Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
"Like plants, our consciousness naturally flourishes when given a safe and supportive environment and encouragement. Accessing this inner healing intelligence is a process of honoring and expressing strength from within, coming from a place beyond mental chatter and negative self-talk, from alignment and clarity, even when our current experience may be of fragmentation and confusion. We can learn to hear our own voice of wisdom amidst the crowded room of the psyche. Cultivating the inner healer is part of cultivating deep relationship with oneself." Shannon Clare, MAPS
Alexa offers a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with Journey Clinical
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. Alexa takes on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you on all medical aspects (including: determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes.)
KAP FAQ's
What is Ketamine? Ketamine is a safe, legal medication prescribed off-label to treat a variety of mental health diagnoses, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. It has rapidly acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within hours after treatment, and lasting for several weeks after. It works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors and by stimulating AMPA receptors, which may help form new synaptic connections and boost mood-regulating neural circuits. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.
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, 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, Alexa will spend the remainder of the appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks even after the first Ketamine experience.
How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work? The first steps are an initial intake session with Alexa, then an initial consultation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team (via zoom). Journey Clinical 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 KAP sessions.
Preparation session/s: Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, Alexa will schedule time for 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 the KAP sessions.
KAP Dosing Session: Ketamine dosing sessions run from 90-135 minutes and can take place either in-person in Alexa's office, or remotely via telehealth (with a chaperone at home). During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge/s either in office or in your home. You will be in a comfortable, reclined position, wearing an eye mask and listening to intentionally curated music. Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, Alexa will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.
Integration Sessions: Integrate.- to make whole After your KAP dosing session, you and Alexa will meet for as many integration therapy sessions that feel helpful, to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.
Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical: After your 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.
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, all but the cost of the medication,may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.
-Journey Clinical Medical Costs: Medical Intake: $250 (One time fee), follow-up Sessions: $150/Session (minimum of 1/quarter)
-Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance)
-Alexa's fees for KAP: individual psychotherapy session fee ($175.) for each 45 minutes
Alexa offers a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with Journey Clinical
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. Alexa takes on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you on all medical aspects (including: determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes.)
KAP FAQ's
What is Ketamine? Ketamine is a safe, legal medication prescribed off-label to treat a variety of mental health diagnoses, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. It has rapidly acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within hours after treatment, and lasting for several weeks after. It works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors and by stimulating AMPA receptors, which may help form new synaptic connections and boost mood-regulating neural circuits. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.
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, 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, Alexa will spend the remainder of the appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks even after the first Ketamine experience.
How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work? The first steps are an initial intake session with Alexa, then an initial consultation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team (via zoom). Journey Clinical 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 KAP sessions.
Preparation session/s: Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, Alexa will schedule time for 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 the KAP sessions.
KAP Dosing Session: Ketamine dosing sessions run from 90-135 minutes and can take place either in-person in Alexa's office, or remotely via telehealth (with a chaperone at home). During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge/s either in office or in your home. You will be in a comfortable, reclined position, wearing an eye mask and listening to intentionally curated music. Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, Alexa will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.
Integration Sessions: Integrate.- to make whole After your KAP dosing session, you and Alexa will meet for as many integration therapy sessions that feel helpful, to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.
Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical: After your 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.
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, all but the cost of the medication,may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.
-Journey Clinical Medical Costs: Medical Intake: $250 (One time fee), follow-up Sessions: $150/Session (minimum of 1/quarter)
-Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance)
-Alexa's fees for KAP: individual psychotherapy session fee ($175.) for each 45 minutes