Psychedelic Preparation and Integration refers to the work in the therapeutic relationship when there is the introduction of plant, mushroom and anesthetic medicines. These alternative medicines offer another pathway for healing for many clients. The therapy can provide help to prepare psychologically and emotionally for these journeys, as well as integrating the meaning of the material encountered in the process.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) uses guided ketamine dosing as a complement to psychotherapy. It helps support more frequent breakthroughs, especially if you have hit a plateau with traditional talk therapy. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic. When used in this therapeutic practice, it can help eligible clients access and process memories and insights the brain may be blocking. It also helps improve brain plasticity, allowing more positive changes to take root.

When talk therapy alone has not been successful, this experiential therapy can help you make faster progress or support changes that might not happen otherwise.

KAP can be used for a variety of concerns (e.g. PTSD, complex trauma, phobias, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety). However, it is not appropriate for everyone. If you are interested, reach out for a free 15 minute consultation call.

What is KAP?

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. You and I engage in the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while a medical team supports you on all medical aspects. The medical team determines eligibility, develops a custom treatment plan, prescribes the medicine and monitors outcomes.

What does Ketamine do?

Ketamine has been found to boost neuroplasticity. Psychedelics like Ketamine rapidly increase the size and complexity of parts of the brain that affect learning and mood. Specifically, Ketamine increases dendrites and the number of dendritic spines necessary for enhanced learning capacities and for positive changes in mood. Learn more about the science of how Ketamine improves neuroplasticity.

Here is a list of research articles as well:

How Does Ketamine Feel?

The effects of ketamine — which most clients find pleasant — last for approximately 45 minutes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body. This can facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature.

Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you will be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience. Once these effects have subsided, we will spend the remainder of our appointment holding space for you 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. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the Ketamine experience. The suggested process of 6-8 sessions can strengthen the benefits and duration of the changes.

Is KAP safe?

All participants of KAP that I work with are screened beforehand by the Journey Clinical or local medical provider. They will take into consideration any medical issues, specific mental health diagnoses or current substance abuse issues which may indicate increased risk. If you are determined to be a good candidate based on your medical evaluation, additional safety steps will be implemented such as but not limited to: preparation sessions, intention setting, safety planning, identifying a chaperone (if dosing at home), education and communication between yourself, your medical prescriber and myself.

What does the process of KAP look like?

There is flexibility to create a process that works well for everyone, however, the general flow of KAP includes screening, preparation, dosing and integration.

Sample KAP process outline:

  1. Meet with therapist to learn more about the advantages and appropriateness of KAP to your goals.
  2. Refer for medical consult and initial Ketamine prescription.
  3. Planning psychotherapy session to set intentions for the dosing session, to plan/prepare the setting for dosing, and to ensure that the client is aware of all safety precautions.
  4. Dosing session. (We can talk more about the various ways that this can look depending on what is appropriate for your situation).
  5. Integration session (s) to process the dosing experience, including themes, thoughts, emotions, visuals, etc. that occurred and what meaning/significance was taken from the experience. Much of the benefits of Ketamine are inherent in the effects of the medication on the brain, so while there may not be a lot of specifics about your ketamine experience that you want to talk about in session, the change in mood and increased neuroplasticity can help to facilitate more effective and lasting change. This change in mood can feel uplifting and can be a catalyst for further progress towards your personal, spiritual, physical and mental health related goals.
  6. Follow-up with medical provider to discuss outcomes and the desire/need for more doses. Patients taking sublingual Ketamine complete 6 dosing sessions on average but some achieve their goals using it only a couple of times.

How much will it cost?

Preparation and Integration sessions are 55 minutes and are charged at my hourly rate of $180 for individual psychotherapy. More time is designated for dosing sessions if you choose to have me present for the entirety of the dosing session, remotely. The initial dosing session is $300 (2.5-3 hours). You will do your sessions at home with a chaperone (we can discuss if this option is appropriate for you). You can also do self-dosing with a chaperone, and the therapist will connect for the pre-dosing check-in (10-15 minutes) and post-dosing check-in (10-15 minutes), and the therapist will be available during that time for questions, the fee is $180.

If you choose to experience Ketamine via sublingual tablets prescribed by a Journey Clinical provider, the cost for the medical evaluation is $250 and first two doses of Ketamine costs $88. Follow-up appointments cost $150 and the second prescription (enough for up to 6 sessions) costs $148.

You may also choose to go the route of Intravenous (IV) or Intramuscular (Injection) Ketamine administration at a local clinic which offers this in house. In this case I can refer you to the clinic, assist you in the process of preparation, and conduct your integration sessions. Prices vary by clinic and service. Insurance will likely cover a portion of all sessions. Fees for a full round of KAP (6-8 dosing sessions and integrations) will vary.