Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I believe using ketamine as a sacred medicine is much more than just the time the medicine is active in your mind and body.
- 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 and last for up to 2 weeks. 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.
- 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 hard to articulate what happened during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are none-the-less clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the Ketamine experience.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
- My typical 50 minute session rate is $190 (Preparation and Integration sessions)
3 hour ketamine sessions at $500 per session (sliding scale may be available)
*After first 2 dosing sessions with me (in person or possibly remote), you may have the option to continue with self-guided sessions at $200 per ketamine session
Journey Clinical Medical Costs
- First-time patients
- Initial medical consultation with Journey Clinical: $250
- Cost of medication: $85 (enough for 2 sessions)
- Ongoing treatment
- Follow-up medical consultation with Journey Clinical $150 (at least 1X per quarter)
- Cost of medication: $145 (enough for up to 6 additional sessions)