Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in California

You may have spent years in therapy, tried different medications, or worked hard to understand your patterns and still feel stuck.

For some people, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) can create new opportunities for healing by helping them access emotions, insights, and inner experiences that may feel difficult to reach through traditional talk therapy alone.

I offer KAP through a trauma-informed, relational, and Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed lens to support deeper healing, self-understanding, and lasting change.

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.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Many of my clients are interested in using Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy alongside Internal Family Systems (IFS), also known as parts work.

Ketamine can sometimes help clients access protective parts, younger wounded parts, and deeper emotional experiences with greater curiosity and compassion.

Rather than forcing change, we work toward understanding the parts of you that have been working hard to protect you and helping them feel supported in the healing process.

KAP may be helpful for:

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Complex trauma

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Chronic self-criticism

  • Relationship challenges

  • Life transitions

  • Emotional numbness

  • Personal growth and self-exploration

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.

    ■ My hourly rate for KAP is $185/hour but I can work with you on a sliding scale if necessary

  • Journey Clinical Medical Costs

    ■ First-time patients initial medical consultation with Journey Clinical: $250 (unless covered by your insurance)

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

    ● Follow-up medical consultation with Journey Clinical: $150 (unless covered by your insurance)

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

    **Costs listed here may very slightly as this was cost for 2024

  • ● 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.

  • ● 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.

  • ● A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-2 hours and will take place remotely via telehealth.

    ● During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge 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.

  • ● 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.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. I partner with medical providers who are responsible for evaluating eligibility, prescribing ketamine when appropriate, and providing medical oversight. My role is to provide the psychotherapy, preparation, and integration components of the KAP process.

  • Yes. Ketamine is a legal medication that has been used safely in medical settings for decades. When used as part of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), ketamine is prescribed by a licensed medical provider who determines whether it is an appropriate treatment option for you.

    Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is conducted within established medical and ethical guidelines to support both safety and therapeutic benefit.

  • Every person's experience is different. Some people describe feeling deeply relaxed, introspective, emotionally connected, or able to view situations from a new perspective.

    Others experience shifts in perception, vivid imagery, or a temporary sense of distance from everyday thought patterns. During preparation sessions, we'll discuss what to expect and how to approach the experience with intention and support.

  • No. Many clients pursuing KAP have never used psychedelic or altered-state therapies before. The process is designed to support individuals regardless of prior experience, with preparation and integration tailored to your unique needs and comfort level.

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