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). Alexa has trained extensively in transpersonal and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. She is certified as a provider through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. Alexa has experience and training working with both psychedelic (dissociative) and psycholytic (non-dissociative low doses of ketamine which can facilitate a sense of removal from challenging and "stuck" thoughts and patterns). Both types of KAP can open the potential for the client to work with difficult content from a different vantage point and can be coupled with somatic awareness, parts work, and Brainspotting.
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, PTSD and OCD. It has rapidly acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within hours after treatment (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 and new habit formation.
How Does Ketamine Feel? The effects of ketamine, which most clients find pleasant, last for approximately 45 minutes. With psychedelic doses, the 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. Psycholytic doses last for about 30 minutes and usually feel deeply relaxing, cathartic and expansive. 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 step is an initial intake session with Alexa, next 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. If approved, Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a ketamine prescription 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/s: Ketamine dosing sessions run from 90-135 minutes and can take place either in-person in Alexa's office, or remotely via telehealth (if appropriate, with a chaperone present, after at least 2 in person sessions). 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 psychedelic KAP dosing sessions may be largely an internal experience, in-office Alexa will be present with you the entire time to provide support, as needed.
Integration (Integrate= to make whole) Sessions:
After your KAP dosing session, you and Alexa will meet for as many integration therapy sessions as feel helpful, to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next 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.
What is the Cost of Treatment? Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality.
The medical intake and follow ups maybe be covered by in-network insurance (this can only be verified by your insurance and Journey Clinical).
All but the cost of the medication may also be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement (depending on your insurance).
-Journey Clinical Medical Costs: Medical Intake: $250 (One time fee), follow-up Sessions: $150/Session
-Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance)
-Alexa's fees for KAP: individual psychotherapy session fee for each 45 minutes- KAP sessions range from 90-180min.
Virtual and self-guided sessions may be available, depending on individual circumstances and KAP experience.
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). Alexa has trained extensively in transpersonal and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. She is certified as a provider through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. Alexa has experience and training working with both psychedelic (dissociative) and psycholytic (non-dissociative low doses of ketamine which can facilitate a sense of removal from challenging and "stuck" thoughts and patterns). Both types of KAP can open the potential for the client to work with difficult content from a different vantage point and can be coupled with somatic awareness, parts work, and Brainspotting.
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, PTSD and OCD. It has rapidly acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within hours after treatment (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 and new habit formation.
How Does Ketamine Feel? The effects of ketamine, which most clients find pleasant, last for approximately 45 minutes. With psychedelic doses, the 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. Psycholytic doses last for about 30 minutes and usually feel deeply relaxing, cathartic and expansive. 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 step is an initial intake session with Alexa, next 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. If approved, Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a ketamine prescription 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/s: Ketamine dosing sessions run from 90-135 minutes and can take place either in-person in Alexa's office, or remotely via telehealth (if appropriate, with a chaperone present, after at least 2 in person sessions). 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 psychedelic KAP dosing sessions may be largely an internal experience, in-office Alexa will be present with you the entire time to provide support, as needed.
Integration (Integrate= to make whole) Sessions:
After your KAP dosing session, you and Alexa will meet for as many integration therapy sessions as feel helpful, to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next 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.
What is the Cost of Treatment? Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality.
The medical intake and follow ups maybe be covered by in-network insurance (this can only be verified by your insurance and Journey Clinical).
All but the cost of the medication may also be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement (depending on your insurance).
-Journey Clinical Medical Costs: Medical Intake: $250 (One time fee), follow-up Sessions: $150/Session
-Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance)
-Alexa's fees for KAP: individual psychotherapy session fee for each 45 minutes- KAP sessions range from 90-180min.
Virtual and self-guided sessions may be available, depending on individual circumstances and KAP experience.
