Ketamine-Assisted
Psychotherapy 101
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. A licensed KAP provider
takes 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.
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. At 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, your psychotherapist will spend the remainder of your 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.
