- Office Hours: 9 AM to 6 PM
- 6565 W Loop S #530, Bellaire, TX 77401
- info@sprashadmd.com
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy integrates the neurobiological benefits of ketamine with the structure and intentionality of psychotherapy. Unlike stand-alone ketamine infusions, KAP is an active, guided process that leverages ketamine’s ability to enhance neuroplasticity, decrease rigid thinking patterns, and temporarily lower psychological defenses. Many patients find it helpful for trauma processing.
During KAP, patients receive intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) ketamine in a safe, medically supervised setting in Bellaire. Dosing sessions are paired with preparatory and integrative psychotherapy so the material that emerges during the ketamine experience—memories, emotions, insights, or shifts in self-perception—can be contextualized and processed.
Why it matters in treatment-resistant depression (TRD): KAP can catalyze rapid symptom relief and renewed capacity for insight. The therapeutic relationship provides containment and direction during this window, helping patients integrate shifts in mood, perception, and identity into sustainable change.
Our approach emphasizes:
KAP is appropriate for patients with TRD, PTSD, trauma-related symptoms, and entrenched patterns that have resisted conventional therapy. Care is physician-led with continuous monitoring; IV ketamine for depression is an off-label use, while Spravato is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. If you are already working with a therapist, KAP can be complementary. Our licensed therapist, Laura, will collaborate with your individual therapist to reinforce progress.
Bita Tabasi, LPC, is a dedicated and skilled clinician specializing in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), with a strong foundation in interventional psychiatric care. For over seven years, she has worked closely with Dr. Sandhya Prashad—a nationally recognized leader and pioneer in the field—initially as part of the clinical team during her graduate training and continuing through full licensure. This long-standing collaboration has given Bita a uniquely rich perspective on advanced treatment modalities and patient-centered care.
Bita has provided more than 1,000 hours of direct ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and plays a key role in supporting patients undergoing intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) ketamine, as well as Spravato® (esketamine) treatment. She works in close coordination with Dr. Prashad, who administers the medical component of care, to customize each patient’s therapeutic experience based on their history, diagnosis, and individual goals.
She completed her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Houston–Clear Lake and has since advanced her expertise through multiple Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy trainings, notably the advanced program led by Phil Wolfson, MD, at the Ketamine Training Center. In addition to her work with KAP, Bita is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and offers couples therapy and group psychotherapy—providing a broad, integrative approach to healing.
Bita is known for her warm, grounded presence and for creating emotionally safe, nonjudgmental spaces where clients feel supported in their therapeutic journey. Her approach blends clinical expertise with compassion and relational insight, helping individuals work through trauma, depression, anxiety, and complex relationship dynamics.
Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is also offered by Laura Wiginton, LCSW.
You can learn more about her practice at www.laurawiginton.com
Targeted Behavioral Ketamine Therapy combines IV ketamine with Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) delivered in real time by a ketamine-assisted psychotherapist. Therapy occurs during the ketamine session, leveraging ketamine’s potential to enhance neuroplasticity, increase cognitive flexibility, and reduce rigid, maladaptive thought patterns. This service is offered in Bellaire for patients across Greater Houston.
Evidence base: Published work by Dakwar and colleagues supports this model for alcohol use disorder, particularly binge-pattern drinking, with greater reductions in heavy drinking days and stronger commitment to change compared to therapy alone.
Primary clinical use:
Potential expanded applications:
Patient selection:
Typical programming includes a brief series of ketamine dosing sessions paired with MET during each session, followed by focused integration visits.
Individual therapy is a one-on-one process tailored to your history, identity, and goals. Sessions are 50 minutes and available in Bellaire for Greater Houston patients. Whether you are navigating complex emotions, trauma, anxiety, or the aftermath of treatment-resistant depression, therapy provides space to understand yourself and move toward lasting change.
Clinicians draw from psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and somatic approaches to help you examine patterns that no longer serve you and build skills for greater clarity and resilience. For patients undergoing IV ketamine, Spravato, or Deep TMS, psychotherapy supports integration and meaning-making as new insights emerge.
EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy used to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories and adverse life experiences. Offered in Bellaire for Houston-area patients, EMDR is effective for PTSD and can also help with depression, anxiety, and dissociative symptoms when these are rooted in unresolved trauma.
During EMDR, patients recall emotionally charged memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or tactile pulses. This process is thought to facilitate adaptive reprocessing of stored traumatic material so the brain can integrate memories that were previously unprocessed or fragmented.
EMDR does not require detailed verbal recounting of trauma. For patients receiving interventional treatments, EMDR can help metabolize resurfaced material and support psychological integration. Many patients report reduced emotional reactivity and increased cognitive clarity following EMDR work.
Call (832) 436-4055 to schedule a consultation and discuss which therapy option may fit your goals.
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