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.

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.

Initial Consultation

You will schedule an initial Zoom evaluation with a Journey Clinical clinician to review your medical and psychiatric history, receive education on the treatment, and determine your eligibility for KAP. If eligible, the medical team will create a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan, send you a small amount of oral ketamine for the first two sessions, and teach you how to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges before the sessions.

Preparation Sessions

After receiving your ketamine lozenges, we'll schedule KAP preparation, dosing, and integration sessions. Preparation sessions, like regular therapy sessions, will occur before dosing to align on the process and set intentions for the KAP sessions.

KAP Dosing Session

A typical ketamine dosing session lasts 1-2 hours and can occur either in-person at my office or remotely via telehealth. During the session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge while in a comfortable, reclining position with an eye mask and calming music. Though the experience is largely internal, I will be present throughout to provide support as needed.

Integration 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.

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.

Compared to other treatments for treatment-resistant depression, KAP is often more affordable and accessible—especially when using a hybrid insurance and private pay model.

Therapy Costs (with Joel Looney, LPC):

• Hourly Rate: $140/hr

• Initial Evaluation & Integration Sessions: Often covered by insurance (if I'm in-network), or eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.

• Dosing Sessions: Last 3 hours. Insurance typically covers only the first hour. The remaining 2 hours are billed at $140/hr and paid out-of-pocket at the time of service.

Medical Costs (via Journey Clinical):

• Initial Medical Consultation: $250

• Ketamine (first 2 doses): $88

• Ongoing Medical Follow-Ups (every 3 months): $150

• Ketamine (up to 6 doses): $148

Estimated Total Cost (Full 5–6 Month Protocol):

A typical course includes:

• 1 medical intake

• 2–3 medical follow-ups

• 8 ketamine doses

• 8 dosing sessions with therapy

• 8 integration sessions

• Prep and final session

Private Pay Estimate:

~ $1,180/month
~ $5,900 total

In-Network Insurance Estimate (assuming $40 copay/session):

~ $785/month
~ $3,935 total