Loosening Up: The KA-EMDR® Podcast

In this episode of Loosening Up: The KA-EMDR™ Podcast, we sit down with Lauren Battista, an EMDR therapist based in Colorado, to explore how Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy can help clients access deeper self-compassion and move through emotional blocks that often keep them stuck in traditional trauma work.

Lauren shares how integrating EMDR therapy with low-dose (psycholytic) ketamine has transformed her work with clients experiencing complex trauma, rigid defenses, and chronic self-criticism. Through powerful clinical examples, she describes how KA-EMDR™ supports adaptive information processing (AIP) and memory reconsolidation, allowing clients to access and reprocess experiences that previously felt unreachable.

Together, we explore:

• How KA-EMDR™ helps soften protective blocks and reduce emotional avoidance
• Why combining ketamine assisted psychotherapy with EMDR creates both structure and flexibility in trauma treatment
• The emergence of self-compassion, especially in clients with deep shame and self-judgment
• How “loosening” the system supports nervous system regulation and deeper trauma processing
• What it looks like when therapy shifts from feeling stuck to meaningful, accelerated healing

Lauren also reflects on how this modality has deepened her trust in the therapeutic process—and in her clients’ innate capacity for trauma healing when the right conditions are in place.

This conversation highlights a core principle of KA-EMDR™: when blocks soften, the system opens—and new learning becomes possible.

About Our Guest:
Lauren Battista
Licensed in Colorado
https://denvermetrocounseling.com/lauren-battista
[email protected]
(303) 809-3341 ext. 6

Learn More:
Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy Institute:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com

Our published, peer-reviewed research article:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12587818/

On-Demand Introductory KA-EMDR™ Training:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/introcourse

Virtual KA-EMDR™ Experiential Training:

https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/experientialtraining

KA-EMDR™ Consultation Offerings:

https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/consultation

KA-EMDR™ Therapist Directory:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/directory

Email: [email protected]

This episode explores the transformative potential of KA-EMDR™, revealing how clinicians are helping clients access deep change like never before. Jennifer Taylor, a licensed clinical social worker practicing remotely across three states in the U.S., shares how integrating low-dose ketamine into EMDR sessions creates a gentle, profound shift in healing complex trauma.

In this episode, Jennifer shares:

• Her journey from traditional EMDR to incorporating KA-EMDR™
• How learning the scientific foundation and receiving experiential training built her confidence
• How ketamine facilitates deeper emotional access and memory reconsolidation
• Differences between psycholytic and psychedelic ketamine-assisted therapy sessions
• Real-life changes she is seeing with her clients

If you're a clinician eager to elevate your practice, or a client seeking new pathways to healing, this conversation offers inspiration and a new way to think about what’s possible. Discover how this innovative approach is enhancing client outcomes, shifting clinician perspectives, and expanding therapeutic possibilities.

About Our Guest:
Jennifer Taylor, LCSW
Licensed in Texas, Florida, and Kentucky
https://jennifertaylorcounseling.com/
[email protected]
(575) 201-3029

Learn More:
Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy Institute:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com

Our published, peer-reviewed research article:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41186022/

On-Demand Introductory KA-EMDR™ Training:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/introcourse

Virtual KA-EMDR™ Experiential Training:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/experientialtraining

KA-EMDR™ Consultation Offerings:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/consultation

KA-EMDR™ Therapist Directory:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/directory

[email protected]

Unlock the transformative potential of combining EMDR with low-dose ketamine — a breakthrough that's changing trauma therapy. If you're a therapist feeling stuck with clients who can't access deep material or move past ingrained trauma patterns, this episode is for you. Discover how skilled practitioners are integrating Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy (KA-EMDR™) to unlock neuroplasticity, accelerate healing, and open pathways long blocked by trauma and the resulting adaptations.

Laura Bell, a certified EMDR clinician, consultant and facilitator with the Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy, shares her compelling journey from traditional EMDR to this powerful integration. She reveals how incorporating low-dose ketamine has expanded her clinical toolkit, supporting clients with complex PTSD in accessing, processing, and resolving trauma that previously felt unreachable.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How psycholytic ketamine enhances neuroplasticity, softens defenses and protective parts, facilitating trauma processing during EMDR
• The essential role of EMDR case conceptualization and preparation in safety and effectiveness
• The impact of receiving experiential training and consultation in navigating this new frontier
• How KA-EMDR™ can radically transform the lives of clients suffering from complex trauma

Why does this matter? Because in a field where many therapists feel limited by traditional methods, integrating ketamine opens doorways to healing that once felt impossible. It offers a way to facilitate deep, lasting change without overloading the client or the therapist. This is more than a protocol; it's a paradigm shift in trauma recovery, with ripple effects extending into families, communities, and beyond.

Perfect for EMDR-trained clinicians ready to innovate and accelerate healing in a safe, ethical way. If you're curious about expanding your practice or seeking a powerful adjunct to traditional trauma therapy, this episode provides the insight, support, and inspiration you need. 

About Our Guest:

Laura Bell, LPC

Licensed in Virginia & Vermont

www.pathwaysfcs.com

[email protected]

(703) 239-3268

Learn More:

Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy Institute:

https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com

Our published, peer-reviewed research article:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41186022/

On-Demand Introductory KA-EMDR™ Training:

https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/introcourse

Virtual KA-EMDR™ Experiential Training:

https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/experientialtraining

KA-EMDR™ Therapist Directory:

https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/directory

[email protected]

What is Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy (KA-EMDR™), and how did it begin?

In this inaugural episode, EMDRIA-Approved Consultants Danielle Ciccone and Michele Topel share the clinical and collaborative journey that led to the development of KA-EMDR™ — an innovative, integrative psychotherapy model designed to strategically combine low-dose ("psycholytic") ketamine with EMDR therapy to enhance reprocessing and support transformational trauma treatment.

As we worked with our own clients, we began noticing meaningful shifts as defenses softened, deeper material became available for processing, and adaptive information came online much easier. What began as curiosity in our respective therapy rooms evolved into a structured, research-informed approach grounded in the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, the science of memory reconsolidation, and responsible, trauma-informed care.

In this conversation, we discuss:
• The early clinical observations that shaped the KA-EMDR™ model

• How we met and began collaborating with incredible synergy
• How our research and training institute evolved from this work
• Why we felt called to launch this podcast, creating a platform for KA-EMDR™ trained therapists to share how this approach is impacting their clinical work and the clients they serve

Whether you are an EMDR therapist curious about the integration with ketamine assisted therapy, a clinician interested in innovative trauma treatment approaches, or someone exploring potential psychotherapy approaches for yourself, this episode lays the foundation for everything to come.

Welcome to the beginning of the conversation.

Our published, peer-reviewed research article:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41186022/

Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy Institute:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com

On-Demand Introductory KA-EMDR™ Training:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/introcourse

Virtual KA-EMDR™ Experiential Training:
https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/experientialtraining

KA-EMDR™ Consultation Offerings:

https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/consultation

KA-EMDR™ Therapist Directory:

https://www.ketamineassistedemdr.com/directory

To contact us, shoot us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Hosted by Danielle Ciccone and Michele Topel, co-founders of the Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy Institute, this podcast explores how EMDR clinicians are integrating Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy (KA-EMDR™) into their practices and what they’re noticing as clients soften, defenses ease, and EMDR reprocessing deepens.

Through clinician conversations and shared reflections, we discuss the clinical observations and transformational shifts that can emerge when low-dose ketamine is thoughtfully paired with EMDR therapy.