Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP)

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic therapy which combines talk therapy with Ketamine as an adjunct, to help eligible patients to experience profound breakthroughs and lasting improvement. It is especially effective for depression, anxiety and PTSD - particularly when other treatments haven't been as effective.

Ketamine is a legal, safe, and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. It is not addictive in this format.  It has rapid antidepressant and mood enhancing effects, often noticeable within hours and can last for weeks. It works by targeting the neurotransmitter glutamate, which influences mood and thought patterns. It promotes neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to form new connections.  Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, nasal spray, and sublingual lozenges. At Journey Clinical we use the sublingual lozenge form. 

During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge either in your therapist's office or 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, your therapist will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed. 

The effects of ketamine, which most patients find pleasant, lasts for approximately 45 minutes. These effects facilitate shifts and perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Many people report having unique experiences that can be emotional and sometimes visual that can give you a break from habitual thoughts and gain a new perspective on situations. Your motor and visual abilities will be reduced, so you'll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience. Once these effects subside, your psychotherapist will spend the remainder of your appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happens during the experience patients feel the insights gained are clear.

KAP consists of separate sessions for the administration of one dose, with 6-8 doses recommended.  KAP (ketamine-assisted psychotherapy) treatment consists of approximately 2 – 5 preparatory sessions, followed by 6 – 8 dosing sessions with an integration session within days of each dosing session.  The preparatory session is a psychotherapy session for setting the intentions for your Ketamine dosing session (one hour).  These are general ideas for a broader theme such as "Wanting to feel a sense of calm.", "Wanting to be open to new experiences", etc.  The dosing session is the actual self-administered Ketamine dosing session that lasts about two hours. The first half hour will be reestablishing the intention and preparing the setting. The next hour will be the self-administration of the Ketamine with a 45-minute journey. The last half hour is sharing your experience with your therapist. The sessions following a dosing appointment are the integration sessions.  You 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.  The neuroplasticity that takes place with the journey allows for longstanding beliefs and behaviors to soften and allow new beliefs and behaviors to begin faster than without Ketamine.

1.  If you are a new client, the psychotherapist will schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure a therapeutic good fit for you.   From there, your psychotherapist will schedule an intake appointment.  If you are an existing client, your therapist will refer you to Journey Clinical to start the process.  

2. Psychotherapy Intake (new clients only):  One hour session with your psychotherapist to begin your journey, identifying goals for treatment.  Qualified clients will be referred to Journey Clinical for assessment and medication management - Ketamine.

3. Journey Clinical Consultation:   One hour session for 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 team 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. To be eligible, you must have a KAP psychotherapist.

4.  Preparation sessions: A one-hour psychotherapy session with your psychotherapist in which you set your intention for your ketamine dosing session based on your goals in therapy.

5.  KAP dosing session: A two-hour psychotherapy session with your psychotherapist in which you self-administer your ketamine lozenge. (half hour reviewing intentions and preparing, one hour of medication journey, half hour reviewing discoveries of journey)

6.  Integration sessions: One-hour psychotherapy session with your psychotherapist to review memories, thoughts and insights that arose during your dosing session and integrate these into therapeutic goals.  

There are usually a few psychotherapy sessions prior to the next dosing session for integration, therapeutic work, goal setting and intention setting for the next dosing session. The typical time between dosing sessions is two - four weeks.

It is recommended to do six to eight rounds of dosing with Ketamine.

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 a licensed KAP provider takes on the therapy. This collaborative care model is designed to deliver personalized treatment plans to meet your individual needs and improve long term outcomes. 

https://journey.click/education

 Depending on your insurance plan, the therapist, medical intake, psychiatry follow ups, medication management and psychotherapy sessions are covered by insurance or eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. FSA (medical flex spending) can also be used.

Concierge home services are available upon request at an additional cost to you for your psychotherapy dosing sessions.

Psychotherapy Sessions

Visit the insurance tab to see the insurance accepted by Gina Reed, LCSW.  

One-hour sessions are covered by insurance companies.  The second hour of a dosing session is NOT covered by any insurance company - this cost of one hour would be the client's responsibility. Ask about package specials if paying privately.

Psychotherapy intake (1 hour): $200

Psychotherapy Session (1 hour) (Cost for 2nd hour of dosing session with insurance and not reimbursable): $180

Dosing sessions (2 hours): $350 (for private pay of both hours)

Concierge home service:  $300 (1 hour) (verify your service area) This is NOT covered by insurance and not reimbursable.

Medication - if using Journey Clinical

First time patients:

Initial medical consultation: $250

Non-covered services (including medication): $112 (includes two dosing sessions)

Follow-up treatment:

Follow up Medical Consultation: $150 (1 time per quarter)

Non-covered services (including medication): $208

 https://journeyclinical.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/28002696219028-Insurance-FAQs