KAP is a legal modality that pairs ketamine treatment with dedicated psychotherapy sessions for deeper therapy, more frequent breakthroughs, and better clinical outcomes. It’s a structured process where medicine and therapy work together, rather than in isolation.

To learn more about KAP, you can visit Journey Clinical’s education page .

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 hours 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 can facilitate shifts in perception that 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 fully articulate what happened during the experience, many people feel that the insights gained are clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the ketamine experience.

Initial consultation with Journey Clinical

You’ll schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team via Zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment, and determine if you are eligible for KAP.

If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you. Journey Clinical’s medical team will write a ketamine prescription for you, and a small amount of oral ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first 2 KAP sessions. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team in advance of our KAP sessions.

Preparation sessions

Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation, dosing, and integration sessions. Preparation session(s) will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of preparation is to align on the process and set intentions for our KAP work together.

KAP dosing session

A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1–2 hours and can take place either in-person at my office or remotely via telehealth. During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge either in my office or in your home. You’ll be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music.

Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and 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. This is where we translate the experience into real-life shifts and support.

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.

I partner with Journey Clinical, a medical team that specializes in ketamine treatment. They complete your medical evaluation, prescribe and monitor the ketamine, and provide dosing guidance. I provide the psychotherapy: preparation sessions, support during dosing days, and integration sessions afterward, so you’re never navigating this alone.

KAP can be helpful for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic patterns that feel “stuck.” In my practice, I also support clients whose eating disorder, body image concerns, or perfectionism are intertwined with mood and trauma symptoms. Together, we decide if KAP is appropriate for your specific situation.

Possibly, and it depends on your medical and psychological history. KAP is never a stand-alone “quick fix” for an eating disorder, but it can sometimes support deeper healing when paired with ongoing therapy, medical care, and nutrition support. We’ll talk honestly about where you are in your recovery and whether KAP is appropriate and safe right now.

No. You will never walk into a ketamine session unprepared or unsupported. We prepare your mind, nervous system, and environment ahead of time and clarify who will be with you before and after dosing. I stay closely involved throughout your KAP process so you always have a safe, grounded guide.

Coverage varies. Journey Clinical services are billed separately through their medical practice, and my psychotherapy sessions are billed through Rooted & Nourished. Some clients are able to use out-of-network benefits or HSA/FSA funds, depending on their plan.

Journey Clinical has an updated overview of insurance-related questions here: Insurance FAQs .

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy sessions with me

My typical hourly rate is $165 per hour for psychotherapy.

Journey Clinical medical costs

KAP Intake:
Consultation: $250
Non-covered services (including medication): $112

KAP Follow-Up:
Consultation: $150
Non-covered services (including medication): $208

Medication management (regular psychiatry appointment):
$250 flat fee

Although the medical intake and follow-ups are not covered by insurance, they are often eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. You may also be able to use HSA/FSA funds, depending on your plan.

You don’t have to be 100% ready to have a conversation. It’s normal to feel scared, unsure, or worried about what to expect. Our first step is simply a low-pressure consult where you can ask questions, explore your fears, and decide whether this feels like the right path for you right now.

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please email me at hannahshort@rootedandnourished.com to discuss eligibility and next steps. From there, we’ll talk through your goals, answer questions, and coordinate your Journey Clinical intake if it feels like a good fit.