Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) 101
I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in
partnership with an organization called 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. I take on the
psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical’s medical team
supports you on all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a
custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes. Below is
more information about KAP to help you navigate if it may be a good fit for you.
What is Ketamine?
● 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.
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 subsided, 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.