After graduating from the Integrative Psychiatry Institute this May (250 hours of education), I’ll be offering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, starting in July. I’m supporting other local therapists and their clients, offering brief treatment that augments their current work. A round of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with me would include:

• a consultation with you and your primary therapist
• medical screening with a physician (referral available) who would prescribe you the Rx if indicated
• Counseling/preparation meeting(s)
• a 3 hour medicine meeting (the last hour we talk/process)
• a follow up integration meeting within 2-3 days of the medicine meeting
• consultation and referral back to the primary therapist and any additional resources
• additional rounds if indicated

Safety:

Ketamine therapy is not for everyone. I have seen it effective for treatment-resistant depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Manic or hypomanic states, personality disorders, and/or a history of psychosis contraindicate ketamine. Ketamine involves altered states of consciousness that can increase client vulnerability and projection. I’ve heard of misuses. For the safety of everyone:

• I follow best practices in the field (from my clinical training as well as the Big Tent community and the Jules Evans substack)
• medicine meetings are videotaped and securely stored according to HIPAA protocols
• I do not touch clients
• there is no communication between client and therapist between meetings, except to schedule meetings, or in case of an extreme emergency
• clients are welcome to bring a calm, quiet support person observe medicine meetings
• All ketamine treatments are conjunct with psychotherapy (this is not necessarily true of IV clinics or “underground” practitioners)

I’d be happy to answer any questions! julia@juliacounseling.com