Slowing Down to Self: How Ketamine and Mindfulness Work Together for Deep Healing
One of the modalities I weave into my ketamine work is Hakomi. Hakomi is a beautiful, somatically oriented, mindfulness-based, therapy. It’s gentle but powerful. When working with Hakomi, we slow way down, tune in, and start to notice what our bodies and nervous systems might be holding—sensations, old beliefs, protections, or memories. The body is so very wise, and in Hakomi we respect that wisdom, by getting quiet enough to hear what it's trying to say.
A big part of Hakomi is approaching ourselves with what's called “loving presence.” That means we’re not trying to fix or change anything. We’re just being with whatever shows up. We engage with our witnessing self and neutrally observe and “be with” whatever presents.
One of the reasons Hakomi can be such a powerful supplement to Ketamine Assisted Therapy is that many humans (myself included), can sometimes struggle with the process of slowing down. In a culture that prizes speed, productivity, and constant forward motion, settling into what Francis Weller calls “geologic time” can feel almost unnatural (if you’re not familiar with Weller, please check him out). Ketamine, when used in a therapeutic setting, often softens the mental noise that keeps us stuck in that fast-paced mode. It can gently shift our state of consciousness, helping us step back from our usual ways of seeing and being. In that spaciousness, we become more able to embody the kind of “loving presence” that Hakomi invites—one that allows for deep listening, curiosity, and self-awareness. Paired with a somatic, mindfulness-based approach like Hakomi, that space becomes a kind of sacred ground for exploration and acceptance.
Another core principle of Hakomi is organicity—the belief that we all have an inner wisdom within us that knows how to heal. From this perspective, therapy isn’t about providing answers, but about creating the right conditions for that inner knowing to emerge. Ketamine can support this unfolding in powerful ways. Sometimes it comes through symbolic imagery; sometimes old memories rise to the surface, asking to be witnessed and tended to. Other times, there’s simply a lifting of the fog, a moment of clarity, or the felt sense of a deep peace that’s been long out of reach. However it shows up, the combination of Hakomi and Ketamine creates space for healing to arise naturally. From the inside out.
Another core principle is mindfulness. In Hakomi, we practice mindfulness, we engage in the practice of neutrally attending to what is happening now. We notice small shifts—tension in the jaw, a flutter in the chest, a phrase that repeats itself. Those little things are often doorways into something deeper. And with Ketamine quieting the usual inner critics, we can step through those doors more gently.
This work is slow, deep, and sacred. And when Hakomi and Ketamine come together, it often feels like we’re meeting the most tender, true parts of ourselves—gently, kindly, and without pressure.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful and supportive space to explore the potential of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, I’d love to connect. My office is in Santa Monica, right near the Venice border. We can explore together whether this approach feels right for you.
About Michele
My approach is relational, trauma informed, somatically oriented, and non-judgmental. I offer an open mind and heart, along with evidence-based tools, to help individuals face the human challenges of grief, depression, anxiety, life transitions, isolation, and complex trauma. I hold a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in Spiritual and Depth Psychology, and have training in a wide variety of modalities including Somatic Experiencing, Hakomi, Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and Ecotherapy. The work I do addresses the whole person, weaves somatic and mindfulness-based approaches, and incorporates creative practices that align with each client’s core values. I work from a trauma informed lens and draw from somatic, humanistic, depth and transpersonal models of psychology. In addition to individual psychotherapy. In addition to Ketamine Assisted Therapy, I also offer traditional psychotherapy services, as well as process groups and women’s circles.
