Wesley ryan, MD, general and addiction psychiatrist

About Wesley Ryan, MD - Founder, Medical Director, Clinician, Addiction Psychiatrist

Dr. Ryan is a board certified psychiatrist and psychotherapist based in Los Angeles with fellowship training in addiction psychiatry, specializing in psychedelic psychiatry and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. After researching psychedelics and ketamine in his training, he started this clinic in 2016 to be one of the first to provide ketamine with psychotherapy. In addition to clinical duties, he also is engaged in research, consulting, and expert witness work.

University of California, Davis - B.Sc. microbiology; glycobiology lab work 2002-2006
University of California, Irvine - M.D.; left M.D./Ph.D. program ‘08; 2006-2010
UCLA-Olive View - psychiatry internship and residency; research 2010-2014
University of Washington - fellowship in addiction psychiatry; research 2014-2015

Clinical experience: UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, several Veteran Affairs medical centers, Kaiser West Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University, St. Joseph Center, The People Concern (formerly Ocean Park Community Center), and Venice Family Clinic. Outside of typical inpatient or outpatient settings, he has worked in the field on homeless outreach and full service partnership (FSP) programs, practicing “street psychiatry” as it is called.

Research experience: study physician, clinical trial design, consulting, data analysis, manuscript write up. Ketamine for treatment resistant depression (UCLA, UW, Stanford), MDMA assisted psychotherapy for PTSD (MAPS), depot naltrexone for harm reduction in alcohol use disorder (UW), feasibility study measuring ketamine’s effects on the brain (Kernel, Cybin).

Academic interests include: ketamine for treatment resistant depression, ketamine assisted psychotherapy, cannabis, psychedelics, club drugs, hallucinogens, addiction, functional neuroimaging

Through his diverse experiences and training in both pharmacology, psychotherapy, Dr. Ryan's approach integrates individually tailored therapeutic interventions, typically including lifestyle changes and sometimes medication options, with novel treatments such as ketamine assisted psychotherapy, in an empathic, non-judgmental, safe space, helping individuals find meaning, understand themselves, and motivate to make positive changes.  He has applied these principles in those suffering from PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders.  In terms of psychotherapeutic alignment, he integrates knowledge and practices from psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing, and particularly enjoys working with individuals in helping them achieve meaningful personal growth.

In his free time, Dr. Ryan enjoys listening to music, reading, seeing friends, and spending time outdoors in nature, be it at the beach, the Santa Monicas, the high sierra, or gardening. He is an avid cyclist, surfer, and rock climber.

Dr. Ryan is a graduate of University of California, Davis and went on to complete medical school at the University of California, Irvine.  He is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in both general psychiatry as well as addiction psychiatry.  He completed psychiatry residency at the UCLA-San Fernando Valley Program and an addiction psychiatry fellowship at the University of Washington.  He has presented to colleagues and the public on ketamine and ketamine psychotherapy many times.

Publications and scholarly work (including full text, where available):

  • Ryan WC (2024, pending publication). Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in The Ketamine Papers--volume 2. Santa Cruz, CA: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.

  • Ryan WC. Intramuscular ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, a retrospective chart review of efficacy, adverse events, and drop outs from a community practice. Ketamine 2024 Conference; 2024, March 25-27; Oxford, England.

  • Castillo A, Dubois J, Field RM, et al. Measuring acute effects of subanesthetic ketamine on cerebrovascular hemodynamics in humans using TD-fNIRS. Scientific Reports. 2023;13:11665. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38258-8

  • Ryan W. Commentary on Ethical Guidelines for Ketamine Clinicians. The Journal of Psychedelic Psychiatry. 2020;2(4):20-23. [ full text ]

  • Ryan WC. Consider ketamine and psychotherapy combo. Clinical Psychiatry News. 2020, May 26. [ full text ]

  • Wolfson P, Vaid G, Windsor M, Ryan WC. Breaking Convention, Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy workshop; 2019, August 17; London, England.

  • Ryan WC. Psychotherapy with intramuscular ketamine.  KRIYA Ketamine Research Institute Conference; 2018, November 3rd; Hillsborough, CA.

  • Ryan WC. Ketamine psychotherapy: A retrospective chart review.  KRIYA Ketamine Research Institute Conference; 2017, November 5th; Hillsborough, CA.

  • Ryan WC, Wolfson P. Ketamine Science. Psychedelic Science 2017, Ketamine: Science, Therapy, and Transformation workshop; 2017, April 24; Oakland, CA.

  • Ryan WC, Marta CJ, Koek RJ (2016). Ketamine and depression: a review in The Ketamine Papers--Science, Therapy and Transformation. Santa Cruz, CA: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. [ pdf of the full chapter, or order the book via the publisher, or order the book via amazon ] 

  • Marta CJ, Ryan WC, Kopelowicz A, Koek RJ. Mania following use of ibogaine: a case series. American Journal on Addictions. 2015;24(3):203-5.   [ abstract ]

  • Ryan W. Hallucinogens and addiction. 16th Annual Fundamentals of Addiction Medicine Course; 2015, March 6; Marysville, WA.

  • Ryan W. Research for prescription Cannabis is needed [letter to the editor]. Current Psychiatry. 2014;13(11):33-34.   [ full text ]

  • Ryan WC, Marta CJ, Koek RJ. Ketamine and depression: a review. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies. 2014;33(2):40-74.   [ full text ] [ mirror: full text ] 

  • Marta C, Ryan W, Shachet B, Mithoefer M. Comparison of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in treatment of combat and civilian post-traumatic stress disorder. Poster session presented at: 66th Annual Institute on Psychiatric Services; 2014, October 31 – November 2; San Francisco, CA.

  • Ryan W, Koek R. Ketamine as a rapid acting antidepressant. California-Wide Psychiatry Research Resident Retreat, UCSF Psychiatry Department; 2013, May 17; San Francisco, CA.

Presentations and talks (including full video, where available):

  • Ryan WC. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. CalPsychiatry Presents: MindStories; 2022, March 2; Los Angeles, CA. [ full video of the podcast ]

  • Ryan WC, Marta CJ.  Ketamine for depression, a prescription psychedelic.  Aware Project Psychedelic Awareness Salon; 2016, August 17; Culver City, CA. [ full video of the presentation ]

  • Ryan W, Marta CJ, May D. Medical and psychiatric issues in a festival population. Zendo Project Volunteer Training; 2014, August 26; Black Rock City, NV.