Contemporary psychotherapy is undergoing rapid development. One of the most actively explored directions in international practice involves working with altered states of consciousness in a therapeutic context, including the medically supervised use of pharmacological substances. Ketamine, in particular, has drawn significant attention as a substance used strictly under medical supervision in several countries abroad.

Clinical observations described in the scientific literature indicate that, when supported by a trained therapist and in accordance with international standards, short-term shifts in psychological defenses can enable deeper access to emotional material. These effects are especially relevant in the context of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), where such altered states are described as temporary “windows of sensitivity” — moments in which clients gain greater access to core emotions and vulnerabilities underlying negative relational cycles.

Dr. Kathryn Rheem — an internationally recognized EFCT therapist and trainer — has completed over 175 hours of specialized training in client support during medically supervised ketamine-assisted work (including programs by the Ketamine Training Center, Polaris Insight, and Fluence). In this webinar, she will share the experience of international colleagues using ketamine within integrative psychotherapeutic models. In particular, she will explore how EFCT can strengthen and structure the therapeutic effect of such experiences while maintaining a research-based and ethically sound approach.

Participants will learn how international couple therapists report increased emotional flexibility, enhanced emotional access, and a temporary suspension of habitual defenses. These shifts create valuable opportunities for deepening attachment and fostering emotionally meaningful connection.

Important:
This webinar is strictly educational. The discussion of international clinical experience does not constitute a recommendation or promotion of any pharmacological agents. All content fully complies with the legal requirements of the Russian Federation. The focus is exclusively on psychotherapeutic models and on how therapists may support clients who independently seek integration of experiences acquired in countries where such methods are legal and medically regulated.