Apothecary Gardens NY

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

I offer psychedelic assisted psychotherapy in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical that prescribes the medicine and addresses all medical needs.

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 I take on the therapy.  Their collaborative care model is designed to deliver personalized treatment plans to meet your individual needs and improve long-term outcomes. Following your initial consultation with me; I will refer you to Journey Clinical for your medical evaluation

Initial Consult Call

• Book your initial consult call to get more information and determine eligibility here

1. Medical Evaluation with Journey Clinical

• If it seems like you are a good fit for KAP after your initial consult call you will be contacted by Journey Clinical to schedule an initial medical evaluation with a clinician from their medical team via zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are medically 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 team 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 your KAP dosing sessions.

2. Preparation sessions: 

• 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.  

3. KAP Dosing Session: 

• A typical ketamine dosing session lasts about two hours and can take place either in-person, in a retreat or group setting or remotely via telehealth (after 2 in person dosing sessions). 
• During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge either in person or in your home.  You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music.  Although a 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.
• For low-dose KAP & EMDR sessions the experience will be more interactive.

4. Integration Sessions: 

• After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session. Integration is an integral part of the process and we will make meaning of your experience together.

5. 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 prescribe ketamine lozenge refills, as appropriate.  The frequency of follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter.