Quarterly Meeting and Educational Program: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Somatic Approach to Trauma and EDs

Date: March 28th, 2025 at 10:00AM

Location: 2800 N Orange Ave, first floor

Wendy Kimelman, RN, BSN, MA, LMHC is a dedicated mental health professional with a rich background in both nursing and psychotherapy. She earned her undergraduate degree in Nursing in 1997 and spent over two decades as a bedside nurse and administrator in Trauma, Burns, Critical Care, and Emergency Medicine.

Motivated by a desire to bridge gaps in traditional treatment modalities, Wendy pursued a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling in 2017. She now specializes in trauma and eating disorder treatment in her private practice, incorporating somatic approaches to help clients regulate their autonomic nervous systems, leading to greater well-being and life satisfaction.

Wendy integrates psychedelic-assisted therapy as a transformative tool, helping clients overcome barriers to fully engaging in their lives. She has completed specialized training in psychedelic-assisted therapy through The Psychedelic Somatic Institute, Fluence, and the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Therapy Education Program.

Beyond her professional work, Wendy enjoys motherhood, reading, baking, outdoor activities with her Labrador retriever, Cali, and spending time on the water with her husband whenever possible.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Somatic Approach to Trauma and Eating Disorders

This presentation explores the integration of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) with somatic therapy to support individuals struggling with trauma and eating disorders. We will begin by examining the mechanisms of ketamine, including its therapeutic effects and the logistical and theoretical frameworks that shape KAP sessions.

Next, we will delve into somatic approaches, discussing how body awareness and emotional processing enhance the ketamine experience and help clients move beyond patterns of dissociation and "stuckness." We will also address the importance of post-session integration, providing tools for clients to apply insights gained in KAP to their daily lives.

Additionally, we will discuss the practical application of KAP, from building safety and security within sessions to understanding dosing, session frequency, and long-term treatment goals. Special attention will be given to the role of KAP in eating disorder treatment, highlighting current research and clinical practices.

The session will conclude with an open discussion, inviting attendees to explore any remaining questions and deepen their understanding of KAP as a transformative therapeutic modality.

Objectives:

1. Educate on Ketamine’s Mechanism: Explain how ketamine works to facilitate therapeutic change in the context of trauma and eating disorders. Include logistical and theoretical framework behind how sessions are structured.

2. Explore Somatic Approaches: Discuss the principles of somatic therapy and how they can enhance the ketamine-assisted psychotherapy process, particularly in relation to body awareness and emotional processing.

3. Integration and Follow-Up: Emphasize the importance of post-session integration techniques to help clients process their experiences and apply insights to their daily lives.

For more information regarding our Chapter events, please email our Chapter President, Laura Gerbec at [email protected]

National Alliance for Eating Disorders is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0622.National Alliance for Eating Disorders has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6958. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. National Alliance for Eating Disorders is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. National Alliance for Eating Disorders is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.National Alliance for Eating Disorders maintains responsibility for this program and its content. National Alliance for Eating Disorders is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology to provide continuing education
courses to psychologists (Provider # 50-11298, expires May 31, 2026). The Board of Psychology will not revoke the continuing psychological education credit given to any psychologist for the completion of any continuing psychological education program sponsored by a provider whose status is later revoked by the Board as a result of any complaint registered against the program by a psychologist. National Alliance for Eating Disorders is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing (Provider # 50-11298, expires October 31, 2025). National Alliance for Eating Disorders is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-11298, expires March 31, 2025). National Alliance for Eating Disorders is approved by the Florida Council of Dietetics and Nutrition (Provider # 50-11298).
National Alliance for Eating Disorders maintains responsibility for this program and its content. If you are an out of state provider, check your state’s rules and regulations for more information regarding your continuing education requirements.

Thank you to our 2025 program sponsors!

Host or Publisher Central Florida Chapter of iaedp