Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

KAP is a therapeutic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible patients experience breakthroughs and improvement in symptoms. It is felt that the combination of ketamine and psychotherapy enhances mental health benefits in ways that ketamine alone does not. This is likely due to the therapeutic container of the therapist and client relationship, and the enhanced preparation and integration. The use of ketamine within a personal therapeutic relationship can help the patient better identify and work through difficult experiences and behavior patterns, providing new insights and healing that might not have been possible otherwise.

Below is more information about KAP to help you decide 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. It is used off-label for KAP. ​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 (brain pathways) for lasting symptom improvement. Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, nasal spray and sublingual lozenges. I work with Skylight Psychedelics, and use the sublingual lozenge form only.

What is Ketamine Like?

The effects of ketamine, which many 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, with an eye mask, during the experience. Once these effects subside, the remainder of our appointment will give 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 helpful. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the ketamine experience. ​

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

Client goals for KAP center around observing, feeling a sense of connection, accessing deeper meaning, and gaining a different perspective. 

I ask clients to become an observer. Starting after preparation, come ready to search around and explore this non-ordinary state of consciousness, not trying to make sense of it. The experience is often pleasant, may bring up challenges, and often includes a feeling of connection to the universe and nature. Integration sessions with me will assist you to unpack what you experienced.

After KAP, people often notice more perspective, hope and new insights.

The process:

Step 1. Schedule a free, 15 minute consultation with me.

This will allow us to discuss your goals and expectations, and schedule your initial intake.

Step 2. Initial Medical Consultation

 You schedule an initial, virtual evaluation with Skylight Psychedelics. 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  the medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you. The medical staff writes a ketamine prescription for you, and sends the ketamine to your home. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by the medical team in advance of our KAP sessions.

Step 3. Preparation sessions:

While you are waiting for your ketamine lozenges, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation sessions. Preparation sessions will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP journey session. The goals of  preparation sessions are to talk about your hopes and fears, align on the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.

​Step 4. KAP Journey Session:

A typical ketamine journey session lasts 2-3 hours and will take place remotely via telehealth, or in-person in Arvada, CO. During a journey session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge. You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although a KAP journey session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.​ If the session is virtual, you will need to involve a safe person to be present nearby for the entire session, and the person will need some prep about the process. 

Step 5. Integration Sessions:

After your KAP journey session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts, images, sensations and insights that arose during your journey session, and to prepare for the next session. Frequency and focus of integration sessions are led by your personal needs and treatment plan. 

If you are already working with me, have a current therapist or, if you are a therapist and your clients may benefit from KAP - know that it can be used alongside your current treatment program. Please contact me for more information.

Step 6. Follow-up and Refills:

After our first KAP session, the 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.

​What is the Cost of Treatment?

 Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality. Although the Skylight Psychedelics medical intake and prescriptions are not covered by insurance, preparation and integration sessions are, unless more than one hour, weekly. 

Medical Costs for Skylight Psychedelics

Medical Intake: $200 (One time fee)

Cost of Ketamine Lozenges: $75 for approximately 4-6 lozenges (not covered by insurance)

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Costs

A typical course of treatment is 2-3 preparation sessions, and then 2-6 journey  sessions with integration sessions in-between each journey session. 

Individual Preparation and Integration - United, Aetna and Anthem BCBS insurance or private pay at $125/50-minute session. 

Insurance pays for one, one-hour therapy session per week maximum. If you would like to meet more often, and the provider is available, the cost will be out of pocket at $125/hr.

KAP dosing session (about 2.5 hrs) - $125/hour, except for the 1st hour if you are using insurance.

Please bring your own eye mask, water bottle and blood pressure cuff. You will need to arrange a driver (or Uber/Lyft) for pickup. During the ketamine journey, you will be lying down on a comfortable day bed or chair with light music and an eye cover. I will sit nearby. The experience varies for each individual and each session. You may experience visual, auditory, cognitive, or memory-based journeys.  We will work with a previously stated intention; however, we will follow where your unconscious wishes to process.  

How Do I Sign Up?

If you would like to explore the possibility of KAP with me, please call, text or email me at 720-297-0005, or Bloomcounselingcolorado@yahoo.com. with any questions.

What if I don't want Ketamine?

That's totally fine! I offer integration therapy without KAP and other healing modalities that may be more suited for where you are in your current journey. Feel free to schedule a consultation with the link above or email me with any questions. 

​Helpful Resources and more information:

1. Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS

2. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy - research study by Jennifer Dore et al, 2018

3. Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders by Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter

4. Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop

5.https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/ketamine-benefits-and-risks-for-depression-ptsd-and-neuroplasticity