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For Clinicians (KAP)

Supporting clients through Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) requires thoughtful collaboration between providers. At Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center, we believe the therapeutic process is most effective when clients’ primary clinicians and our team work together in a coordinated and ethical way. This page is designed to help referring clinicians understand our approach to KAP, what to expect in terms of communication, and how we partner with you to strengthen client outcomes.

Clinicians collaborating on Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy care
Professional clinicians coordinating KAP support

From the very first referral, we strive to create a professional, transparent process rooted in mutual respect and clinical integrity. Whether you are a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional, our goal is to provide clear guidance on how we support your client’s integration journey while maintaining confidentiality and honoring client autonomy.

Why Clinician Collaboration Matters in KAP

KAP offers clients a unique therapeutic experience through the use of ketamine to enter an expanded state of consciousness. In this space, individuals often access emotions, memories, and beliefs in new ways. Research indicates that the period following a ketamine session—typically three days—is a critical window during which clients are more receptive to learning new behaviors, reframing perceptions, and adopting healthier patterns of thinking.

By partnering with clinicians like you, we ensure this integration period is supported not only within our sessions but also within your ongoing therapeutic relationship. This continuity of care creates a seamless bridge between the insights gained in expanded states and the client’s daily life, maximizing therapeutic benefits.

Our Communication Approach with Referring Clinicians

When clients are referred for KAP, we first discuss with them what information, if any, may be shared with their primary clinician. With explicit consent, we provide brief, clinically relevant updates after expanded state sessions. These updates typically include:

  • The overall focus of the session.
  • Observations of emotional, cognitive, or sensory experiences.
  • Key suggestions for integration work.


Our updates are concise and professional, designed to help you guide post-session conversations without overwhelming you with unnecessary details. We respect the therapeutic alliance you have with your client and aim to enhance it, not replace it.

Supporting the Integration Process

Many clients leave KAP sessions with insights that touch on deeply held emotions, body sensations, or long-standing beliefs. They may also experience non-ordinary states of consciousness that bring forth valuable therapeutic material. The days immediately following are an optimal time for practicing new coping skills, reframing perspectives, and anchoring insights.

As the clinician who works most closely with the client, you play a vital role in supporting integration. Discussing their experiences, exploring shifts in perception, and guiding them toward practical applications can significantly increase the impact of KAP.

At our Center, we use evidence-based frameworks such as mindfulness, skills-based practices, and structured therapy models. If you are curious about the broader range of treatments we offer beyond KAP, you can explore our therapy services to see how our approach integrates with your clinical work.

Ethical Standards and Client Consent

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of all our work. Communication with clinicians happens only with the client’s explicit permission, and we take great care to ensure compliance with HIPAA and professional ethical guidelines. Clients are informed about the type of updates that may be shared, and they remain in control of their own information.

By keeping transparency and consent at the forefront, we ensure that clients feel respected and secure in their therapeutic journey. This also strengthens the trust between client and clinician, reinforcing a supportive environment where healing can flourish.

The Clinician’s Role in Post-KAP Care

Your involvement after KAP sessions can make a measurable difference in your client’s progress. Here are a few ways clinicians often support integration:

  • Processing Emotions and Insights: Helping clients make sense of what surfaced during the session.
  • Identifying Patterns: Noticing shifts in self-perception or relational dynamics.
  • Encouraging Practice: Guiding clients in applying new insights to daily life.
  • Providing Stability: Offering a sense of grounding when emotions feel overwhelming after the session.


These steps create a synergistic relationship between KAP sessions and ongoing therapy, ultimately deepening the client’s growth and resilience.

Practical Details for Referring Clinicians

We understand that you want clarity around the process before referring a client. Below is a general overview:

  1. Referral: You or your client can contact us directly to begin the process.
  2. Consent: We discuss with the client what information can be shared with you.
  3. Preparation: Clients receive guidance before KAP to ensure readiness.
  4. Expanded State Sessions: Conducted with clinical oversight in a safe environment.
  5. Integration Updates: Shared with you (with your consent) in a concise and professional format.
  6. Ongoing Collaboration: We remain available for continued communication as needed.


Suppose your client is considering structured skill development alongside KAP. In that case, they may also benefit from our DBT Skills Classes, which provide practical tools to support emotional regulation and mindfulness in daily life.

