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What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an alternative therapy approach that uses the psychoactive substance ketamine. Utilized for many years in the medical field for pain relief and anesthesia, ketamine at lower doses has been found to create a psychedelic altered-state of consciousness similar to classic psychedelics. This experience coupled with psychotherapy support has been proven to deepen the therapeutic process. Ketamine can be very helpful for conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and more. Ketamine temporary decreases the activity of our Default Mode Network. This area of the brain is thought to play a critical role in experiences like negative thought patterns and defense mechanisms. While the DMN is decreased, this allows us to access more subconscious material and experiences that may be contributing to chronic conditions as well as disrupts our normal patterns of thinking. KAP can bring an opportunity to learn more about yourself, soften defenses to support you in feeling a broader range of emotion and allow for new adaptive thoughts and meaning to take place.
What does KAP look like with me?
There are two different administrations that I offer for KAP in collaboration with Mona Adamaszek APRN, PMHNP-BC, the medical prescriber. One is oral dose ketamine through a take-home prescription. The other is Intramuscular (IM). Both can be very affective. If you are interested in KAP, we will discuss which administration would be the best fit for you.
I am with you the entire time during the KAP sessions. The actual ketamine experience will last between 30-45 minutes. Sessions are 2 hours in length. This allows time for dosing, the ketamine journey and integration support after. Typically, 4-6 sessions are the most supportive for best benefit of KAP. The amount and frequency of sessions is determined based on your clinical need. I utilize the approach of Internal Family Systems, somatic psychotherapy and relational therapy in KAP sessions and in integration. We create the set and setting that allows for the most supportive environment while you undergo KAP treatment.
How much does KAP cost?
My fee for KAP sessions are $400 per 2-hour session.
All payments are made separately to Insight Psychiatry for the medical intake and Intramuscular (IM) dosing.
What location are KAP sessions held at?
Oral KAP sessions will be held at my office at 5304 Woodrow Ave. After your medical evaluation, you will be given an oral-dose prescription that you will pick up at a specialty pharmacy. You will then bring your prescription to my office to self-administer your dose. Oral ketamine doses are typically lower than IM doses and are safe to self-administer after receiving medical approval.
IM KAP sessions will be held at 3355 Bee Caves Rd Building 5 Austin, Texas 78746. Mona Adamaszek APRN, PMHNP-BC will administer the intramuscular ketamine dose and will oversee medical monitoring for the duration of the session.
Do I have to discontinue any psychotropic medication I am on like other psychedelics?
Short answer is no. Ketamine works in the brain differently than other psychedelics. It works on the glutamate receptor, so this enables clients to stay on their current medication regimen for treatment as the serotonin receptor is not activated by ketamine. There may be some medications like Lamotrigine and ADHD medications where you would not take your dose the day of the KAP session. This tends to have no adverse withdrawal effects as you can resume taking your medication the next day.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an alternative therapy approach that uses the psychoactive substance ketamine. Utilized for many years in the medical field for pain relief and anesthesia, ketamine at lower doses has been found to create a psychedelic altered-state of consciousness similar to classic psychedelics. This experience coupled with psychotherapy support has been proven to deepen the therapeutic process. Ketamine can be very helpful for conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and more. Ketamine temporary decreases the activity of our Default Mode Network. This area of the brain is thought to play a critical role in experiences like negative thought patterns and defense mechanisms. While the DMN is decreased, this allows us to access more subconscious material and experiences that may be contributing to chronic conditions as well as disrupts our normal patterns of thinking. KAP can bring an opportunity to learn more about yourself, soften defenses to support you in feeling a broader range of emotion and allow for new adaptive thoughts and meaning to take place.
What does KAP look like with me?
There are two different administrations that I offer for KAP in collaboration with Mona Adamaszek APRN, PMHNP-BC, the medical prescriber. One is oral dose ketamine through a take-home prescription. The other is Intramuscular (IM). Both can be very affective. If you are interested in KAP, we will discuss which administration would be the best fit for you.
I am with you the entire time during the KAP sessions. The actual ketamine experience will last between 30-45 minutes. Sessions are 2 hours in length. This allows time for dosing, the ketamine journey and integration support after. Typically, 4-6 sessions are the most supportive for best benefit of KAP. The amount and frequency of sessions is determined based on your clinical need. I utilize the approach of Internal Family Systems, somatic psychotherapy and relational therapy in KAP sessions and in integration. We create the set and setting that allows for the most supportive environment while you undergo KAP treatment.
How much does KAP cost?
My fee for KAP sessions are $400 per 2-hour session.
All payments are made separately to Insight Psychiatry for the medical intake and Intramuscular (IM) dosing.
What location are KAP sessions held at?
Oral KAP sessions will be held at my office at 5304 Woodrow Ave. After your medical evaluation, you will be given an oral-dose prescription that you will pick up at a specialty pharmacy. You will then bring your prescription to my office to self-administer your dose. Oral ketamine doses are typically lower than IM doses and are safe to self-administer after receiving medical approval.
IM KAP sessions will be held at 3355 Bee Caves Rd Building 5 Austin, Texas 78746. Mona Adamaszek APRN, PMHNP-BC will administer the intramuscular ketamine dose and will oversee medical monitoring for the duration of the session.
Do I have to discontinue any psychotropic medication I am on like other psychedelics?
Short answer is no. Ketamine works in the brain differently than other psychedelics. It works on the glutamate receptor, so this enables clients to stay on their current medication regimen for treatment as the serotonin receptor is not activated by ketamine. There may be some medications like Lamotrigine and ADHD medications where you would not take your dose the day of the KAP session. This tends to have no adverse withdrawal effects as you can resume taking your medication the next day.