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 clients find pleasant, last for approximately

45 minutes to an hour. 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, clients 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?

1. Initial consultation with Journey Clinical:

• You schedule an initial virtual evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical

medical team. 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 sub-lingual 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. 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.

3. KAP Dosing Session:

• A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 2-3 hours and
  will take place in-person at our office space.

• During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge

in my office. You will be in a comfortable, reclining position, wearing an eye
mask if comfortable, and listening to calming music. Although a KAP dosing
session may be largely an internal experience, a clinician will be present with
you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.

4. Integration Sessions:

• After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for an integration therapy

session to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during

your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session. A series consists of 6-8 dosing sessions followed by an integration session after each dosing session.

5. Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical:

• After your second KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team will schedule

a follow up with you to monitor outcomes and prescribe ketamine

lozenge refills, as appropriate.

Follow-up Consultations with Journey Clinical :

Journey Clinical is available for follow up and support throughout your series and can be reached at support@journeyclinical.zendesk.com

What is the Cost of Treatment?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an investment in your mental health and well-being with the potential to reshape your neural landscape and create marked shifts in outlook. Presence of Mind Therapy is in network with Cigna. In network insurance will cover one hour of the dosing sessions and the full hour of integration sessions. As for all out-of-network clients, we will submit for you and have reimbursement sent to you, if you have behavioral health coverage.

Presence of Mind Therapy clinicians receive advanced and specialty training to be able to offer this innovative modality. The cost is based on the individual therapist's experience level and ranges from $250-$300/hour. Sessions are 2-3 hours in length and take place over a series of 6-8 dosing sessions.  

Journey Clinical Medical Costs:

Medical Intake: $250 (covered by some insurance)

Follow-up Sessions: $150/Session (covered by some insurance)

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 our office on KAP, please

e-mail us 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 client 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
3. Psychotherapy - research study by Jennifer Dore et al, 2018
4. Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders by Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter
5. Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop
6. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical Psychology Talk Podcast