Ektha Aggarwal, LCSW

Ektha Aggarwal, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles who founded Shakti Therapy and Healing Services, a group practice with offices in Culver City and Torrance. She specialises in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), psychedelic integration and holistic methods such as crystal healing.

Approach

Aggarwal has more than 15 years of clinical experience and holds certifications in psychedelic integration, ketamine therapy and crystal healing. Her practice pairs Eastern traditions with evidence-based methods, using somatic therapy, DBT, IFS, CBT and narrative therapy alongside KAP, and measures outcomes every 8 to 12 weeks. She has written for ScienceDirect, Brown Women’s Health and Women’s Web, among others.

Who it is for

Shakti focuses on South Asian, Asian American, Latino, LGBTQIA+ and first-generation clients, high achievers facing burnout, and women dealing with fertility, postpartum or career pressures. KAP is aimed at medically cleared adults whose depression has resisted treatment, or who live with trauma or burnout. The team works in English, Spanish, French, Hindi and other languages.

Practical details

Individual therapy starts at $199 for 50 minutes. A single ketamine session of 2.5 to 3 hours costs $1,100, a series of four $4,000 and a series of six $6,000, with intake and integration billed separately. The practice is out of network but issues superbills, accepts HSA and FSA cards and keeps some sliding-scale places. Sessions run in person or online anywhere in California, after a free 15-minute consultation.

Care and safety

Before KAP, therapists and a medical provider assess each client, reviewing history, medications and vital signs. A doctor monitors every ketamine session, given by injection or as a sublingual dose, while a therapist guides it. Ketamine is not offered to people with psychosis, and those with high blood pressure, heart or lung problems may need clearance from their own doctor.