Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Connecticut
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in Westport, CT, with telehealth support available in Connecticut and participating PSYPACT states
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) combines psychotherapy with medically prescribed ketamine to create an opportunity for deeper therapeutic exploration. For some individuals, the experience may help create distance from familiar thought patterns, increase psychological flexibility, and allow difficult emotions, memories, or experiences to be approached from a different perspective.
At Shoreline Eating Disorder Center, Dr. Joy Zelikovsky provides the psychotherapy component of KAP while collaborating with an independent medical provider who evaluates medical eligibility, prescribes ketamine when appropriate, and provides medical monitoring.
KAP is not appropriate for everyone. Treatment begins with careful assessment to determine whether this approach may be a good fit for your needs, history, and treatment goals.
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Ketamine is a prescription medication that has been used in medical settings for decades. In mental health treatment, ketamine may be used in conjunction with psychotherapy for appropriately screened individuals.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is different from simply receiving ketamine as a medication. In KAP, preparation, the ketamine experience, and therapeutic integration are intentionally connected.
The goal is not simply to have a ketamine experience. Instead, psychotherapy provides a framework for understanding and working with thoughts, emotions, memories, insights, and experiences that may emerge during treatment.
Dr. Joy provides the psychotherapy component of treatment, while prescribing and medical decision-making are managed by an independent medical provider.
How Does Ketamine Feel?
Experience the transformative effects of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in a safe and supportive environment. The pleasant effects of ketamine, lasting approximately 45 minutes, create a unique opportunity for introspection and perception shifts. While the experience may temporarily reduce motor and verbal abilities, our dedicated team ensures your comfort throughout the session. Following this period, we provide ample space for you to process and discuss your insights. Although articulating the experience may be challenging, patients often report clarity in the insights gained. Studies highlight lasting benefits to mood and neurological growth for up to two weeks post-Ketamine experience. Embrace a journey towards healing and self-discovery with the guidance of our experienced clinicians.
What is the Cost of Treatment?
At Growth Accelerated, our Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is exclusively offered through therapy intensives, with each session spanning 3 hours. Our clinical hourly rate is $400, and the KAP process involves a minimum of three essential meetings: The intake and preparation session ($1200), the KAP session itself ($1200), and the Integration Session ($1200). For a comprehensive initial KAP package, which includes a total of 9 hours of therapy, we offer a bundled rate of $3000. This package is designed to provide a cohesive and transformative experience, ensuring dedicated time for preparation, the KAP session, and integration.
Please note: We prioritize transparent and accessible care. While medical intake and follow-up sessions are not covered by insurance, we are pleased to inform you that our services may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. Our practice is dedicated to providing the necessary documentation to support your reimbursement process, ensuring that you can access the comprehensive care you deserve.
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People experience ketamine differently.
During a ketamine session, you may notice changes in perception, a sense of distance from your usual thoughts or concerns, increased introspection, or a different relationship to emotions and memories.
Some people find it easier to approach difficult material from this altered perspective. Others may have experiences that feel less immediately meaningful and require time and reflection to understand.
There is no particular experience you are expected to have.
Dr. Joy remains present throughout the therapeutic portion of the process to provide support and help create a safe environment for exploration.
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KAP is a process rather than a single session.
Preparation
Before a ketamine session, Dr. Joy works with you to understand your history, treatment goals, concerns, and expectations. Preparation also provides an opportunity to discuss what the experience may be like and establish intentions for the session.
Your prescribing provider separately determines whether ketamine is medically appropriate and provides instructions related to medication use and safety.
KAP Session
During a dosing session, ketamine prescribed by your medical provider is self-administered according to their instructions.
Dr. Joy remains with you during the psychotherapy session, providing support while allowing space for your individual experience to unfold.
Integration
Integration occurs after the ketamine experience and is an important part of KAP.
Integration sessions provide an opportunity to explore what emerged during the experience, connect insights to your everyday life, and consider how those insights may inform ongoing therapeutic work.
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Eating disorders can be complex and may exist alongside trauma, depression, anxiety, shame, rigid thinking, difficult relationships with the body, and deeply established beliefs about oneself.
For appropriately selected clients, KAP may be incorporated as one component of a broader eating disorder treatment plan.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy does not replace comprehensive eating disorder treatment, medical monitoring, nutritional care, or a higher level of care when those services are needed.
Instead, KAP may provide another therapeutic avenue for exploring experiences, emotions, and patterns that contribute to distress or make change feel difficult.
Whether KAP is appropriate is determined individually and collaboratively.
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Ketamine is a medication and carries potential risks and side effects.
Possible effects can include temporary changes in perception, dissociation, nausea, dizziness, changes in blood pressure or heart rate, headache, fatigue, and other physical or psychological effects.
Ketamine also has the potential for misuse and dependence. For this reason, careful screening, appropriate prescribing, medical oversight, and adherence to the treatment plan are important components of care.
Medical eligibility, prescribing decisions, medication instructions, and medical monitoring are handled by the prescribing provider.
Dr. Joy provides psychotherapy and works collaboratively with the medical team as appropriate to support coordinated care.
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KAP is not the right treatment for every person or every concern.
Before beginning treatment, we consider your current symptoms, treatment history, goals, medical and psychiatric needs, and whether KAP can be incorporated safely and meaningfully into your overall treatment plan.
Medical eligibility for ketamine is determined separately by the prescribing provider.
If KAP does not appear to be an appropriate option, we can discuss other approaches that may better fit your needs.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Westport, Connecticut
Shoreline Eating Disorder Center provides Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Westport, Connecticut, serving clients throughout Fairfield County and surrounding communities.
Dr. Joy is also authorized to provide telepsychology through PSYPACT, allowing psychotherapy services to eligible clients located in participating PSYPACT states.
Because ketamine treatment includes both psychotherapy and medical prescribing, availability of KAP outside Connecticut depends on both Dr. Joy's authorization to provide psychological services in the client's location and the prescribing provider's ability to provide medical services in that jurisdiction. Eligibility will therefore be confirmed before beginning treatment.
Ready to Explore Whether KAP Is Right for You?
If you've been considering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, the first step is determining whether the approach makes sense for your individual needs and goals.
We can discuss what you're hoping to address, your previous treatment experiences, and how KAP might fit within your broader therapeutic work.
In-person psychotherapy is available in Westport, Connecticut. Telehealth psychotherapy is available throughout Connecticut and to eligible clients located in participating PSYPACT states, subject to medical-provider eligibility requirements for KAP.
