Healing Center (a/k/a The Healing Center) in Solvang, California. The Healing Center’s mission is to provide customized, intensive treatment experiences that foster maximum post-traumatic growth and healing in a safe and holistically supportive environment.
In addition to running The Healing Center and a flourishing private practice, Beverly loves to teach at both the university and workshop level. Beverly taught at Brandman University (a division of Chapman University) from 2007 to 2014, where she was honored as Adjunct Faculty of the Year. Additionally, Beverly has been facilitating numerous trainings, retreats, and workshops each year for the past 25+ years.
Brian Delshad, LMFT
Lead Trainer
Brian Delshad is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara. He is well-versed in the emergent field of psychedelic therapy, including best practices in the preparation for and integration of KAP (Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy). Brian is the founder of The Santa Barbara Therapy Collective, a holistic private practice. His training includes Attachment-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and the Hakomi method, which is a mindfulness and somatic-based approach to healing.
Before founding his private practice, Brian served as a therapist with the Family Trauma Healing Center in Solvang and the New Beginnings Counseling Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit where he saw individuals, couples, and families in underserved communities. Brian also worked as a group facilitator for AHA!, an organization that promotes social-emotional learning, peace building, and connections with teenagers across Santa Barbara County.
Brian has served as a screener and facilitator for Beckley Retreats, which offers psychedelic retreats in the U.S. and abroad. He currently assists in IFS trainings and has facilitated various trainings in the psychedelic therapy space.
Samantha Lau, PMHNP-BC, FNP
Medical Provider
Samantha is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner with dual advanced training in psychiatry and family medicine. She is also the founder of ELEVATEHER®, a personalized mental health care practice dedicated to helping women and individuals assigned female at birth reconnect with their full and vibrant selves.
With over 15 years of clinical experience, Samantha’s approach is trauma-informed, hormone-informed, and psychedelic-informed, integrating psychiatry, hormones, and consciousness work. She provides individualized psychiatric care and ketamine-assisted therapy. She specializes in treating PTSD, perimenopausal transitions, and the mind-body-spirit connection.
Samantha has advanced training in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and holds certifications in MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. She is also part of the inaugural Women’s Health and Precision Medicine Fellowship, deepening her expertise in the complex interplay of hormones, metabolism, and mood.
Trained at UCLA and Johns Hopkins, Samantha brings a grounded, integrative, and collaborative approach to care. Beyond her clinical practice, she serves as a principal at Big Tent Ketamine, an educational platform for clinicians, and sits on steering committees for national conferences. Early in her career, she worked to influence health policy, advocating for the integration of psychiatric care into primary care settings.
