Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

I now offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a unique, 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.

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 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 promote neuroplasticity (a rewiring of the brain) for lasting symptom improvement. Ketamine has rapidly-acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within 1-2 hrs after treatment and lasts for 2 weeks or longer. Following a Ketamine session is a critical period of increased brain activity that allows for higher responsiveness to psychotherapy treatment.

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 45-75 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 discuss and process your experience. While it may feel hard to immediately articulate what happened during the experience, over time 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 or more after the Ketamine experience.

Here are the steps:

 1. Contact me for an initial consultation:
During this time, we will explore working together, your goals, and current challenges. Once we determine KAP is an appropriate step, I will refer you to Journey Clinical for a medical evaluation. Journey Clinical will then schedule an evaluation with their clinical medical team via zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are eligible for KAP.

If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you.

Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a ketamine prescription, and a small amount of oral ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first 2 KAP sessions.

2. Preparation sessions:
Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation, dosing and integration sessions. Preparation sessions will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of a preparation sessions is to align on the process, explore all feelings around the treatment and set gentle intentions for our KAP sessions together.

3. KAP Dosing Session:
A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 2-3 hours and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via HIPPA compliant platform such as zoom.

During a 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 the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed. We will discuss what support you might anticipate needing prior to taking the medicine.

4. Integration Sessions:
After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session. It is in these integration sessions, following a dosing session, when a lot of progress in therapy can be made. In my KAP practice I integrate Internal Family Systems therapy, EMDR therapy and somatic approaches.

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 medical follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan.

What is the Cost of Treatment?

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 is $200/hr. A dosing session lasts 2 – 3 hours. Preparation and integration sessions are standard psychotherapy sessions and covered by insurance or reimbursable through out-of-network benefits.

Journey Clinical Medical Costs

Medical Intake by Journey Clinical: $250 (One-time fee, reimbursable through out-of-network)

Follow-up Sessions with Journey Clinicial: $150/Session (minimum of 1/quarter, reimbursable through out-of-network)

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

Next steps:

If you would like to explore the possibility of KAP, please contact me at
jlpomerantz@gmail.com or (413) 644-8810 to discuss eligibility and next steps.