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. That means a small tablet is dissolved in your mouth. You swish it in your mouth for 10 minutes and spit it out.

The effects of ketamine, which most clients find pleasant, last for approximately 1 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 with eye shades 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 clear.

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 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.

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. Most clients need a minimum of 6 preparation sessions. This is essential for a safe, healing experience.

3. KAP Dosing Session:

● A typical ketamine dosing session lasts 3 hours and takes place remotely via telehealth. I love remote KAP sessions, because usually there is not a better setting for a journey than your own home. In taking ketamine at home, you do not need to worry about driving home and can relax in your own space after the dosing session.

● During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge 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. You will also have a chaperone (such as a friend, partner, or family member) present to ensure your safety. We will discuss all logistics together beforehand.

4. Integration Sessions:

● After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts & 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.

Yes and no. Ketamine was developed for humans, and later was approved for animal use. Years ago when ketamine was a popular party drug, it was often stolen out of veterinary clinics which is where it got the reputation of being a horse tranquilizer.

Medical intake and follow ups, as well as psychotherapy are not covered by insurance, but they are eligible for out of network reimbursement.

Journey Clinical Medical Costs:

First-time patients:

● Initial medical consultation with Journey Clinical: $250

● Cost of medication: $85 (enough for 2 sessions)

Ongoing treatment

● Follow-up medical consultation with Journey Clinical $150 (at least 1X per quarter)

● Cost of medication: $145 (enough for up to 6 sessions)

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Costs:

My hourly rate is $220/hr.

Preparations and integration sessions are 1 hour ($220). Dosing sessions are 3 hours ($660). The number of preparation and integration sessions vary.

If you are interested in ketamine treatment and this is not financially accessible for you, please reach out about sliding scale. I reserve sliding scale specifically for the psychotherapy portion of ketamine treatment, depending on availability.

I also occasionally offer group KAP sessions where participants can split the fee. We can discuss your specific needs on a free consultation call.

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.

By scheduling a free consultation!