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. 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 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 Psychotherapy Work?
- Initial consultation with Journey Clinical
- You 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 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. Preparation
session(s) 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.
- KAP Dosing Session:
- A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-2 hours and can take
place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth.
● During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge
either in my office or in your home. 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, 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 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.
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.
What is the Cost of Treatment?
- Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality. Although
the medical intake and follow ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible
for out-of-network reimbursement.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
■ Our typical hourly rate is $250/hr
Journey Clinical Medical Costs
■ Medical Intake: $250 (One-time fee, reimbursable through
out-of-network)
■ Follow-up Sessions: $150/Session (minimum of 1/quarter,
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 bsheldon@integraltherapyhp.com to discuss eligibility and next steps.
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:
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. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical
- Psychology Talk Podcast