Services
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy is an exciting treatment modality that may encourage psychotherapeutic breakthroughs for individuals experiencing treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, rigidity in thinking, and obsessive thought patterns.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help individuals experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. I partner with Journey Clinical, who will provide the medical intake, assess whether KAP is a good fit for you, and will prescribe the Ketamine.
I provide the psychotherapy portion of the experience. Learn More about KAP
KAP Modalities:
- Individual KAP: In Office or Virtual
- Couples KAP: In Office or Virtual
- Group KAP: Only Virtual at this time, due to space limitations
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 difficult to articulate what happened during the experience, patients 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.
What are sessions like:
Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, we will schedule time together for our 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 our KAP sessions together.
Dosing Session:
A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 2-3 hours and takes place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth. We will first review your intentions, clear out expectations, create a safe and comfortable setting, and review all instructions. I will guide you through a meditation and then you will take the medicine. You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although your KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support, as needed.
Integration Sessions:
Integration is where the real magic happens. Due to the neuroplastic window that opens for about 1-2 weeks following the ketamine experience, our brains are more receptive to integrating new ideas and information. The Ketamine experience is like a dream state, and the integration sessions allow us to transform these fresh insights into tangible and actionable practices in our lives. The Integration process is crucial for creating change.
Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical:
After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team schedules regular follow ups with you to monitor outcomes and to prescribe ketamine lozenge refills, as appropriate. The frequency of follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan.
KAP + EMDR
I am thrilled to be offering Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) + EMDR as an exciting new approach for treating trauma, difficult life experiences, and overall stuckness. When combined, ketamine temporarily quiets rigid patterns of self-protection in the brain and opens a “neuroplastic window,” allowing people to access and process difficult memories and emotions with greater flexibility. EMDR provides a structured method for reprocessing those memories through bilateral stimulation, helping the nervous system release the charge of trauma and integrate new, healthier perspectives.
KAP + EMDR may accelerate healing by softening defenses, reducing fear responses, and allowing for deeper emotional breakthroughs and lasting change.
If you think KAP + EMDR may be a good fit for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Journey Clinical Insurance Information:
How Do I Sign Up?
If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please e-mail me at mdershin@msn.com to discuss eligibility and next steps.
