What is psychedelic assisted psychotherapy?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) 101

We offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with Pala Medicine.

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. We take on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while the medical teams we collaborate with support you on all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine, and monitoring outcomes. Below is more information about KAP to help you navigate if it may be a good fit for you.

Psychedelic therapy creates an interval of maximum plasticity in which, with proper guidance, new patterns of thought and behavior can be learned.
— Michael Pollan How to Change Your Mind

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. We offer psychotherapy in conjunction with all methods of delivery, and leave that entirely to the medical doctor that prescribes and administers your care.

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 Therapy Work?

  • After scheduling your initial consultation with either one of our trusted local infusion clinics or Journey Clinical, the medical team will review your medical and psychiatric history with you, educate you on the treatment, and determine if you are eligible for KAP. If the medical team determines KAP is a good fit, you will schedule your Intake with one of our therapists.

  • Once determined eligible, we will schedule 90 min together to complete an intake and discuss Set & Setting for the upcoming dosing sessions. The intake consists of a Bio/Psycho/Social assessment and history as well as exploring what brought you to therapy and what you hope to achieve through our work together. We will discuss the importance of Set & Setting and offer ways to prepare you for your upcoming journey.

  • The IV infusion session lasts between 90 min and 2 hours and takes place in office at a trusted local infusion clinic. The doctor will administer Ketamine while you are in a reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. The doctor will be present during the journey to provide safe support and monitor your vitals. You may choose to have the therapist present to hold space and offer support during your journey as well as after to aid in processing your experiences.

    A typical sublingual ketamine dosing session lasts between 2-3 hours and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth. When using sublingual lozenges, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge either in the office or in your home. Similar to Ketamine infusion, you will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. KAP dosing sessions may be largely an internal experience, your therapist will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.

  • According to the unique treatment plan determined by you and your treatment team, integration sessions will be held following your journey sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your journey, and to prepare for the next journey.

    Integration sessions may be held in office or over telehealth and may be individual or group. Please speak to your therapist to discuss options.

What is the Cost of Treatment?

  • Fees for integration therapy as well as having Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is $175/hr

Do you think KAP might be right for you?

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.