In September of this year, a pilot comprehensive training program for group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy was launched, initiated by the American charitable foundation Heal Ukraine Trauma . Vladyslav Matrenytsky, director of the Expio clinic, participated in the development of the program. The first group of psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists underwent a month-long course of theoretical and practical training, including at the Expio clinic, and can now provide this therapy to their patients.

With the scale of the mental health crisis in Ukraine, with an estimated 11 million people in need of psychosocial support, solutions that maximize resources and go beyond the 1-to-1 model between patient and provider are essential. Given the efficacy and legal status of ketamine, this training will have a real impact now.

In the long term, the KAP group model could serve as a basis for group therapy using psychedelics, should psychedelic drugs become legally available in Ukraine. After the initial pilot, the program will be expanded to more therapists, expanding their capacity to eventually reach thousands of people with KAP therapy.