Ketamine is considered a "dissociative anesthetic" and has been utilized and researched over its "off label" use as a "dissociative psychedelic" for the treatment of 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. This means that Ketamine temporarily increases the neurotransmitter glutamate and quiets the default mode network (DMN) in the brain, which helps your mind become more open and flexible, making it easier to explore new perspectives, insights, solutions to long-standing challenges and break free of habitual thoughts and beliefs that limit you. Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, via nasal spray and using sublingual lozenges. In my work with Journey Clinical, we only use the sublingual lozenge form.

The effects of ketamine, which most patients find pleasant, last for approximately 30-90 minutes. Due to Ketamine being a "dissociative psychedelic," 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.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an innovative modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible patients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. 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. Similar to other psychedelics, Ketamine is considered a “non-specific amplifier.” When Ketamine enters the system, it will amplify what the person may be experiencing in the moment as well as increase awareness around it. This is why "set and setting" is so important during your experience. What mindset are you going into your experience with and the setting where that experience happens plays a crucial role. During a prep session we will review your intentions for the experience and ensure you feel safe and secure in the space. It is normal for both beautiful and challenging experiences to arise during a medicine session. These experiences tend to be more manageable and as the openness and flexibility expands, we are more able to connect with our inner healing intelligence to guide the way. Once your medicine session is complete, we will work together to integrate your experience. This is the psychotherapy part of KAP. With this new high level of neuroplasticity in the brain, we able to create new neural pathways much easier than before. We now have a new openness to change and access to greater flexibility (neurogenesis) that will last over the next couple weeks. Integration happens within 1-2 days of the medicine session and is where we weave all the parts of your experience together, whether it be joyful moments, challenges, mystical or other aspects that may feel new or different. To learn more about integration and our offerings, click the integration tab in the menu.

If you are interested in adding KAP to your healing journey, I want to ensure it is a good fit for you and confirm you meet all eligibility requirements. Here is a breakdown of what to expect: Send an email of interest in starting KAP. You will be sent a prescreen form to rule out any contraindications to ensure you are eligible for KAP Set up a prescreen call. We will review your form and goals for KAP. You will then be sent an intake packet electronically through my secure system. We will meet for an intake and review completed intake paperwork. I will submit a referral to Journey Clinical. You will schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team via zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are eligible for KAP. If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you. Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a ketamine prescription for you, and a small amount of oral ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first 2 KAP sessions. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team in advance of our KAP sessions. Meet virtually for preparation session(s). We will meet for 1-2 sessions depending on need. These will be 1 hour sessions where we will review what to expect during your medicine session and how best to prepare as well as your supports and integration plans post medicine day. The goal of a preparation session(s) is to align on the process, manage expectations and set intentions for our KAP sessions together. Medicine Session: Our individual session will be scheduled for 3 hours. During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge either in my office or in your home. You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to 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. Integration Sessions: After our KAP medicine session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your session, and to prepare for the next medicine session. Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical: After our first KAP 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. Group KAP is a similar intake process, but our schedule is set up differently: Zoom Preparation Session: 1 hr | Meets 1 wk Prior to Medicine Session Medicine Session: 5 hours | 12 to 5 pm on Thursdays Integration Session: 2 hours | 9 to 11 am on Fridays

This will be explored with the Journey Clinical medical team in more detail. KAP is not recommended for folks who are actively experiencing psychosis or mania/hypomania, as it can exacerbate these symptoms. If you have high blood pressure or cardiac/pulmonary issues, you may need to get medical clearance (through management of these conditions) before engaging in KAP. You will not need to taper off antidepressant medication before undergoing KAP, but benzodiazepines should be avoided on the day of your medicine session.

Yes! Our preparation and integration sessions can be totally virtual. While Journey Clinical’s medical model does support KAP medicine sessions taking place virtually, my preference is that your KAP medicine session be in person in my office. I feel I can best support you if we are in the same space together during your medicine session.

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an intensive treatment, unique from traditional modalities. Due to this nontraditional model, frequency and sessions vary from 1-6 depending on need and presenting symptoms. Intensive forms of therapy, like KAP, can lower the amount you need to spend on your mental health in the future. It is important that you are I specialize in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). KAP can DISRUPT rigid ways of being and facilitate a shift in perspective to enable a deeper connection with oneself and one's inner healing intelligence. Part of my process as a KAP clinician is to connect and collaborate with your primary therapist and treatment team. This allows for supportive integration of your experience and whole-person care. The prices below are reflective of this collaborative time which will occur outside of our appointments. If you are new to working with me and not a current client, you will need to complete these first steps: Preliminary Phone Call | 15 Minutes Intake Session | 60 Minutes: $200 Preparation Session(s) | 75 Minutes: $150 Medicine Session & Integration Session | 4 hours: $700 Additional Integration Session | 50 Minutes: $150 KAP Groups are priced at $650 per group Prep Session | 1 hr Medicine Session | 5 hrs Integration Session | 2 hrs * Additional Prep or Integration Sessions | 50 Minutes: $150 * Reflected in price includes collaboration with therapist or other support provider * Please note that I do not prescribe ketamine. I am partnered with Journey Clinical who will complete the medical intake and prescribing as noted above.