Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

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 partner with an organization called Journey Clinical. I provide psychotherapy, offering a safe and supportive container for transformative healing, while Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you in all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a customized treatment plan, prescribing medication, and monitoring outcomes. Here’s a link to more information about KAP to see if it's a good fit for you. 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. Ketamine has demonstrated a unique ability to temporarily disrupt the brain’s default mode network (DMN), which is involved in self-referential thinking, rumination, and ingrained patterns shaped by past experiences. By loosening the DMN’s usual rigidity, ketamine can create a window where the mind becomes more flexible, less trapped in repetitive thought patterns, and more receptive to new emotional and cognitive insights. This change does not eliminate problems but can soften the grip of old narratives long enough for therapeutic insight, emotional processing, and meaningful change to take root during integration work. Ketamine can be administered in various ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, nasal spray, and sublingual lozenges. In my work with Journey Clinical, we only use the sublingual lozenge form. 

What does treatment look like?

Initial Consultation Call: I offer a free 20-minute introductory call to get to know each other a bit and determine whether we are a good fit. We can also discuss any additional questions. 

Pre-KAP Sessions: Before starting a KAP cycle, I recommend meeting for 3 to 4 sessions. These sessions give us the opportunity to build a therapeutic alliance and deepen our understanding of what is bringing you to treatment. We will discuss your intentions for the dosing sessions and plan for any logistical needs. If we agree on a good fit, I will refer you to Journey Clinical to determine eligibility.

KAP Cycles: KAP cycles consist of three sessions: preparation, dosing, and integration. Clients typically go through 6 to 8 cycles as part of their treatment, but this can be customized. 

• Preparation: Occurs before the dosing session and is usually a 50-minute talk therapy session. We will discuss intentions, set and setting, and any logistical needs. 

• Dosing: You will self-administer the ketamine and experience its effects. You will lie back and get comfortable. These sessions usually last 3 hours. I will stay with you throughout the journey, offering gentle support when needed. I will suggest a playlist suited to KAP and encourage the use of an eye mask for a deeper experience. What unfolds during dosing sessions will be unique to you.

• Integration: We will tap into increased neuroplasticity to revisit key themes, experiences, and insights from the dosing session. We will explore strategies to help you incorporate what you've learned into lasting change.

Maintenance Sessions: Many find the KAP experience to be incredibly valuable and want periodic maintenance sessions to deepen the work. Maintenance sessions are a KAP cycle, one preparation session, one dosing session, and at least one integration session.