Ketamine + Psychotherapy

Ketamine assisted psychotherapy, ketamine preparation, integration, and support

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy & Support

These materials and related websites do not constitute or replace medical advice from your licensed medical provider.

Ketamine was FDA approved for use in humans and animals in 1970, as a dissociative anesthetic at very high doses. Ketamine may be prescribed off-label by medical clinicians who specialize in this medicine’s sub-anesthetic doses for mental health and pain management in collaboration with a mental health provider specializing in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

"Because ketamine is used as an elective treatment for a non–life-threatening condition (ie, pain), it is prudent to heed these relative contraindications and precautions, even though the likelihood of complications is low."

Consensus Guidelines on the Use of Intravenous Ketamine Infusions for Chronic Pain From the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (Cohen, et al, 2018)

Considering Ketamine

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may be prescribed by a knowledgeable medical provider and referred to a psychedelic mental health practitioner or other types of practitioners of the body, mind, heart and spirit in a way that makes sense to you and your experience. Learning to integrate psychedelic experiences for improved mental health and well-being in your daily life is how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy brings these transformative substances and experiences to the wider population, incorporating a bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach.

Routines keep you alive, until they turn into ruts. Rituals of introspection and inward journeying may lead towards transformation, especially when paired with informed care and community support. Approaching this medicine work with careful intention, screening, medical clearance, and multi-modal clinical and social support is how we strive to maximize this medicine’s benefits for as many people as possible who’ve yet to find relief with other medicine practices or approaches.

Finding the minimal amount of medicine and dose needed for the most amount of improved quality of life is key. The medical provider will decide the setting — whether in an office being monitored, or at home with a sober sitter of your choice.

Preparation and integration continues to be provided via telehealth, in-home or on-location

Supervised practicums for chaplains, ketamine therapists, ketamine sitters, hospice providers, medical providers, shamanic practitioners which include 6-12 medicine experiences, scholarships & work study available.

At very low doses ketamine is sub-perceptual. At moderate doses it is used in psycholytic therapy where the client is communicating with a therapist. At doses considered in the psychedelic, yet still sub-anesthetic range, people report a meditative state with a range of experiences from terrifying to mystical, that, when properly prepared for, supported, and integrated, can lead to a marked change in quality of life.

These experiences happen with a variety of medicines and other types of practices from around the world, throughout human history, but generally not without some sort of supportive wisdom approach. One system of support is through psychotherapists trained in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Another system of support of these experiences are through curanderos, taitas, sangomas, and other types of cultural practitioners, although these types of practitioners aren’t usually working with ketamine.

Physician Consultation

KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY IS A PROCESS THAT BEGINS WITH REFERRAL FROM A MEDICAL PROVIDER

Ketamine Cost Considerations & Comparisons

IV Ketamine Infusion Clinic

40 minute medicine session
est cost $500-$1500 per session, not covered by insurance
may or may not have a mental health specialist as part of treatment

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy & Support - 18 hours - $3,150.00 (Institute rate)

Preparation and Goal Setting for Treatment with psychotherapist (1 hour)
2.5 hour medicine sessions
1 hour integration session (within 4 days of the medicine session)
possible insurance reimbursement for preparation & integration sessions *Outside Medical Visit + Pharmacy are outside cost considerations
- Racemic ketamine is an FDA approved generic drug that has been prescribed off label for myriad uses ranging from mood disorders to pain management, and has been studied nonstop for over 60 years. Your medical provider prescribes your medicine, after a thorough medical / psychiatric assessment. Your PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy will dispense your medicine to you. Talk to your medical provider about a Referral or check out one of the independent providers listed here

Compare to one psilocybin session, upwards of $2500 for a single dose, delivered without mental health or medical support (Oregon model)

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Provides Lasting and Effective Results in the Treatment of Depression, Anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at 3 and 6 Months: Findings from a Large Retrospective Effectiveness Study (Yermus, et al, 2024)

At-home, telehealth-supported ketamine treatment for depression: Findings from longitudinal, machine learning and symptom network analysis of real-world data (Mathai, et al, 2024) — over 11,000 patients followed over multiple years is largest real-world study of ketamine therapy to date.

**Unsupported medicine treatment has been described as "weird" and "terrifying".**

You are not REQUIRED to take this medicine, or ANY medicine, for that matter. Our team is here to support you in minimizing any harm that may come from medicines, practices and experiences that may evoke an altered state of consciousness, and maximize any potential benefits.

The goal of mental health counseling is to restore some sense of balance in your mental health and personal well-being without relying on a daily pharmaceutical treatment.

A harm reduction model supports the least amount of medicine for the most amount of observed benefit paired with psychotherapy to maximize any positive effects, and reduce the likelihood of harm.

Your dosing may depend on the route of administration.

Ongoing collaboration with your medical team and compounding pharmacy helps reduce the likelihood of misuse or abuse of medicines.

Employee ketamine-assisted psychotherapy program developed in conjunction with the Psychedelic Institute of Mental Health & Family Therapy, with preparation and integration sessions delivered remotely via telehealth.

Ketamine Group Therapy

ON-LOCATION Greater Palm Springs | Joshua Tree Area | Additional Group therapy options via telehealth

Community is such an important aspect of the integration process. Group therapy can be a cost-effective way to build on what you’ve started with the medicine and individual integration with psychotherapy. Group members will be accessing their ketamine treatments along the same arc together over 8 weeks.

Institute Staff available for groups on location. Inquire for on-location rates and fee arrangements.

Ketamine Clinician Practicum (Thursdays/Sundays 6-9:30) - Michael DeMarco, PhD

Introduction to Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy & Support Clinician Practicum meets Thursdays and Sundays over 6 weeks from 6-9:30pm PST. through our clinician video conferencing platform.

Calendly