I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible clients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. I provide the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you on all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes.
Below is more information about KAP to help you see whether it may be a good fit for you
Below is more information about KAP to help you see whether it may be a good fit for you
How Does Ketamine Feel?
The effects of ketamine in this type of treatment, which most patients find pleasant, last for approximately 45 minutes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body, and facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience. Once these effects subsided, we’ll spend the remainder of our appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happened during the experience, clients feel like the insights gained are nonetheless clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the Ketamine experience.
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What is Ketamine? Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and Post Traumatic Stress. Ketamine has rapidly acting antidepressant and mood enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within 1-2 hrs. after treatment and last for up to 2 weeks. It works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors as well as by stimulating AMPA receptors, which are thought to help form new synaptic connections and boost neural circuits that regulate stress and mood. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement. Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, via nasal spray and using sublingual lozenges or tablets. In my work with Journey Clinical we only use the sublingual rapidly dissolving tablet form. 
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What is the Process for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?
1. After you and I meet, I will send a referral and you'll have schedule the initial consultation with your Journey Clinical medical provider.
● You schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team via zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are eligible for KAP.
● If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you.
● Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a ketamine prescription for you, and a small amount of oral ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first 2 KAP sessions. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team in advance of our KAP sessions.
2. Preparation sessions:
● Once you receive your ketamine tablets, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation, dosing and integration sessions. Preparation session(s) will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of preparation sessions is to align on the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.
3. KAP Dosing Session:
● A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 2-3 hours and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth.
● During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine tablets either in my office or in your home (for remote sessions). You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed, in person or remotely.
4. Integration Sessions:
● After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts, and insights that came up during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session. I will also ask you to do some journaling or other expressive work on your own in between sessions.
5. Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical:
● After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team schedules regular follow ups with you to monitor outcomes and prescribe ketamine lozenge refills, as appropriate. The frequency of follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter.
● You schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team via zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are eligible for KAP.
● If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you.
● Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a ketamine prescription for you, and a small amount of oral ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first 2 KAP sessions. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team in advance of our KAP sessions.
2. Preparation sessions:
● Once you receive your ketamine tablets, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation, dosing and integration sessions. Preparation session(s) will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of preparation sessions is to align on the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.
3. KAP Dosing Session:
● A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 2-3 hours and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth.
● During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine tablets either in my office or in your home (for remote sessions). You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed, in person or remotely.
4. Integration Sessions:
● After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts, and insights that came up during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session. I will also ask you to do some journaling or other expressive work on your own in between sessions.
5. Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical:
● After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team schedules regular follow ups with you to monitor outcomes and prescribe ketamine lozenge refills, as appropriate. The frequency of follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter.
What is the Cost of Treatment?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality. Although the medical intake and follow ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. You will pay Journey Clinical directly for your consultation with the medical provider and for your prescribed ketamine. You will pay me directly for our time together which includes preparatory sessions, dosing sessions and integration sessions.
KAP Assisted Psychotherapy Sessions:
My typical hourly rate is $130. A dosing session for KAP will be 3 hours. Integration sessions may be one to two hours. Depending on type of sessions (individual, group, retreat), the hourly rate may vary.
We will always discuss what kind of sessions will work best for you through the course of your treatment.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality. Although the medical intake and follow ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. You will pay Journey Clinical directly for your consultation with the medical provider and for your prescribed ketamine. You will pay me directly for our time together which includes preparatory sessions, dosing sessions and integration sessions.
KAP Assisted Psychotherapy Sessions:
My typical hourly rate is $130. A dosing session for KAP will be 3 hours. Integration sessions may be one to two hours. Depending on type of sessions (individual, group, retreat), the hourly rate may vary.
We will always discuss what kind of sessions will work best for you through the course of your treatment.
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Journey Clinical Medical Costs:
First-time patients: Initial medical consultation with Journey Clinical: $250 Cost of medication: $85 (enough for 2 sessions) Ongoing treatment Follow-up medical consultations with Journey Clinical $150 (at least once every 3 months) Cost of medication: $145 (enough for up to 6 sessions) What is Journey Clinical? Journey Clinical is a platform for licensed psychotherapists to incorporate science-based psychedelic therapies in their practice safely and effectively, starting with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Journey Clinical’s in-house medical team takes on patient eligibility, prescriptions and outcome monitoring, while I take on the therapy. Their collaborative care model is designed to deliver personalized treatment plans to meet your individual needs and improve long-term outcomes. |
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Helpful Resources and More Information:
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 Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical - Psychology Talk Podcast
5. Andrew Huberman's 90 minute podcast into how KAP works
6. Interview with Lauren Taus on how psychedelics are changing therapy
7. Further personal experiences of some who tried ketamine
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 Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical - Psychology Talk Podcast
5. Andrew Huberman's 90 minute podcast into how KAP works
6. Interview with Lauren Taus on how psychedelics are changing therapy
7. Further personal experiences of some who tried ketamine
