Ketamine-assisted group therapy to address identity-related trauma: Qualitative findings among transgender and gender expansive adults
Transgender and gender expansive (“trans”) individuals experience identity-related trauma (e.g., chronic invalidation, misgendering) shaped by intersecting forms of social oppression resulting in psychosocial distress. Group-level interventions grounded in social cure frameworks can foster psychological safety and facilitate peer-learning. Evidence for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) for addressing mental health challenges is growing rapidly, yet most KAP research focuses on individual treatment formats.
Group KAP may be especially helpful for trans people struggling with symptoms of identity-related trauma by leveraging ketamine’s ability to induce neuroplasticity within a psychologically safe group context. This study explored how participants experienced Kindred, a trans-led and trans-specific 9-week pilot intervention that delivered KAP in a group format.
Participants from two cohorts (N=14) engaged in group KAP delivered with either supportive group psychotherapy or group psychotherapy that integrated cognitive processing therapy (CPT)-based skills. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to explore participants’ experiences and perceived impacts on identity-related trauma.
Participants reported enhanced self-acceptance of gender identity, reduced negative affect and internalized shame, and positive behavior change, attributing shifts to synergy between ketamine’s neurobiological effects and psychological safety of the group. We developed a participant-informed conceptual model to illustrate how this synergy facilitated healing. Additionally, some participants in the CPT-enhanced group found the cognitive tools helpful, though experiences and engagement varied.
Kindred is a potentially transformative model for trans individuals, supporting reductions in psychological distress and promoting identity affirmation. This work underscores the promise of group KAP to support healing through relational and identity-affirming processes among marginalized communities.
Author list: Jae Sevelius, Sabrina R. Cluesman, Emma Rothman, Alice Mount, Natavi Orion, Brooke Stott, & Rachel Golden
