Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is KAP and how does it work?

  Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. Ketamine has rapidly- acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within 1-2 hrs. after treatment. It works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors as well as by stimulating AMPA receptors, which are thought to help form new synaptic connections and boost neural circuits that regulate stress and mood. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.

  Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, via nasal spray and using sublingual lozenges. In my work with Journey Clinical we only use the sublingual lozenge form.

• Who is a candidate for KAP treatment?

  Research shows promise for ketamine in treating depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related disorders, and substance use disorders, among other mental health issues.

  Ketamine is increasingly used as a treatment for various chronic treatment-resistant mental and emotional conditions, often used after other treatment approaches have been unsuccessful.

  While the scientific data is not completely clear, research suggests ketamine may help grow new neural connections once diminished by chronic stress, leaving many people feeling relief. For instance, some literature indicates a 70% response rate to ketamine of patients with treatment resistant depression, and a remission rate of 40-50%.

• What is the treatment process like? What are the risks and side effects?

  STEP 1: INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH JOURNEY CLINICAL

  First, you will schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical 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 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 two 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 our KAP sessions.

  STEP 2: PREPARATION

  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 is to align the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.

  STEP 3: KAP DOSING SESSION

  A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between two to three hours and can take place either in-person at my office or remotely via telehealth. During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge either in my office 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.

  STEP 4: INTEGRATION SESSIONS

  After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts, and insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.

  STEP 5: FOLLOW UP CONSULTATIONS WITH JOURNEY CLINICAL

  After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team will schedule 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 are some resources on KAP?

  Resources on KAP

  • Ketamine: Benefits and Risks for Depression, PTSD & Neuroplasticity (Huberman Lab Podcast)
  • Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature (Journal of Pain Research)
  • Should You Try Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy? (Psychology Today)
  • Ketamine Therapy is Going Mainstream (The New Yorker)

  Research for Depression

  • Ketamine versus ECT for Nonpsychotic Treatment-Resistant Major Depression (The New England Journal of Medicine)
  • Ketamine treatment for depression: A review (Discover Mental Health)
  • How Ketamine Helps with Depression (Yale Medicine)

  Research for Trauma

  • Combining Ketamine and Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry)
  • The potential of ketamine for posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of clinical evidence (Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology)

  Research for Anxiety

  • Ketamine shows potential for rapid and sustained anxiety relief (Journal of Psychopharmacology)
  • Ketamine treatment for refractory anxiety: A systematic review (British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology)