a partnership between
&
ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP)
Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD and suicidal ideation.
Ketamine has been shown to increase synaptic connectivity of dendritic cells, enhancing overall neuroplasticity and the potential for psychological change.
KAP a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to support positive mental states, greater psychological flexibility, and sustained improvement in symptoms.
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 rapidly-acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, and can be used as an alternative or supplement to typical antidepressants.
At Metta Mind, ketamine is self-administered via a sublingual lozenge that requires no IV, needles, or trips to outside medical providers.
I take on 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.
01
Initial consultation with Journey Clinical
02
Preparation sessions
03
KAP dosing session
04
Integration sessions
05
Follow-up session with Journey Clinical
Zoom call with Journey Clinical to go over your medical and psychiatric history and determine if you are eligible for KAP. If deemed eligible, Journey will develop a personalized ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team.
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.
A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-2 hours. During the session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge. You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although a KAP session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.
After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing 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 does the process look like?
.
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 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, patients feel like the insights gained are none-the-less clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the ketamine experience.
frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
The first hour of any KAP sessions together is covered in the same way as standard psychotherapy sessions. For example, if I am in-network with your insurance I will submit our preparation, integration, and first hour of dosing sessions to insurance for coverage, e.g. co-pay of $20 per 55 minutes (dependent on individual plans, client is responsible for any uncovered portions). Any time beyond the first hour is pro-rated at our already agreed upon rate ($80-$140 depending on insurance, etc.).
Journey Clinical has the following out-of-pocket fees:
■ Medical Intake: $250 (One time fee, reimbursable through out-of-network)
■ Follow-up Sessions: $150/Session (minimum of 1/quarter, reimbursable through out-of-network)
■ Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance)
Example costs for full sequence of preparation/dosing/integration:
Journey Clinical fee Metta Mind fee
Medical intake $250
Medication cost $75
Preparation/integration sessions $0-$140
Dosing session (2-3 hours) $140-420
Total : $465 - 1025 (depending on insurance and length)
What does the research say?
Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is an experimental off-label treatment so there is still much that needs to be explored in terms of its uses, benefits, and drawbacks. Nevertheless, here are a few articles that point to its potential in mental health treatment:
Synaptic dysfunction in depression: potential therapeutic targets
Repurposing Ketamine in Depression and Related Disorders: Can This Enigmatic Drug Achieve Success?
.png)
Contact
What to find out more? Send me a message with the word "KAP" to get more info on pricing, current research, scheduling and more
"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. ”