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Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
As an adjunct to traditional talk-based psychotherapy I also provide Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) for clients who are interested in adding an evidence-based psychedelic therapy to their healing journey. Studies have shown that ketamine can help eligible clients experience sustained improvement in symptoms as well as more frequent breakthroughs. I provide this service in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical.
Journey Clinical is a nationwide platform that assists licensed psychotherapists with incorporating science-based psychedelic therapies safely and effectively into their practices. Journey Clinical’s medical team will determine your eligibility, develop a custom treatment plan, prescribe you the medication and monitor your outcomes. I will support you with the psychotherapeutic portion of the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ketamine? •Ketamine is safe, effective and legal. •Ketamine is used to treat a wide variety of disorders including but not limited to depression, anxiety and PTSD. •Ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain while simultaneously stimulating AMPA receptors. - AMPA receptors are thought to help form new synaptic connections and boost neural circuits related to regulating mood and stress levels. •Ketamine has been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections) which can lead to lasting symptom improvement. •Ketamine can be administered in many ways. If you are interested in pursuing KAP with me and Journey Clinical you will be prescribed Ketamine in its sublingual lozenge form.
How does Ketamine feel? •Ketamine is a fast-acting antidepressant and has mood-enhancing effects - These effects can begin within 1-2 hours and can last for up to 2 weeks - The acute effects of the medicine last for about 45 minutes •Most clients find the acute effects of Ketamine to be pleasant. They can include: - Feeling far away from your body - Expansive shifts in perception - Temporarily reduced verbal and motor abilities •Don’t worry! You’ll be comfortably lying down during this portion of the experience. •Once the acute effects have subsided, you and I will spend the remainder of the session time processing and discussing your experience. - Sometimes it can be hard to put your experience into words but the personal insight gained is the most important part!
How does KAP work? There are 5 steps to the process... 1.Initial Consultation with Journey Clinical •You will schedule your online evaluation with the Journey Clinical medical team. They will learn about your psychiatric and medical history, provide education on the treatment and then determine your eligibility to receive Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. •If you are eligible, the medical team will create your unique Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan. •The medical team will teach you how to self-administer the ketamine lozenges and how to take your vitals. •The prescription (enough for your first 2 KAP sessions) will then be sent to your home. 2.Preparation Session(s) •Once your prescription arrives, we can schedule our therapy sessions starting with Preparation Sessions. •These happen before the KAP Dosing Session in order to prepare – we will take time to align with each other, ask/answer any questions you may have, process possible outcomes of the Dosing Session and set your intention for the experience. •I ask that new clients schedule at least 2 Preparation Sessions with me prior to dosing in order to build trust and rapport. 3.KAP Dosing Session •Typical dosing sessions last between 2-3 hours •Dosing sessions can be held in person at my office or virtually. •I will assist you in creating a comfortable setting – adjusting lighting, getting comfortable, listening to calming music, participating in mindful breathing or guided meditation. •You will then self-administer your ketamine lozenge. •I will be present with you the entire time to hold space, give positive energy and provide support if you should need it. •Once the acute effects have worn off (after about 45-60 minutes) we will end the dosing session. If you are in my office we will contact your chaperone to assist you to their car to take you home. •We will have a very brief check in via text message a few hours later. 4.Integration Session(s) •We will meet again shortly after your Dosing Session to process the thoughts, insights, feelings and memories that arose during your experience. •We can take this time to review goals, set new intentions and prepare for the next Dosing Session. 5.Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical •The Journey Clinical medical team will schedule regular follow up consultations with you after our first KAP Dosing Session. •The frequency of these consultations depends on your treatment plan but will occur once a quarter at minimum. •The purpose of these meetings is to monitor your outcomes and prescribe ketamine refills as appropriate.
What is the cost of treatment? Journey Clinical Medical Costs •Medical Intake: $250 •Follow-Up •Consultations: $150 •Ketamine Lozenges: $ 75 for approx. 4-6 lozenges Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy •My hourly rate: $145 The medical intake, follow up consultations and psychotherapy sessions may be eligible for insurance reimbursement.
How do I sign up? If you’re interested in the possibility of adding Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy to your healing journey please contact me to discuss eligibility and next steps!
Helpful Resources 1.Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS 2.Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy - research study by Jennifer Dore et al, 2018 3.Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders by Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter 4.Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop 5.Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical - Psychology Talk Podcast