Ketamine-Assisted therapy (KAP)

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to therapy to support eligible clients to experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms.

Ketamine is a safe and legal substance that can induce gentle psychedelic states. Everyone’s experience of KAP is unique, but many find that ketamine creates a sense of distance from sensations, emotions, and experiences that feel overwhelming and/or can be avoided in a normal therapy session.

KAP can be helpful for folks who experience, anxiety, depression, PTSD, social anxiety, suicidal ideation, OCD, substance use issues, and chronic pain.

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies are offering hope to those who have not experienced meaningful healing through therapy alone. The frequency of sessions is based on your individual needs. Because the medicine works cumulatively, each KAP experience builds on the last, a commitment of 4 at least treatments is recommended.  

  • Ketamine is a legal, safe, and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. 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, nasal spray, and using sublingual lozenges. In my work with Ketamine, we only use the lozenge form.

  • The effects of ketamine, which most clients 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 session 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.

  • $600 // KAP dosing session (3 hrs)

    $210 // Consult, Preparation, & Integration Sessions (50 min)

    I reserve a small amount of sliding scale spaces for KAP. I can also provide a super bill for potential reimbursement through your insurance.

    Group KAP sessions are occasionally offered. If you are interested in sliding scale or group KAP, please email me!

    Journey Clinical Medical Costs:

    Medical Intake: $250 (One-time fee, reimbursable through out-of-network)

    Follow-up Sessions: $150/Session (1x a quarter, reimbursable through out-of-network)

    Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance)

    Although the medical intake and follow-ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.

  • Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment - Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS

    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

    Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders - Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter

    Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression - goop

    Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical - Psychology Talk Podcast