Why Are Executives and CEOs Turning to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy?
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| ● A growing number of senior leaders are quietly exploring ketamine-assisted therapy, not as a wellness trend, but as a clinical response to extreme burnout, treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and the limits of conventional approaches. |
| ● Ketamine is the only psychedelic medicine currently available in Canada without requiring approval from Health Canada's Special Access Program, making it the most accessible option for leaders who are eligible. |
| ● A psycholytic approach, using lower doses that allow engagement with a therapist in real time, is increasingly the model that appeals to high-achieving professionals who want psychological depth alongside the medicine. |
| ● The question executives are asking is not whether this is credible. It is whether the structure around it, from assessment, and preparation, to integration, is rigorous enough to justify the investment. |
CEOs and senior executives can experience depression and anxiety while continuing to function at an exceptionally high level. The symptoms are not always visible to the people around them. They may continue to lead teams, make complex decisions, travel, perform and meet expectations, while privately experiencing persistent anxiety, emotional exhaustion, disrupted sleep, low mood or a growing sense that something is no longer quite right.
For some leaders, these symptoms do not resolve with a vacation or a quiet calendar. Therapy, exercise, rest and other conventional approaches can be valuable and, for many people, effective. But when symptoms persist despite appropriate treatment and support, some executives are beginning to explore other evidence-based clinical options.
This is part of what is driving a growing interest in ketamine-assisted therapy. When delivered within an appropriate medical and mental health framework, ketamine may be considered for certain diagnosed mental health conditions, particularly some forms of depression, following careful assessment of the individual, their symptoms and treatment history. A medical doctor or nurse practitioner would be the correct providers to make such an assessment.
Why are high-achieving leaders seeking this out?
What many of these leaders are looking for when they begin asking about ketamine-assisted therapy is not a shortcut. They have often already spent years in conventional therapy, tried medication, and made meaningful changes to how they approach their work. What they are looking for is a way to reach something that those approaches have not been able to access.
Burnout at this level goes beyond tiredness. The World Health Organization classifies it as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed (WHO, 2019). For leaders who have built their identities around competence and resilience, that classification matters. It names the experience as physiological and systemic, rather than a personal failing.
What does the evidence actually say?
The evidence for ketamine is strongest in treatment-resistant depression, with a growing body of research exploring its role alongside psychotherapy for other conditions. In 2024, Canada's Drug Agency review found ketamine can lead to immediate improvement in depressive symptoms compared with placebo, with effects lasting up to 28 days following a single dose (CADTH, 2024). A first-of-its-kind clinical trial from McGill University published in 2025, found that combining ketamine with psychotherapy in a supportive treatment environment led to an average 30 percent reduction in depression scores, with improvements lasting at least eight weeks, which is significantly longer than ketamine treatment alone (Garel et al., 2025).
For anxiety and burnout specifically, a real-world analysis of 395 adults with elevated burnout scores found ketamine-assisted therapy was associated with improvements across all three of Maslach's burnout dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced efficacy (Mindbloom, 2025). A separate peer-reviewed study of group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy involving healthcare workers and first responders found similar improvements across all three Maslach dimensions, with reductions in exhaustion and cynicism and gains in professional efficacy (Robison et al., 2025). The research is peer-reviewed, the regulatory pathway in Canada is established, and the clinical community is continuing to develop frameworks for responsible use.
What makes the psycholytic approach different?
When most people hear “psychedelic therapy” they imagine a transformational experience, which is commonly associated with a high dose. That is one model. There is another that tends to appeal more to senior professionals, and it works differently.
A psycholytic approach uses lower doses of ketamine, allowing the person to remain oriented enough to engage with a therapist during the treatment session. The person can remain engaged with the therapist throughout the session, talking, processing, and working with what arises while the medicine softens some of the usual defences, allowing access to material that may not always be accessible in conventional therapy.
For leaders who have spent careers developing strong cognitive control and self-presentation, that softening can create exactly the kind of opening they may struggle to access otherwise. Patterns of perfectionism, over-responsibility, and overachievement can come into clearer awareness, creating space to explore and work through their underlying causes.
