Ketamine Assisted Therapy

  • 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. 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 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 subside, 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 happens during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the Ketamine experience.

  • Who is Ketamine Assisted Therapy For?

    While Journey Clinical will provide a full assessment of eligibility, research shows that ketamine has been successful in treating Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic Pain & Chronic Illness. Some factors that may make ketamine-assisted psychotherapy a good option for you include: A history of treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, or PTSD, a desire to try a new approach to therapy or medication and/or a willingness to undergo the potentially intense and transformative experience of a ketamine session

Your KAP Process: First Steps

I work directly with Journey Clinical, 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. See the steps below to get a sense of the process.

Step One

Initial consultation with your Journey Clinical prescriber, eligibility check and ketamine prescription

Step Two

Preparation sessions together to align on the process and set intentions for the KAP dosing session

Step Three

KAP dosing session: You will self-administer your ketamine lozenge at my office

Step Four

Integration sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session

Step Five

Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical for prescription refills if eligible

Step Six

Ongoing integration and assessment for supplemental KAP session. Clients usually require between 2-6 sessions, or longer if they’d like to continue working with one of our therapists.