As an emerging psychotherapeutic approach, ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP) integrates the use of medicine to treat pain, mental health, and substance use disorders. Ketamine is a medicine with pain-relieving (analgesic) and antidepressant effects (Drozdz et al., 2022). Combined with psychotherapy, the journey of KAP significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and encourages the client in treatment engagement and rapport-building with the psychotherapist and within their own internal system (Drozdz et al., 2022).

Drozdz et al., (2022). Ketamine assisted psychotherapy: A systematic narrative review of the literature. The National Library of Medicine. 

The journey of KAP combines guided psychotherapy and legally prescribed medicine to open up new ways of healing and a deeper internal self-understanding that could lead to breakthroughs and lasting change. 

• A different doorway: KAP can soften the replaying of the same doorway to healing. Instead of walking down the same hallways, KAP shifts our perspective to accessing a new pathway; psychologically and neurologically.

• The softening of rigid brain networks: Ketamine quietly softens our default mode network (the part of our brain responsible for self-rumination and narratives, or the stories we tell about ourselves). In that softening, the brain is open to forming new ways of thinking and emotional meaning.

• We can access our emotions without experiencing overwhelm. Ketamine can act as a buffer, creating a doorway of safety so we experience less fear and psychological reactivity, and develop greater capacity to observe.

• We can experience the beauty of expanding our identity when working in KAP. 

Experiences can include:

• Greater self-compassion

• Interconnectedness

• A sense of meaning

Spiritual connection:

• KAP can create access to deeper levels of the psyche. Under psychotherapeutic guidance and integration, KAP can evoke a perspective shift and reparative interconnectedness. 

Integration:

• The experiences of ketamine, like the dissociative effects, are just a part of the journey. The medicine opens the window, and integration helps us to rearrange the room. The therapeutic work afterward supports behavior change and your new interpersonal relationship.  text goes here

Currently, I am working with a dissociative dose. This means you will experience a portion of our session, about 1 hour, where you will experience a psychedelic journey. Many clients report that this reduces the thoughts that create a barrier to truly experiencing.

Step 1: Referral from your therapist to Journey Clinical. From here, you will work with Journey Clinical to have a medical and psychiatric evaluation. This is a safety protocol to make sure it is appropriate for your body to use ketamine. We will schedule your first two dosing sessions following your approval.

Step 2: Journey will mail you your first 2 doses of ketamine. 

Step 3: We will have your journey dosing session, which is 3 hours. These 3 hours include 1 hour for setting up and creating your intention for your journey, 1 hour for dosing and your actual journey, and 1 hour to reacquaint yourself and process what you experienced during your journey.

Step 4: We will schedule a 1-hour integration session following your journey. This session must take place within 24 hours.

Step 5: Follow up medical consultation with Journey Clinical and with approval, you will be sent your final 6 doses.

Step 6: Schedule with therapist for your following dosing and integration sessions.

Current clients can explore if KAP sessions are beneficial to their journey in therapy.

I also offer adjunct KAP services; you are able to continue working with your current therapist while I provide a limited number of sessions. I will consult and coordinate treatment with your primary therapist with your consent.

KAP is not accessible for all clients, and I work with Journey Clinical to create safety for you through their assessment process. We will work step-by-step to establish your care in our sessions together, as well as the relationship you will build with Journey Clinical for assessment and medication management.

There are 2 costs associated with KAP:

• Medical appointments & Ketamine medication

• Psychotherapy sessions

MEDICAL FEES:

First-time patients: $112 with insurance (patients are responsible for any applicable copay, deductible, or coinsurance).

This payment includes:

• Initial consultation with our Medical Team ($250 w/out insurance)

• Ketamine prescription (covers 2 sessions): $112

  • Including cost of shipping and processing ketamine medication

‍Ongoing treatment: $208 with insurance (patients are responsible for any applicable copay, deductible, or coinsurance).

This payment includes:

• Follow-up consultation with our Medical Team ($150 w/out insurance)

  • At least once per quarter

• Ketamine prescription (covers up to 6 sessions): $208

  • Including cost of shipping and processing ketamine medication

Will my insurance cover the medical costs?

PSYCHOTHERAPY FEES:

Preparation Session:

• 50 minutes - $200 regular session fee

• Consultation with client’s therapist (adjunct clients) -50 minutes - $200

Dosing Session: 3 hours

• 1st hour - $200

• 2nd and 3rd hour - $400 total

Integration Session:

• 50 minutes - $200

I will follow up with you the following day with a 20-minute phone call session. We will meet for an Integration Session within 48-72 hours of your Dosing Session. 

Integration Session:

• 50 minutes, regular session fee

*I can provide a Superbill for Preparation Session, 1st hour of Dosing Session, and Integration Session

Please visit this site to determine if Journey Clinical works with your insurance provider https://go.journeyclinical.com/kap.