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Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a therapeutic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible patients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms.

At The Inner Divine, we offer both individual and group Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical. 

We focus on providing the overall experience and delivering therapy through preparation, dosing, and integration sessions. Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you on all medical aspects, including determination of eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes.

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. Currently, in our 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 KAP Work?

1. Initial Consultation with Journey Clinical

  • First you will 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.

2. Intake Session

  • Once Journey Clinical determines that you are eligible for KAP, we will schedule an private initial intake session together. This session will be a mental health evaluation to rule out and discuss any existing concerns.

3. Virtual Preparation Session: 

  • This session will take place once you receive your ketamine lozenges. If you are planning to have an individual KAP experience, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation session. If you are partaking in a group KAP experience, then this will be your first scheduled session with the group. The goal of a preparation session is to align on the process, review what will take place during the dosing session, and set intentions for our KAP sessions together. 

4. KAP Dosing Session: 

  • The length of a typical ketamine dosing session depends on whether or not it’s a private or group session, but can last anywhere between 1-3 hours.

  • During a dosing session, once we prepare, you will then self-administer your ketamine lozenge. You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask. For in-person sessions, the setting will be curated to provide a tranquil environment with the intention of fostering a sense of safety and openness that enhances the therapeutic experience. This includes a comfortable space, soft lighting, and calming music. Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, we will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.

5. Integration Session: 

  • After each KAP dosing session, we will meet for an integration therapy session to review your experience as well as any thoughts & insights that arose during or after your dosing session.

6. 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.

How Much Does It Cost?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy tends to be an accessible and affordable modality for most. However, the cost of KAP varies based on individual factors, such as insurance coverage, amount of sessions, and whether or not you choose to have an individual or group experience. The medical intake and follow ups may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement for some.

If you’re interested in KAP and partaking in a ketamine assisted journey with us, please fill out this form. Once we receive your submission, we will be in touch soon to discuss your personal situation and what type of experience you’re looking for. Then, we will better be able to give you more accurate information on the cost.