ketamine assisted psychotherapy

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ketamine assisted psychotherapy

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy combines the therapeutic effects of ketamine in a safe contained environment with a trained therapist. The psychedelic aspects induced by ketamine provide for more material to work with in therapy, especially in the context of a long-term therapeutic relationship. Ketamine has the potential to accelerate healing with the support of a therapist throughout the entire process. Prior to becoming a ketamine therapy client, individuals must be properly evaluated and screened by a medical professional.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy, to help eligible patients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. As a licensed and trained therapist, Julio facilitates 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 navigate if it may be a good fit for you.

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“Depending upon dose, ketamine promotes a time-out from ordinary, usual mind, relief from negativity, and an openness to the expansiveness of mind with access to self in the larger sense. These effects enhance a patient's ability to engage in meaningful psychotherapy during and after administration. Ketamine is potent for respite, analysis, and meditative presence, and potent for recovery from depression and the lingering effects of trauma.”

— Jennifer Dore; Helios Psychiatry

What is ketamine?

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. 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 sublingual lozenges. At Journey Clinical we only use the sublingual lozenge form.

How does KEtamine FEel?

The effects of ketamine, 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 subside, your psychotherapist will spend the remainder of your appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happens during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are clear.

KETAMINE FOR ADDICTION?

It might seem counterintuitive to use a drug to support the process of addiction recovery, but with careful preparation, clear intentions and safety considerations, Ketamine can be a catalyst for significant changes in thought and behavior related to addiction recovery.  Ketamine makes our brains more susceptible to learning and to change providing a critical period of neuroplasticity where new behaviors and mindsets can be cultivated and established.  Ketamine can provide relief from negative, self-referential thinking and support new creative and resourceful ways of thinking of oneself and one’s own connection to others and their recovery.  Having support from a therapist is of utmost importance as attempting to use ketamine in this manner without support can be very risky. 

IS KETAMINE RIGHT FOR ME?

Ketamine therapy is an alternative healing modality for people in addiction recovery who are seeking relief from a variety of mental health conditions and for people who want to explore personal and/or spiritual growth. The first step to determine if you are a good candidate for ketamine therapy is to schedule a no cost consultation to discuss your vision and intentions. This will help us make an informed decision if ketamine-assisted therapy is right for you.  A medical provider will also screen you for things such as uncontrolled hypertension, unstable cardiovascular disease, unstable medical conditions, and other psychiatric conditions that are contraindicated for ketamine treatment.

Ketamine assisted therapy process

  • Initial Consultation

    Connect with a Journey Clinical prescriber to check on medical eligibility and to receive ketamine prescription.

  • Preparation

    Meet with your therapist to safely prepare for the ketamine experience and to discuss intentions for the work. Plan for 3-4 preparation sessions.

  • Journey

    Self-administer ketamine in office for a 3 hour supported journey experience. You’ll rest comfortably with music and eyeshades with therapist support.

  • integration

    Incorporate the material and insights of the ketamine experience into your life in a way that aligns with your goals and intentions.

  • Follow Up

    Follow up with medical provider at Journey Clinical to check progress and manage prescription refills.

Cost of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

  • Medical consultation with Journey Clinical includes initial evaluation, treatment plan, and medication for up to 2 sessions for $338.

  • Preparation sessions are done in office or via telehealth and cost $180.

    Expect to meet for a minimum of three preparation sessions before engaging in dosing sessions.

  • The dosing session occurs once we both agree that you are ready and consist of 3 hour sessions in office for the experiential medicine session. The cost for this session is $500.

    A course of KAP consists of 4-6 dosing sessions.

  • Integration sessions are an important part of the process and are scheduled the day after the dosing session to support your process of capturing important insights and making sense of the material that arose during session.

    Integration sessions are $180.

  • Follow-up medical consultations are used to track your progress, refill your prescription, and address ongoing needs. These are required once every 3 months and cost $150.