Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Maybe it’s time to go beyond traditional therapies and combine the powerful effect of ketamine with expert therapy.
Ketamine is not a miracle.
But…it sure seems to be miracle-adjacent often enough that it might be worth looking into.
Ketamine has shown promise in helping people who are struggling with PTSD, OCD, anxiety disorders, depression, suicidality, substance use problems, and chronic pain.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a medication that has been used since the 1960s in medical settings for anesthesia and pain management. It has emerged as a treatment in mental health settings because it can create a unique state of restfulness in the brain that can quiet rigid and repetitive thought patterns, interrupt long standing impacts of trauma, and help break people out of the pain of depression and anxiety. It can be fast-acting and it can have long term benefits. Ketamine is generally considered to be a safe medication with minimal risk of negative side effects.
How does Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAP) work?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an innovative treatment option that allows a person to have the brain-changing experience of ketamine therapy with their therapist by their side, guiding them as they go.
Research has shown ketamine is a very effective treatment for mental health and relationship concerns – and that it can be even more effective when paired with skilled, attuned psychotherapy. KAP patients can experience accelerated healing and deeper insight and personal growth by having the support of an experienced therapist by their side as ketamine helps take them places traditional talk therapy does not.
What is the process?
Discovery
A free 15-minute phone consultation. The goal is to learn about ketamine and KAP, answer any additional questions, and decide if KAP could be a good fit for you. If, after the consultation it is determined that KAP may be a good fit, you will coordinate your medical screening by a physician to receive a prescription for ketamine.
Preparations Sessions
Prior to the ketamine treatment, the therapist will guide the patient through a preparation process. The sessions are collaborative, aimed at identifying the patient’s goals and intentions, and ensuring they are well-informed and comfortable with what to expect during the medicine sessions.
Medicine Sessions
During the medcine sessions, the patient will orally self-administer ketamine. The therpist will guide and engage the patient throughout the experience taking noted of any shared thoughts and physical
responses.
Integration Sessions
Following the ketamine session, patients participate in integration sessions. In these sessions, they collaborate with their therapist to interpret their experiences and find ways to incorporate any gained insights or changes into their everyday lives.
Ketamine for Couples
It can make all the difference in the world.
Couples therapy is hard. After years of providing couples therapy, all too often watching as couples stayed stuck in their painful patterns, in 2024 Angela started specialized training in using ketamine as a part of couples therapy.
She loves it.
It can be a powerful but gentle facilitator of deeper, more connected, more open-hearted relationship work. Partners who are trying to find their way back to each other, back to the love and the joy that now feels blocked by pain and defenses can benefit from the support of low-dose ketamine-assisted couples sessions
FAQ's
- What makes ketamine so useful as a mental health treatment?
- Rapid Onset of Action
One of the most striking features of ketamine therapy is its rapid onset of action. While traditional antidepressants can take weeks to show effects, many patients report significant improvements in mood and symptoms within hours or days of their first ketamine session. This quick action can be life-changing, especially for individuals dealing with severe depression or suicidal thoughts.
- Potential for Long-lasting Effects
The neuroplasticity-enhancing effects of ketamine can lead to changes in brain function that persist long after the drug has left the system. When combined with targeted psychotherapy, these changes can translate into lasting improvements in mood, thought patterns, and behavior. This makes ketamine assisted therapy a powerful tool for achieving long-term mental health and well-being.
- How does ketamine work?
The remarkable efficacy of ketamine therapy in treating various mental health conditions is rooted in its unique effects on the brain. Unlike traditional antidepressants that primarily target neurotransmitter levels, ketamine works by stimulating new dendritic and synaptic growth between the neurons connecting our mood centers. This process, known as neuroplasticity, can lead to rapid and often long-lasting improvements in mental health symptoms.
- How is ketamine given?
One of the beautiful things about ketamine is that it has several different types of administration that are safe and useful in different circumstances. The main four types are IV (in the vein using a needle), IM (in the muscle using a shot), IN (nasal spray), or SL (sublingual, allowing a tablet to dissolve under the tongue).
- How do patients get ketamine?
Regardless of the route of administration, ketamine is always prescribed by a qualified medical professional.
- Do you prescribe ketamine?
No, not yet. A future version of SPARK will feature deeply qualified, mission-driven, caring and empathic prescribers who can assess clients and make thoughtful decisions with what recommendations to make for their care. Until then, we have a list of prescribers that we are familiar with and clients access their ketamine prescriptions on their own outside of SPARK. We are happy to coordinate care with our clients’ prescribers.
- How is Ketamine Assisted Therapy different from Ketamine Treatment?
Counseling plays a crucial role in the Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy process. Our skilled therapists provide ongoing support through:
- Pre-ketamine preparation sessions
- Guided support during ketamine experiences
- Post-session integration counseling
This comprehensive counseling approach ensures that insights gained during ketamine sessions are effectively integrated into daily life, leading to sustained positive changes.
- How much does this cost?
Various packages, needs and budgets.
At this time, ketamine is still considered an out-of-network expense for most insurance companies. With that in mind, some insurance companies may pay for part or all of the preparation and integration sessions. Dalliance Psychedelics is happy to provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance
Initial 15-minute consultation: Free
50-min preparation sessions: $220 per session
50-min integration sessions: $220 per session
75-min couple preparation sessions: $340 per session
75-min couple integration sessions: $340 per session
3-hour medicine and integration sessions: $660 per sessionKAP Recommended Treatment Protocols:
- INITIAL INDIVIDUAL KAP PACKAGE: $1100
- FOLLOW-UP INDIVIDUAL KAP PACKAGE: $880
- COUPLE KAP PACKAGE: $2700 +
- VIRTUAL IN-DEPTH PSYCHIATRIC/MEDICAL ASSESSMENT, INITIAL EVALUATION, AND SCREENING INTAKE WITH SKYLIGHT PSYCHEDELICS – ($289 – $679)
- Does insurance cover it?
Usually not. Infusions, Spravato perhaps.
Some problems can’t wait.
And some have waited long enough.
If you think therapy might be a good idea, reach out and let’s talk about it.