What is Ketamine-Assisted therapy (KAT) ?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) 101

I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical. 

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. 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. Here’s a link to more information about KAP to see if it may be a good fit for you. https://journey.click/education

What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

KAP is a legal modality that pairs ketamine treatment with dedicated psychotherapy sessions for more deeper therapy, more frequent breakthroughs and better clinical outcomes. To learn more about KAP, visit https://journey.click/education

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 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 with 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 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. 

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

1. Initial consultation with Journey Clinical

• You 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 team 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.

1. 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.  

1. KAP Dosing Session: 

• A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 2-3 hours and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth. 

• 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 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.

1. Integration Sessions: 

• 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.

1. 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.

What is the Cost of Treatment?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality. Although the medical intake and follow ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Sessions — Types and Fees

My typical hourly rate for dosing sessions of KAT (2-3 hours) are:

Self-guided (I will be on-call but not present during your journey): $300

Telehealth ( I am present with you during the entire time) — $500

In-Person — $600

Group (In-Person) — $200

Journey Clinical Medical Costs 

First-time patients — $97 with insurance (patients are responsible for any applicable copay, deductible, or coinsurance). This payment includes:
- Initial consultation with our Medical Team ($250 w/out insurance)
- Ketamine prescription (covers 2 sessions) — $97
        - Including cost of shipping and processing ketamine medication

‍‍Ongoing treatment — $163  with insurance (patients are responsible for any applicable copay, deductible, or coinsurance). This payment includes:
- Follow-up consultation with our Medical Team ($150 w/out insurance)
         - At least once per quarter
- Ketamine prescription (covers up to 6 sessions) — $163
         - Including cost of shipping and processing ketamine medication

Medication Management (regular psychiatry appointment) — $250 flat fee

Journey Clinical Insurance Information: https://journeyclinical.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/28002696219028-Insurance-FAQs

How Do I Sign Up?

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please contact me to discuss eligibility and next steps.

What is Journey Clinical?

Journey Clinical is a platform for licensed psychotherapists to incorporate science-based psychedelic therapies in their practice safely and effectively, starting with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Journey Clinical’s in-house medical team takes on patient eligibility, prescriptions and outcome monitoring, while I take on the therapy.  Their collaborative care model is designed to deliver personalized treatment plans to meet your individual needs and improve long-term outcomes. 

Helpful Resources:

1. Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS

2. 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

3. Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders by Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter

4. Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop

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

A summary of my training journey as a psychedelic psychotherapist

I have received certificate of completion from Alchemy Therapy Organization for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).

I have completed training for MDMA Assisted Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy from the pioneering training institute MAPS.

In Mexico, I continue to study the indigenous practices of the Mazatec tradition where entheogenic plants, have been used for centuries for spiritual and medicinal purposes.

Mexican School of Psychosynthesis: In Mexico City, I have received consultation from the lasting pioneers of this system of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. I do NOT practice this method of psychedelic therapy however.

Please note, due to the pending status of the legalization of psychedelic medicines, I only provide facilitation of psychedelic journeys in the State of California with Ketamine.