Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

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Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Westlake Village

 

What is Ketamine?

 

Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD. Ketamine has quick-acting mood-enhancing effects, which take effect within one to two hours after treatment and last for up to two weeks. Its properties work in the brain to help form new connections and boost neural circuits that regulate stress and mood. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.

 

This means old, rigid defense patterns get softened, allowing for new connections and deep healing.

 

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?

 

Ketamine ushers in a hypnotic or dream-like state, which most patients find pleasant. You may feel like you are dropping down deep within yourself or you may feel as if you are observing yourself from a distance. This state lasts for approximately 45 minutes and is characterized by shifts in perception that can often feel expansive and healing  as they move beyond defense mechanisms, limiting beliefs and rigid patterns.

 

You’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the journey, wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Once the effects of Ketamine subside, we will use the remaining time to digest, process and discuss your experience.

 

While it may feel hard to articulate what happens, patients feel like the insights gained are deep and clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the Ketamine experience.

Ketamine Experience

For a good explanation of how Ketamine helps with depression, watch this video from Yale Medicine.

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

1. 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, 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 two 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 from one to two 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. 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.

4. Integration Sessions

After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts and insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session

5. 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

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

What is the Cost of Treatment?

 

  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
    • My fee for KAP is $300 per session.
  • Journey Clinical Medical Costs
    • Medical Intake: $250 (One-time fee, reimbursable through out-of-network insurance coverage).
    • Follow-up Sessions: $150/Session (minimum of one per quarter, reimbursable through out-of-network insurance coverage).
  • Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance).
Call me with questions

If you have any questions and would like to speak to me directly, please give me a call.

How Do I Sign Up?

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please e-mail me at info@westlakevillagetherapist 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
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