I’m very excited to announce that I am now offering a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible clients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. I take on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical who I’ve partnered with to provide this service supplies the medical team supports. This includes determining eligibility by a licensed board-certified psychiatrist, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes. Below is more information about KAP to help you navigate whether it may be a good fit for you.
What is Ketamine?
- ● Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, adjustment disorders, phase of life challenges, and chronic pain. Ketamine has rapidly acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within 1-2 hrs after the first dose. Ketamine works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors as well as by stimulating AMPA receptors, which help form new synaptic connections and boost neural circuits that regulate stress and improve mood as well as mental clarity. 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 gentle, soothing and 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. During the time that you’re under the effects of the medication, 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, clients feel like the insights gained are none-the-less clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last months after the Ketamine experience.
How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?
- Initial consultation with Journey Clinical
- ● You schedule an initial evaluation with a psychiatrist 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.
- Preparation sessions:
- Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation, dosing and integration sessions. The preparation session 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 and further discuss what you’d like to gain from the experience.
- KAP Dosing Session:
- ● A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-2 hours and can take place remotely via telehealth just as our regular sessions do.
- ● During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge in your home. There will need to be someone in your home with you who serves as a chaperone. 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.
- Integration Sessions:
- After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, emotions, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.
- Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical:
- After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team will schedule a follow up 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 every three months with up to 6 doses prescribed in between follow ups.
What is the Cost of Treatment?
- Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an accessible modality. Although the medical intake and follow ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. My typical 50-min rate is $215 per session (reimbursable through out-of-network health insurance). Separate from my rate there would be a separate cost with Journey Clinical to cover the medication and prescription support for your ketamine treatment.
○ Journey Clinical Medical Costs
- Medical Intake: $250 (One-time fee, reimbursable through
out-of-network health insurance)
- Follow-up Sessions: $150/Session (minimum one follow-up of per 90 days/
reimbursable through out-of-network)
- Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance)
How Do I Sign Up?
- If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please e-mail me at Christina.Charlotin@DrCpsychologist.com to discuss eligibility and next steps. Please keep in mind that if my initial slots fill up there may be a waiting period before starting your KAP treatment.
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:
- Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS
- Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data