Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Education Center
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Learn more about the science and safety of KAP and how it works at Journey Clinical.
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.
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. Learn more about PAP here.
"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
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 typically reduced, so patients lie down in a comfortable position during the entire experience.
Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Safe?
Ketamine is a widely-used, FDA-approved medicine prescribed off-label for mental health with a long track record of clinical safety.
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.
Learn About Journey Clinical's Safety Protocols
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.
Our commitment to patient safety and wellbeing
Step 1: Access the Patient Portal
If you were referred by a Journey Clinical therapist, you should have received a welcome email to log into your patient portal. If you haven't received an email yet, ask your therapist to submit an internal referral to Journey Clinical.
Step 2: Book Your Medical Intake
Within the patient portal, click the 'Get Started' or 'Continue' button to schedule your medical consultation. 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.
Step 3: 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. Read more about the KAP process
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. Psychotherapy costs are dependent on the hourly rate of the Journey Clinical KAP therapist you work with and insurances they accept.
You can calculate your personalized estimate for KAP with our Pricing Calculator.
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.
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.