I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with Journey Clinical. KAP is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible clients 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 the medical aspects.
What if you could change your emotions by changing your mind?
The body-mind connection is inextricably linked, one seamlessly influencing the other. When our brain’s neural pathways change (body) our mind changes along with it. These changes can shift our mood, outlook, thinking and understanding of our self.
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 hours after treatment. It works by blocking the brains NMDA receptions 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; in my work with Journey Clinical only the sublingual lozenge form is used.
How does Ketamine feel?
The effects of Ketamine, which most clients 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’ll 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 active phase of ketamine, clients feel like the insights gained are clear.
How do I know if Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is right for me?
As part of our work together, we will discuss your options for treatment modalities, including the possibility of KAP. If together you and I feel KAP may be beneficial for you, the next steps include:
Journey Initial consultation with Journey Clinical prescriber, eligibility check and ketamine prescription
Session with Vanessa Preparation sessions to align on the process and set intentions for the KAP dosing session
Session with Vanessa KAP dosing session. Self administered ketamine lozenge in office
Sessions with Vanessa Integration sessions to review memories, thoughts and insights that arose during dosing session
Journey Follow up with Journey Clinical prescriber for assessment and refills if eligible
Who is Journey Clinical?
Journey Clinical is an organization that allows licensed psychotherapists to incorporate science-based psychedelic therapies into their practice safely and effectively, beginning 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.