I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with various medical providers in North Carolina, and with an organization called Journey Clinical for clients in FL and TN.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible patients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. I take on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you on all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes. Here’s a link to more information about KAP to see if it may be a good fit for you. https://journey.click/education

KAP is a legal modality that pairs ketamine treatment with dedicated psychotherapy sessions for more deeper therapy, more frequent breakthroughs and better clinical outcomes. To learn more about KAP, visit https://journey.click/education

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. If you live in North Carolina IV infusion and intramuscular injection, and the nasal spray are also options. In my work with Journey Clinical, we only use the sublingual lozenge form.

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.

1. Initial Consultation with Medical Prescriber

• You schedule an initial evaluation with a collaborating clinician recommended or from Journey Clinical medical team in-person or 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 the medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you.
• Our collaborating medical team will write a ketamine prescription for you. If utilizing Journey Clinical, 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. If using an outside prescriber, they will administer intramuscular injection, IV infusion, nasal spray, or sublingual lozenge in office.

2. Preparation Sessions

• After meeting with a Medical Prescriber, 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 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, or our medical prescriber will administer the ketamine based on method used. 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.

4. 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.

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 refills, as appropriate. The frequency of follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter.

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 Sessions

My typical hourly rate is $175/hr for individual and $225 for couples (limited financial assistance available, please inquire if needed).

Journey Clinical Medical Costs (prices shown are for FL and TN clients, these prices vary for clients in North Carolina and Kentucky)

KAP Intake:
Consultation: $250
Non-covered services (including medication): $112

KAP Follow-Up:
Consultation: $150
Non-covered services (including medication): $208

Medication Management Appointment:
$250 flat fee

Insurance information:Journey Clinical Insurance FAQ

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please schedule a consultation at https://calendly.com/holisticsextherapist to discuss eligibility and next steps.

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 – Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. (MAPS)
2. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes – Jennifer Dore et al., 2018
3. Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders – Erica Zelfand, ND
4. Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression
5. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh – Psychology Talk Podcast