Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
We now offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with an organization called 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 we facilitate the therapeutic session. Their collaborative care model is designed to deliver personalized treatment plans to meet your individual needs and improve long-term outcomes.
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. We host 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. Below is more information about KAP to help you navigate if it may be a good fit for you.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, complex grief 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 our partnership with Journey Clinical, we only use the sublingual (under the tongue) 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 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 KAP experience.
What is the Cost of Treatment?
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. We will provide a superbill that will allow you to request reimbursement from your insurance provider of some the cost. The exact reimbursement amount varies based on the insurance company and your specific plan.
KAP Costs – Journey Clincial
First-time patients initial total to Journey Clinical is $355.
Breakdown of cost:
1. Initial medical consultation with Journey Clinical – $250
2. Cost of medication – $85 (enough for 2 Dosing sessions)
Ongoing treatment with Journey Clincial (optional) is $295
Breakdown of cost:
1. Follow-up medical consultation with Journey Clinical – $150
2. Cost of medication – $145 (enough for up to 6 dosing sessions)
KAP Costs – Inside Out Counseling & Coaching
The rate is $250 per session. The rate applies to each Preparation, Dosing, and Integration sessions.
Although 1 full round of treatment is equivalent to 4 sessions, you may elect to stop treatment at any point during the process.
How Do I Sign Up?
For currently active clients, feel free to bring up the topic while in session, so we may talk through the process and answer any of your questions.
For those who are new to Inside Out Counseling & Coaching or former clients, we’ve made space to review the process and explain KAP in more detail as well as answer your questions. This happens every Friday at 1:30 pm CST during our free 30-minute virtual group consultation held via Zoom.
Use this link to register: KAP Group Consultation
Helpful Resources:
Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS
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
Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders by Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter
Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical – Psychology Talk Podcast