Understanding Costs and Practical Considerations

We recognize that financial concerns are often a part of the treatment planning process. To support transparency, we provide precise details about our fees and payment options. Referring clinicians are welcome to review our therapy pricing information, which will help guide clients in making informed decisions about their care.

By addressing cost considerations upfront, we reduce uncertainty and empower clients to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Why Partner with Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center

Choosing to refer your client to us for KAP means collaborating with a team deeply committed to professional ethics, compassionate care, and evidence-based practices. Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Specialized Expertise: Our clinicians are trained in both ketamine-assisted therapy and structured therapeutic modalities.
  • Collaborative Mindset: We value your role as the primary clinician and seek to support, not overshadow, your work.
  • Holistic Approach: By integrating mindfulness, DBT, and KAP, we create a comprehensive framework for client healing.
  • Respect for Confidentiality: Your client’s privacy remains our top priority.


We view clinician partnerships as essential to client success. Together, we can provide clients with a therapeutic experience that is safe, transformative, and deeply supportive.

Taking the Next Step

If you are considering referring a client for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy or would like more information about how we collaborate with clinicians, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is here to answer your questions, discuss the referral process, and ensure you feel confident in the partnership.

By working together, we can help clients navigate the expanded states of consciousness offered by ketamine in a way that fosters growth, healing, and lasting change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does clinician collaboration work in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Collaboration begins with your client’s consent to share information. We provide concise updates after expanded state sessions and encourage you to support integration in your ongoing therapy. This ensures continuity and enhances therapeutic outcomes.

What kind of updates will I receive about my client’s sessions?

With client approval, we share brief notes on session themes, observed experiences, and suggestions for integration. These updates are not detailed reports but are designed to complement your clinical work without disrupting confidentiality.

Can clients continue traditional therapy while engaging in KAP?

Yes. In fact, KAP is most effective when paired with ongoing therapy. Your role in helping clients process insights and practice new behaviors is essential for long-term integration and growth.

What should I discuss with clients after their KAP sessions?

Please encourage them to reflect on emotions, sensations, or insights that surfaced. Supporting clients in applying these experiences to daily life helps anchor the benefits of KAP into lasting change.

How can I learn more about the therapeutic models you combine with KAP?

Our team integrates evidence-based approaches such as DBT, mindfulness, and skills training into KAP. You can explore our therapy services for a deeper understanding of how these models work together.

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Rajesh Jagannathan

Rajesh Jagannathan

Rajesh Jagannathan was born in India and earned a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT, Madras. After spending a few youthful years in the Masters/Ph.D. program at the Ohio State University moved to the Bay Area for work. Since then he has stayed in the Bay Area and worked in tech for the better part of 20+ years. He has been with the center since its inception playing a key advisory role on tech related matters.

He enjoys living in the bay area with his family, exploring the outdoors in California and the world at large. While interests change over time some constants through the years have been travel, cooking, painting and board games. Lately all his spare time has been consumed by pickleball.

David Pepper

David Pepper, MD (Retired)

Dr. Pepper was born in San Francisco and attended UC Berkeley and then Medical and Graduate School in Iowa. Returning to California, he practiced and taught full spectrum Family Medicine with UCSF for 30+ years, working in Fresno, San Francisco and Contra Costa Counties. 1,000 births and 1,000 deaths one could say – with thousands of Families in between… in the ER, Hospital and Outpatient Clinics – always with a focus on Family and Community.
 
He has a long interest in Psychedelics and completed the CPTR program through CIIS in 2023. He is passionate about helping people think about how to craft their second half of life with meaning, including planning for a natural End of Life process that is not over medicalized.  He believes that a well planned End of Life allows people to live well.  More about his work can be found here.  
 
He brings his expertise in clinical assessment, and the tools that support this to working with the Team at Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center to develop best practices for working with clients seeking expanded state treatment.  He collaborates with his wife who also works with clients in Expanded States.  He enjoys his 4 children, gardening, hiking, and community.
Rochelle

Rochelle Frank, PsyD

Rochelle Frank, PhD is a clinical psychologist in Oakland, CA with over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Dr. Frank earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at Syracuse University and completed her clinical training at Yale Psychiatric Institute. She specializes in evidence-based transdiagnostic treatment of  complex and co-occurring mood, anxiety, and trauma disorders in adults and adolescents, and related  problems in high-conflict couples and families. 

