Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). I provide this service in partnership with local psychiatric providers.

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 take on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while your medical provider 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.

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 hours 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. In my work we only use the sublingual lozenge form.

Check out this 2 minute video that briefly describes the neuroscience of Ketamine.

How Does Ketamine Feel?

The effects of ketamine, which most clients find pleasant, last for approximately 45-75 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, we’ll spend the remainder of our appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the ketamine experience.

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

Initial consultation with a medical provider:

You schedule an initial evaluation with a medication provider of your choice. I will provide you with referrals as needed. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are eligible for KAP.
If the medical provider determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you.
The medical provider will write a ketamine prescription for you, enough for at least the first 2 KAP sessions.

2. Preparation sessions:

Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, 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 a preparation session(s) is to align on the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.

3. KAP Dosing Session:

A typical ketamine dosing session lasts 3 hours and will take place in-person at my office.
During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenges. 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.

4. Integration Sessions:

After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the experiences, thoughts, and insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.

5. Follow-up consultations with your medical provider:

After our first KAP session, your medical provider may request an additional appointment(s) for 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.

Does ketamine have any side effects?

Side effects are generally limited to the timespan directly after session and usually resolve quickly. These include mild nausea, dizziness, derealization, and drowsiness.

What is the cost of treatment?

First time dosing sessions will be booked for the 3-hour session with a flat rate of $350. Depending on the time needed after the first session, we may be able to schedule 2.5-hour dosing sessions for a total of $300.

Preparation sessions and integration sessions are $165/50-minute session.