Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Ketamine has a 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 een shown to enhance 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 Journey Clinical we only use the sublingual lozenge form, which is a tablet that is put under the tongue, but now swallowed.

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 of mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the experience.

1. Initial consultation with Journey Clinical: You 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.

2. Preparation Sessions: Once you received 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 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 lasts between 1-2 hours and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth. During the 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 to hold space and provide support as needed.

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

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.

● Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality. Although

the medical intake and follow ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible

for out-of-network reimbursement.

○ Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

■ My typical hourly rate for KAP is $200/hr

○ 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 sessions)

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please

e-mail me at Ashley@guidedtherapyva.com with KAP Interest in the subject line to discuss eligibility and next steps.

● 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