In addition to her private practice Dr.  Frank is an assistant clinical professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and also  holds faculty and supervisory appointments at The Wright Institute and the University of California San  Francisco School of Medicine.  She is co-author of The transdiagnostic road map to case formulation and  treatment planning: Practical guidance for clinical decision making (Frank & Davidson, 2014; New Harbinger),  a contributing author to S. G. Hofmann & S. C. Hayes (Eds.), Beyond the DSM (2020, New Harbinger), and  currently serves on the board of directors for the Institute for Better Health.

Dr. Frank has been involved with Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center since 2012.  She has served as a clinical consultant and focuses on helping the Team bring a transdiagnostic process-based perspective to case formulation and treatment planning, as well as integrating methods from other third-wave cognitive behavioral therapies into the DBT model.  

In addition to enjoying time with her family, Dr.  Frank is an avid golfer, home chef, and a frequent beta-tester of her clinical skills while skiing and mountain biking.

Michael Stanger

Michael Stanger, MD

I am a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in California and Colorado across a range of settings – inpatient, outpatient, emergency and partial hospital, with current affiliations at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Boulder Community Health.

I have a particular interest in the therapeutic utility of ketamine to support psychotherapy. I began working with ketamine in 2016, initially in my California private practice where I administered oral and intramuscular doses. I have since continued to support therapist access and to develop understanding around the most effective use of these modality. In related work, I have mentored with the CIIS Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research and taught sessions with the Polaris Insight Center on ketamine.

My background includes childhood immigration from South Africa to New York, working in the technology industry for several years and then traveling in an unscripted manner to arrive at the awareness that medicine, and ultimately psychiatry would be the path to be helpful to others in an applied way.

Chrysanthe

Chrysanthe Christodoulou

Operations Manager

Chrysanthe is our Operations Manager and one of our in-house Mindfulness Experts. She connects with new clients as they come into the Center, oversees day to day operations and runs special projects.  She is instrumental in supporting the Team by bringing joy, flow and ease.

Chrysanthe studied Meditation, Yoga, and Mindfulness with some of the most respected teachers of our time. She also holds a BS in Economics.  This combination of skills ensures our Center runs efficiently behind the scenes and lends wisdom to our budding Mindfulness Program.

Her local teaching career has spanned the Bay Area and beyond: overseas in Spain, Chile, Greece, and Amsterdam; and locally in San Francisco, Marin, Berkeley, Oakland, and Walnut Creek. Chrysanthe honors the magic in both movement and stillness, stirring energy and witnessing what emerges as everything settles into place. 

When Chrysanthe isn’t handling the business end of the Center or running mindfulness programming, you can find her exploring trails with her wolf pup, finding connection in community, and enjoying the sun and the sea.

Priya Jogia

Priya Jogia

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

​​Priya Jogia is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Since 2013, she has worked in various clinical settings including: community mental health, hospital, and outpatient programs. Priya’s also spent time in Vietnam studying international social work and the relationship between culture, ethnicity, and mental health.

Priya is an active practitioner of mindfulness-based behavioral therapies including DBT and ACT, and has extensive training in CBT. As a DBT therapist, she’s seen the positive impact of using DBT skills in her own life, and is strongly committed to helping clients live meaningful lives that are aligned with their values.

Priya has an interest in perinatal mental health and working with BIPOC populations, and she strives to integrate a social and racial justice lens into her work. While being a therapist has brought a lot of meaning to Priya’s life, she tries not to take herself too seriously, and gets much joy from being a mum, being in nature, and cuddling with her dog.

Jay Indik

Jay Indik

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Jay brings his compassion, creativity, and equanimity to support each person who seeks therapy.. He believes that what makes each person happy is connected to their deepest sense of what is important. Jay listens for how each client can idiosyncratically transform their suffering into a happier life. As a result of working with Jay folks’ learn to address unwanted behavior, regulate their emotions, recover from individual or cultural trauma, repair relationships, and organize their behavior consistent with their values Jay has intensive training and has practiced the following modalities for decades: DBT, Narrative Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Sensory Modulation, Psychodynamic Treatment and Expressive Arts Therapies. Jay specializes in working with couples, parents, parent child dyads and young adults, as well as with individuals from mid-life through retirement. Jay’s experience as a theater director, parent, teacher, and executive combined with his knowledge of research validated treatments allows him to best relate and serve each individual.

Jay has two adult children (one daughter, one non-binary), a “Real Dads Love Trans kids” t-shirt, and one amazing grandchild he watches one day a week.

