Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and Psychiatric Medication Management
Patient Education Center
Learn more about the science and safety of Journey Clinical's offerings.
Intro to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Journey Clinical Senior Prescriber Kwasi Adusei, DNP, PMHNP-BC, gives a brief overview of how we deliver the highest quality of care to patients through our collaborative care model, where the psychotherapist and prescriber work as a team.
What is Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, or PAP, is the professionally-supervised use of psychedelic medicines as an adjunct to psychotherapy. Through PAP, therapists can use psychedelics in their work with their clients to provide higher responsiveness to therapy and longer symptom improvement.
Our Evidence-Based Approach
Clinical studies are showing that Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy can lead to more frequent breakthroughs and better clinical outcomes.
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, or KAP, is a form of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy that combines safe, legal ketamine treatment and dedicated psychotherapy sessions with a licensed mental health professional. KAP addresses the root causes of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions for positive, safe, and longer lasting clinical outcomes.
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 can be delivered in a number of ways. At Journey Clinical, all patients take ketamine tablets orally, which is more cost-effective and allows patients to experience KAP in a variety of settings.
How Does It Work?
Ketamine works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors while stimulating AMPA receptors, which helps improve brain flexibility. After taking ketamine, antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects begin within 1-2 hours. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.
How Does It Feel?
The direct effects of ketamine, which most patients find pleasant, last approximately 45 minutes. Many patients report feeling ‘far from’ their bodies, which can give the patient a chance to take a break from habitual thoughts and gain new perspectives on traumatic situations.
During ketamine dosing sessions, motor and verbal abilities are typical reduced, so patients lie down in a comfortable position during the entire experience.
Why Ketamine + Therapy Matters
Ketamine when combined with psychotherapy with a trusted KAP provider creates the best conditions for faster, longer-term mental health improvements. In a 2019 study led by Jennifer Dore, patients experienced significantly decreased depression & anxiety scores in private practice setting with a licensed mental health professional vs. receiving ketamine alone.
KAP Science and Safety
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a safe, legal, evidence-based therapy that combines off-label ketamine treatment (sublingual ketamine lozenge) with personalized psychotherapy with a licensed therapist.
"KAP has truly freed me up to experience more joy in life. It has helped me see things I am struggling with from a place of confidence and security."
KAP Patient, NY
How KAP Works with Journey Clinical
Journey Clinical is a platform for licensed psychotherapists to incorporate Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in their practice safely and effectively. Journey Clinical’s in-house medical team takes on patient eligibility, prescriptions and outcome monitoring, while a licensed KAP provider takes on the therapy.
Step 1: Book Your Medical Intake
Journey Clinical's expert medical team will assess your eligibility for KAP, and if eligible, create your prescription which will be shipped to you. If you're not eligible, you will receive a refund. You will then work with a trusted licensed mental health provider throughout your entire treatment process. Click the button below to assess your eligibility for KAP.
Step 2: Experience KAP with Your Therapist
If your therapist is already a Journey Clinical KAP provider, they will support you throughout your treatment. If you don't already have a therapist, you can get matched with a therapist in your area from our network of thousands of trained, licensed KAP providers based on your unique needs and preferences, including in-person or remote treatment, insurance coverage, therapy specialties and more.
"My clients have had significant breakthroughs in their therapeutic process. KAP helps people access and process trauma in ways that allow them to integrate and heal at a deep level."
KAP Provider, NY
Pricing and Insurance
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) with Journey Clinical involves two main costs: medical costs paid to Journey Clinical for your appointments and prescription, and the cost of psychotherapy, which varies by provider. Read more about the cost of KAP.
Insurance coverage may vary depending on your plan, including in-network or out-of-network benefits. To see our full list of accepted providers and learn more about insurance coverage at Journey Clinical, visit our Insurance FAQs. Click the button below to assess your insurance benefits.
Want More Information?
Book a free educational call with someone from our team to answer any questions you have about KAP.
Continue reading for FAQs and further learning.
Join Our Upcoming
Info Session
Wondering if KAP is right for you? Join us for an live informative session on Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Learn about the science and safety of KAP, cost and insurance coverage, and ask our medical team any other questions that you have.
Next Info Session: Monday, July 14th @ 3pm ET
Frequently Asked Questions
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 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 experience, patients feel like the insights gained are clear. Read more.
Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy safe?
Since its inception, Journey Clinical has designed its business around a patient-centered collaborative care model with rigorous patient safety policies and procedures in place to safeguard patient health and support their journeys toward improved clinical outcomes. Read about our commitment to patient safety and wellbeing here.
What determines patient eligibility?
Patient eligibility is up to the sole discretion of Journey Clinical’s KAP-trained medical team. We currently only work with patients over the age of 18 who reside in one of our states. We currently support patients residing in the following states: CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, MD, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NY, NJ, NE, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, & WY. Read more.
How can I experience KAP?
You can experience Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy either in-person or remotely in 1:1 context with your therapist or within a couple, group or retreat, depending on what your therapist offers. Read more.
What form of ketamine is prescribed?
At Journey Clinical, ketamine is prescribed as sublingual lozenges to be taken orally in order to be more accessible and cost effective. Read more.
What is a dosing session?
A dosing session is a 2–3-hour appointment where you meet with your therapist—either in person or remotely—and self-administer sublingual ketamine lozenges. After taking the medicine, you lie down in a calm, comfortable space to experience an inward journey, while the primary effects last about 45 minutes. Your therapist remains present throughout to offer support and hold space. Read more.
How many dosing sessions will I do?
Our clinical protocol involves 6-8 dosing sessions for an initial treatment course. These sessions are typically scheduled once every 2 weeks. Read more.
How much does KAP cost?
Treatment costs are dependent on various factors, such as insurance coverage, KAP modality, and cost of psychotherapy. You can read more about the cost of KAP treatment here.
What insurance does Journey Clinical accept?
Can Journey Clinical be my psychiatrist and handle my medications?
Yes! In addition to KAP, we also offer psychiatric medication management, a program that gives patients comprehensive, personalized mental health treatment using common psychiatric medications. You can learn more about our Medication Management program here.
Where can I go if I have more questions?
"It felt as though I had been gifted a fresh perspective on life. I never imagined I would experience such a profound transformation in my lifetime."
KAP Patient, NY
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in the News
Additional Resources
How to Change your Mind
Netflix Series
Author Michael Pollan explores the history and uses of psychedelics, including Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy.
Psychedelics are Changing Therapy Forever
Deja Blu Interview with Lauren Taus, LCSW
Journey Clinical Clinical Advisor Lauren Taus discusses the benefits of psychedelic therapy.
Journey Clinical Inc. is a platform that provides services to member psychotherapy practices which are independently owned and operated, and in no way owns, directs, or controls the mental healthcare clinicians providing care. Journey Clinical is not a pharmacy, Journey Clinical works with partnered compounding pharmacies to dispense and ship medications.
This website has been reviewed by Journey Clinical Psychiatry, P.C. and should not be used as medical advice in place of a licensed psychiatric clinician.