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. 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, nasal spray, and sublingual lozenges. In my practice alongside 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 subside, we will spend the remainder of our appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happens during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are clear.
What is Journey Clinical?
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.
The Process of KAP
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Initial Consultation
Initial consultation with Journey Clinical prescriber, eligibility check and ketamine prescription.
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Personal Plan
If you qualify for KAP, we’ll create a personalized plan for your ketamine prescription and track your progress.
A small supply of oral ketamine, enough for your first two KAP sessions, will be delivered to your home. Journey Clinical’s medical team will teach you how to take your vital signs and properly self-administer the ketamine lozenges before our sessions begin.
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Preparation Sessions
After you receive your ketamine lozenges, we’ll schedule time for your KAP sessions, which will include preparation, dosing, and integration.
The preparation session(s), scheduled like a regular therapy session before the dosing session, will help us review the process and set clear intentions for your KAP experience. The goal is to make sure you feel ready and aligned for the journey ahead.
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KAP Dosing Session
A typical ketamine dosing session lasts 1-2 hours and happens at the office.
During the session, you’ll self-administer the ketamine lozenge at my office. You’ll relax in a reclining position, wear an eye mask, and listen to calming music. While the experience is mostly internal, I will be with you the entire time, offering support and holding space for anything that comes up.
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Integration Sessions
After the KAP dosing session, we’ll have several integration therapy sessions. These sessions will help us explore and reflect on any memories, thoughts, or insights that came up during your experience. We’ll also use this time to prepare for your next dosing session.
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Follow-up Consultation
After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team will schedule regular follow-ups with you to track your progress and provide refills for the ketamine lozenges as needed. The frequency of these follow-ups will depend on your specific treatment plan.
Schedule a free consultation to see if KAP is the right fit for you.