Ari Tavano

Ariana Tavano

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Ari Tavano is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). She has worked in an array of clinical settings for over ten years, and utilizes the diversity of her experience to foster a therapeutic frame rooted in curiosity and empathic regard. She specializes in working with those looking to cultivate self-growth, increase interpersonal efficacy, and develop an affirming relationship with their internal worlds.

Ari extends a humanistic approach to her work by nourishing the whole self – according to one’s intersectionality and inherent wisdom. She is trained in DBT and other treatment modalities, including CBT, Existentialism, and Trauma Theory. She harmonizes the concepts of behaviorism and intuitiveness of relational healing, with opportunities to explore psychedelics and expanded-state work.

Ari invites you to build capacity for both processing and playfulness. She prioritizes humor and is often found in the ocean, on the dance floor, and imagining her next adventure. Ari has also worked as a licensed public school teacher in Hawai’i and documentary photographer in South Africa. She is committed to equity, inclusion, and the pursuit of social justice.

Alyson Barry

Alyson Barry, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Alyson Barry is a licensed clinical psychologist (PhD). Since 2005, she’s gained experience in diverse areas of practice, including inpatient hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, community mental health, and private practice. Alyson came to DBT in 2013 through her own yoga and meditation practice, which led her to seek additional training in mindfulness-based therapies. Drawn to work with people who’ve experienced developmental trauma, she begins by addressing what’s happening in the present, helping her clients develop practical skills that fundamentally improve how they interact with themselves and the world around them. As a result of this work, this can over time, set the stage for healing the older wounds. She believes in a collaborative and consent-based treatment approach, working to ensure that clients understand and are in agreement with any diagnosis or therapeutic technique. She hopes that this transparency can help to create an environment of respect for her clients’ choice, autonomy, and knowledge of themselves. She is also a big believer in bringing humor and irreverence into therapy. In her free time, Alyson enjoys snorkeling, hanging out with her cat, and spending time with friends. Alyson is available to work via telehealth with clients in California, Colorado, and Florida.
Heather Macbeth

Heather Macbeth

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)

Heather co-founded the Oakland DBT & Mindfulness Center in 2012. She is a licensed MFT. She offers a relational, somatic, experiential and humanistic approach to her work and is committed to relieving psychological suffering. Her style is both compassionate and gentle as well as directive and aims to be supportive of each person’s unique needs. Her work focuses on emotion regulation, changing persistent cycles of self-blame, listening more closely to intuitive knowing and increasing self compassion. She is committed and dedicated to helping her clients have a life where they can find themselves thrive vs. just survive. Working as a therapist, clinical supervisor, skills group and workshop facilitator has brought her a lot of joy. In addition to a private practice setting she has worked in community mental health organizations with disenfranchised youth and families and in public schools as a Behavioral Specialist. Heather works with adults and teens. She is intensively trained in DBT and other treatment modalities such as; Gestalt, Psychodynamic, MBSR, ands Expressive Arts. She is certified in EAP (Equine-assisted psychotherapy) and offers equine-facilitated learning workshops in the Bay Area. Additionally, she has received her training in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through the Polaris Insight Center in San Francisco and is inspired by the potential healing benefits of expanded states of consciousness work.

In her free time, and in ideal worlds, she is exploring jungles, hot springs, beaches, hanging out with animals (large and small), enjoying good food, travel and most importantly time with loved ones.

Christine Benvenuto

Christine Benvenuto

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)

Christine is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the co-founder and Executive Director of the Oakland DBT and Mindfulness Center. She brings over 25 years of experience in mental health to her work, with a background in working with people in all walks of life in residential, outpatient and home based settings. A systems thinker, valuing sustaining relationships, she works with individuals, couples and groups, with a strong belief that small shifts can create dynamic changes.

She blends a lifetime of interest and practice in somatics, meditation, embodiment, psychedelics and the arts with a passion for social justice, nature and thriving ecosystems. Her mentors are psychologically savvy, center co-existence, value differences and maintain a sense of humor.

Her professional training spans from depth oriented, expanded state and attachment based to behavioral styles of treatment. She co-creates a therapeutic container that feels collaborative, warm, dynamic, thoughtful and deeply resonant.

She works with individuals, couples and groups, offering ongoing weekly therapy, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Consultation.

Along side of her professional life, Christine is grateful for her extended web of relationships as daughter, sister, wife, friend, step-mom and community connector.