What does the process actually involve?
The clinical pathway for ketamine-assisted therapy begins well before any medicine is introduced. A thorough intake assessment reviews mental, physical and psychosocial health history, current symptoms, medications, and treatment goals. For many people, this is also where the clinical team determines if ketamine-assisted therapy is the right fit or whether a different treatment option may be more appropriate.
Preparation sessions establish the therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist and provide an opportunity to set intentions for the medicine session. The medicine sessions are conducted with a clinician present throughout the treatment process. Integration sessions take place within 72 hours following medicine sessions and support much of the psychological work that follows, helping clients make meaning of the experience, develop healthier coping skills and create lasting changes in their lives.
The full cycle of treatment is typically several weeks. It is not a weekend intervention. Medicine sessions are one component of a structured therapeutic plan.
Why now, and why this conversation?
The Globe and Mail covered this territory earlier this year, reporting on the growing search among professionals for healing and reconnection, and noting that experts were clear: there are no shortcuts for burnout. That framing is right.
What is also true is that the conversation has matured. Senior leaders are asking more specific questions. They want to know what the evidence says, what the process looks like, what the risks are, and what makes a clinical program credible. Those are the right questions. The answer to many of them lies in the structure around the medicine; the assessment, preparation, integration, and the clinical expertise of the people facilitating the work.
Delphia Wellness supports a small number of clients through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy when clinically appropriate and medically assessed by partner clinic providers, as part of a broader therapeutic plan. If you are curious to learn whether this approach may be right for you, we offer a complimentary discovery call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ketamine-assisted therapy legal in Canada?
Yes, ketamine is an authorized dissociative anaesthetic in Canada and can be prescribed off-label by physicians and nurse practitioners or mental health conditions without requiring Health Canada's approval. This makes it more accessible than psilocybin or MDMA, which is currently only accessible through Health Canada’s Special Access Program (SAP). The regulatory landscape continues to evolve, and availability varies by province and provider.
Why do executives tend to find the psycholytic approach more accessible?
High-achieving professionals often have strong protectors or cognitive control and well-developed patterns of self-presentation. A full-dose experience can feel destabilising for some individuals in a way that makes engagement difficult. Our partner clinic offers a psycholytic approach using lower doses that allow real-time engagement with a therapist, which tends to suit leaders or individuals that want to build a relational dose before moving towards a higher dose.
How do I know if this is the right fit?
A thorough clinical assessment is required by a medical practitioner to assess eligibility. Factors that clinicians consider include symptom history, treatment history, current medications, previous treatments explored, and therapeutic goals. Ketamine-assisted therapy is not appropriate for everyone, and for many people other approaches are a better starting point. A discovery call with a clinician who specializes in this area can be a helpful first step.
Sources
World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an 'occupational phenomenon': International Classification of Diseases.https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases
Canadian Drug Agency (CADTH). (2024). Ketamine for Adults With Treatment-Resistant Depression or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A 2023 Update.https://www.cda-amc.ca/ketamine-adults-treatment-resistant-depression-or-posttraumatic-stress-disorder-2023-update
Garel, N., et al. (2025). The Montreal Model: An integrative biomedical-psychedelic approach to ketamine for severe treatment-resistant depression. McGill University.https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/montreal-model-ketamine-therapy-yields-more-sustained-depression-relief-365774
Robison, R., et al. (2025). Treating job-related stress with psychedelic group therapy: a case series on group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for healthcare workers and first responders. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12534798/
Maslach, C., and Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15, 103-111.https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
Dames, S., et al. (2025). A clinical protocol for group-based ketamine-assisted therapy in a community of practice: the Roots to Thrive model. Frontiers in Psychiatry.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1568017/full
Mindbloom. (2025). Burnout Symptom Outcomes During At-Home Ketamine-Assisted Therapy: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis of 395 Adults. Research Square preprint.https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-5515438/v1
Important Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, psychological, or other healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be used as a substitute for individualized advice or care from a qualified healthcare professional. Always consult an appropriate healthcare provider regarding questions or concerns about your health, symptoms, or treatment options.