I'm so glad you're here
I'm Sandy Newes, a licensed psychologist based in Asheville, NC, and I've spent more than 25 years helping people move through anxiety, stress, trauma, and difficult life transitions toward something that feels more like themselves.
My work is deeply relational. I believe that healing happens in connection, with a skilled guide, with your own nervous system, and sometimes with new tools you haven't tried yet. Whether we're working together through traditional psychotherapy, ketamine-assisted treatment, psychological evaluation, or a therapeutic intensive, my goal is always the same: to help you build real, lasting resilience, not just feel better for a while.
I also train clinicians and speak nationally, because I believe the field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has enormous potential to help people heal in ways we're only beginning to understand.
If you're curious about whether my approach might be a good fit or are interested in working together, I'd love to connect.
25+
years clinical experience
500+
ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions facilitated
5
Professional Affiliations (NCPA, APA, NATSAP, WNCPA, AEE)
Teaching the skills that create lasting change
Beyond my clinical practice, I've spent over two decades training clinicians, supporting organizations, and speaking nationally on trauma, resilience, and the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy training and mentorship for clinicians through the Living Medicine Institute
Resilience and trauma-informed skills training for direct care staff and therapeutic programs
Speaking engagements and conference presentations on KAP, trauma, and resilience
Therapeutic intensives and outdoor experiential groups for individuals and small groups
Workshops and staff trainings for organizations navigating stress, burnout, and performance
Now enrolling
I currently have two opportunities to go deeper, whether you are a clinician ready to build your KAP practice or someone looking to heal. Space is limited for both, so reach out today!
FOR CLINICIANS
Level One Clinical Intensive
LIVING MEDICINE INSTITUTE
A direct pathway to practice for licensed therapists and medical professionals, whether you are launching a KAP practice or deepening your own. Trauma-informed, relational, and deeply experiential. Led by Dr. Sandy Newes and Dr. Malena Vinocur. No prior psychedelic experience required.
Fall cohort begins October 27, 2026
16 weeks · Virtual · Biweekly Tuesdays, 5–7 pm ET
Capped at 12 · Interview required · CEUs pending
FOR INDIVIDUALS
KAP Small Group: Healing from Betrayal Trauma
DR. SANDY NEWES & PIA ARRENDELL, LMFT
Betrayal can deeply disrupt our sense of safety and trust — in others and in ourselves. This small-group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy experience supports healing by processing the pain, rebuilding self-trust, and learning to feel safe and connected again. Sandy and Pia are both experienced KAP providers and will support you throughout.
In-person sessions: October 9th & 23rd, 2026
Asheville, NC · Only 6 spaces available
$950 per person · Includes prep, 2 KAP sessions & 4 integration sessions
828-551-2048 · pia@piaarrendell.com
A legal, evidence-based path to profound healing
A medicine with decades of clinical history
FDA-approved and used safely in medical settings since the 1960s, administered under careful clinical supervision.
A catalyst for neurological change
Ketamine temporarily reduces rigid thought patterns and opens a window of psychological flexibility, making it possible to access and process deeply held experiences.
A psychotherapy-first approach
The medicine supports the therapy, not the other way around. Preparation, the experience itself, and integration after are where the real healing happens.
A fit for people who haven't found relief elsewhere
Particularly effective for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, trauma, and chronic stress.
A commonly misunderstood medicine
Not recreational drug use
The ketamine used in KAP is pharmaceutical-grade, carefully dosed, and administered in a clinical setting with a trained professional present. It is nothing like street use or party contexts, and the entire experience is structured around therapeutic intention.
Not a standalone treatment
Ketamine without psychotherapy is a very different thing. The medicine alone may produce temporary relief, but lasting change comes from the integration work — making meaning of the experience and building new patterns over time.
Not right for everyone
KAP is a powerful intervention and it isn't appropriate for all presenting issues or all people. A thorough assessment process ensures it's a good fit before any treatment begins.
Recent Podcasts
