Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

KAP in Georgia, Maine, and New York

Ketamine + Therapy

  • Holistic

    Harnessing the power of Ketamine, your brain’s own wisdom, and psychotherapy. KAP provides healing however you define it; mental. emotional, physical, spiritual, intergenerational…

  • Clinically Effective

    Research on KAP and Ketamine treatment shows positive outcomes in treating anxiety and depression. There is more growth, clarity, and peace to discover.

  • Collaborative

    A professional team working with you to create a treatment plan focused on your goals. Assessment, Preparation & Intention Setting, Dosing, Integration, and Monitoring Outcomes.

Schedule A Consultation

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

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

I also provide Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT) for those looking for assistance with preparation and intention setting for psychedelic journeying as well as integration of psychedelic experiences, positive or negative.

What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?

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. I take 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. Below is more information about KAP to help you navigate if it may be a good fit for you.

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 and last for up to 2 weeks. 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, via nasal spray and using sublingual lozenges. 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 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 subsided, 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 happened during the experience, 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 after the Ketamine experience

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

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. I take 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. Below is more information about KAP to help you navigate if it may be a good fit for you.

1. Initial consultation with Journey Clinical

  •  You schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team via zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, 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 for you, and a small amount of oral ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first 2 KAP sessions. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team in advance of our 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 session(s) will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of a preparation session(s) is to align on the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.

3. KAP Dosing Session

  •  A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-2 hours and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth.

  • 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.

4. Integrations Sessions

  • After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.

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 follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter.

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 standard individual hourly rate is $245

Sliding scale may be available. I also provide Group KAP which offers another accessible way of engaging in KAP.

○ Journey Clinical Medical Costs

  • First-time patients

  • Initial medical consultation with Journey Clinical: $250

  •  Cost of medication: $88 (enough for 2 sessions)

  • Ongoing treatment

    • Follow-up medical consultation with Journey Clinical $150

      • (at least 1X per quarter)

      • Cost of medication: $148 (enough for up to 6 sessions)

○ How do sign up?

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please e-mail me at kim@kimaustin.com or call (207) 295-7427 to discuss eligibility and next steps.

What is Journey Clinical?

Journey Clinical is a platform for licensed psychotherapists to incorporate science-based psychedelic therapies in their practice safely and effectively, starting 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.

Helpful Resources:

 
Kim Austin - Brainspotting & EMDR Therapist

Kim Austin, LCSW - KAP, Brainspotting & EMDR Therapist serving clients in Georgia and New York. Specializing in Anxiety, Trauma & Attachment

Kim Austin, LCSW a psychotherapist offering Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Georgia and New York (and soon in Maine) in collaboration with Journey Clinical. I also offer Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAT) in Georgia, New York, and Maine. I use a variety of approaches to assist people in healing and experiencing greater clarity and peace. I am excited to offer Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP) in collaboration with Journey Clinical and Skylight Psychedelics. Contact me to set up a free 15 minute consultation to see if KAP might be helpful for you. You can also email kim@kimaustin.com or call me at (207) 295-7427 to learn more.

 
 

Contact me for a free consultation

I know it can feel like a big step to call a counselor, but I’ll make it easy. We’ll spend 15-minutes on the phone and I’ll let you know how or if I can help. If I am not the right person, I’ll do my best to get you to the right person. Contact me at (207) 295-7427, or click here, for your free 15-minute phone consultation therapy. My specialties include:

Brainspotting

EMDR Therapy

Anxiety Therapy

Trauma Therapy/PTSD Treatment

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

 
 

Specialties