What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?

KAP combines the healing and transformative properties of ketamine with the use of deeper psychotherapy to get to core feelings and rewire emotional memories, resulting in long-term improvement of a number of mental health conditions.  For many who feel like they have tried everything, KAP offers their first experience of real relief.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy has been found to help with trauma, depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, postpartum depression, suicidal ideation, disrupted sleep related to trauma, some eating disorders, and mild to moderate OCD, as well as personal and spiritual growth. It is a highly transformational and self-reflective process.  While many clinics offer ketamine IV drips delivered in a sterile, medicalized environment with very little to no psychotherapeutic support, I am able to guide my clients in the use of ketamine in the comfort and safety of my office with the powerful addition of guided support and talk therapy. The journey is uniquely yours but I will be with you and supporting you along with way.

What if I Already Have a Therapist?

The Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy induction is a series of 4-6 sessions. It can be completed in as little as 2 weeks. You are welcomed and encouraged to continue working with your therapist either during this process, or to resume work immediately following. If you do not have a therapist and decide you would like to continue your integration work after the KAP induction, I am available for that, or I can assist you in a referral.

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a Schedule III medication that has been used as an anesthetic and analgesic in various medical settings for decades. It has a long track record of being very safe. It is now being used “off-label” to treat of a number of mental health conditions previously considered to be “treatment resistant”.  At the doses administered for KAP, most people experience mild anesthetic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and psychedelic effects. Ketamine also begins promoting rapid brain growth very shortly after administration. When all of these effects are paired with integrative psychotherapy, rich, deep and lasting change becomes very possible.

What is KAP like?

Intake: After an initial conversation with me to be sure you are a good fit for KAP, you will schedule an appointment with one of the medical providers that I collaborate with for a full psychiatric evaluation and medical review. They will prescribe the ketamine and you will need to pick it up from a local compounding pharmacy. They will also share more information about what to expect and how to prepare for your first session.
 

KAP sessions: KAP is conducted in my office in a quiet, comfortable, private, and safe environment. Each KAP session lasts 2 to 3 hours.  During that time, you will work with me to set your intentions for the particular session and address any concerns you have before taking the medicine. We may also spend some time integrating insights from prior sessions. The ketamine will be in the form of a lozenge.  It will begin to take effect about 10 minutes after it starts to dissolve in your mouth.  During your ketamine experience music will be played to enhance your experience and I will be at your side, available for any support you need. As the medicine wears off, you may want to start sharing the details of your experience. We may do some processing about your experience at that time, but I will also transcribe your experience for you to be used later in any integration work you decide to do. The medicine wears off relatively quickly, but you will not be able to drive for the rest of the day. I ask that clients commit to a minimum of 3 KAP sessions and then be reassessed to determine the next treatment steps, which may include up to 3 more sessions.

Integration: Integration is an ongoing process and will be unique to each individual.  The curative effects of KAP sessions continue for quite some time, long after all sessions have been completed. Finding a safe space to talk about your experience can be very beneficial. Activities such as journalling, art work, and time in nature can also be helpful.  If you have a therapist you are working with, integration can also be very powerful in that setting.  I am also available for integration work either between sessions or after the completion of the KAP series.

What does KAP cost?

I work with a collaborative psychiatric provider for all medical clearance and prescriptions. These evaluations and check-ins are done virtually. The KAP session are experienced in my office.

Psychiatric evaluations and medical review $300

Single KAP Session (2.5-3 hrs). $450

3 KAP Sessions (2.5-3 hrs each) $1300

6 KAP Sessions and one post-KAP integration session $2600

Check-in with medical provider after 3rd session $75

Future maintenance KAP sessions if needed. $375

60-75 minute integration session. $185

More questions?

Please feel free to call me with any questions you have about KAP.