Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

About KAP

Here’s a quick FAQ for some quick information about KAP. Looking for more information? Keep scrolling for some more in-depth information about this therapeutic approach below!

  • Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, or KAP, is a form of therapy that works in conjunction with the administration of ketamine to achieve faster, longer lasting improvement in mental health symptoms.

  • Unfortunately, this can be a bit of a complication. Although there is growing research supporting its effectiveness in treating mental health, ketamine usage for mental health purposes is still considered an “off-label” use of the medication and KAP is seen as an experimental therapy. While therapy itself can often be covered by insurance, the medication itself will likely not be covered.

    Our goal is to never let finances be a barrier to the treatment that you need. If you have questions or want to explore KAP further, please reach out and we can explore options!

  • Client safety is always the number one priority. As KAP involves the administration of medication, there are several important factors that are considered as part of the process. First and foremost, it is essential to consult with your primary care physician, medication prescriber, and any other members of your healthcare team prior to moving forward with KAP.

    Certain risk factors which indicate that KAP is not medically appropriate include anyone who meets the following criteria:

    • Clients younger than 18

    • Those pregnant or nursing

    • Those struggling with acute substance dependence

    • Psychotic disorder or those with history of unaddressed psychotic symptoms

    • Bipolar disorder with severe mania

    • Unstable medical conditions including but not limited to: hypertension, chronic cardiac disease, aneurysmal vascular disease, respiratory illnesses, seizure disorder, or thyroid disease

    • History of intracerebral hemorrhage (brain bleeds), or hypersensity to esketamine or ketamine

    • Moderate to severe liver disease

    • History of elevated intraocular or intracranial pressure

    • Other serious medical illness

    • Those who do not meet the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis under the current standard of care

  • More in-depth information about KAP and the process to get started is included below. Additionally, you can feel free to reach out through the Contact page and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

So, What Should I Know About KAP?

What exactly is ketamine?

Ketamine is a short-acting dissociative anesthetic which can produce hallucinogenic effects. While most commonly used in surgical settings, there is increasing research showing the potential for ketamine to facilitate an improvement in mental health symptoms as well, particularly in those suffering from treatment-resistant depression. When paired with therapeutic work, clients taking ketamine can achieve fast, long-lasting improvements in their mental health symptoms starting as soon as within hours of the first dosing session.

While ketamine is approved for human use by the FDA, its usage as a therapeutic tool is considered “off-label”, meaning that KAP is considered an experimental treatment option. Unfortunately, this means that insurance will generally not cover the cost of the medication for therapeutic purposes.


How much does KAP cost?

There are two components to KAP: medication and psychotherapy. Inner Grace Counseling handles only the psychotherapy portion of the treatment. We work in partnership with Better U to provide access to the medication portion. Costs associated with KAP are as follows:

Psychotherapy

  • Intake Session/Assessment: $210

  • Integration Session: $180

Your actual cost may vary as these sessions are considered insurance-eligible. Most clients will only pay their co-pay amount.

As these prices are set by Inner Grace Counseling, sliding scale fee options are available on an as-needed basis. Feel free to reach out for more information!

Medication

  • 5 Session Package (1 dose acclimation + 4 treatment sessions): $400

  • 9 Session Package (1 dose acclimation + 8 treatment sessions): $592

Insurance will not cover these costs. These prices are set by Better U and are subject to change at any time. Better U does offer options for payment plans.

What does the process look like?

The first step is to complete an assessment to determine if KAP may be the right fit for you. We’ll discuss your physical and mental health history, what your concerns are, and what your goals are for therapy. If we feel that KAP would be right for you, you will be referred to Better U to schedule an assessment with a psychiatric provider. During this assessment, your provider will review your medical history to screen for any potential health issues which would make you ineligible for ketamine treatment.

If the psychiatric provider determines that KAP is a good fit for you, they will send in a prescription for ketamine which will be mailed directly to your home. At this point, you and your therapist will develop a plan for the course of treatment, including scheduling dosing sessions as well as integration sessions. The dosing sessions are when you actually take the medication. Generally, this is done in the comfort of your own home. For your safety, you are required to have a peer support person on-site with you when you take the medication. You’ll engage in journaling exercises both immediately before taking the medication and shortly after the primary effects have worn off. Specific instructions for dosing will be provided by your prescriber.

Following the dosing of ketamine, there is a 24-72 hour window of increased neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize its structure, functions, and neural connections. Taking advantage of this window allows us to create new neural pathways in your brain, strengthening positive thinking patterns and letting go of unhealthy thinking patterns. It is important to complete the therapeutic integration session within this 24-72 hour window to ensure we are taking full advantage of your brain’s increased neuroplasticity. During the integration session, we will revisit your journal and work to strengthen the growth and healing that your brain is creating.


When will I notice improvement?

This will be different for everyone. According to research done by Better U, among clients suffering from anxiety, 85% report an improvement in symptoms immediately following treatment while 92% report improvement one month following treatment. Among those suffering from depression, 81% report an improvement immediately following treatment while 89% report improvement one month following treatment.

It is important to note that there is the potential for a temporary worsening of symptoms before improvement is noticed. KAP works to dig deep into your experiences and can bring up heavy emotions as well as difficult memories. As part of pre-treatment, we will discuss any past traumas as well as any heavy or difficult emotions that may have the potential to arise and develop a plan to address these when and if they come up.


How can I get started?

The first step is to reach out! All of our contact information is located on our Contact page, or you can quickly send us an email by clicking Here. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have or provide any additional information which may be helpful!

In addition, here are some helpful links and resources for more information:

Better U
Article: Should You Try Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?
Article: Brainwork: The Power of Neuroplasticity
Article: The Emergence of Psychedelics as Medicine