Ketamine Assisted Therapy
Ketamine Assisted Therapy: A New Pathway to Healing
Playa Vista Counseling offers a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible patients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. I take on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you on all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes. Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP) is an innovative treatment that combines the medicinal benefits of ketamine with the supportive guidance of psychotherapy. This integrated method offers new hope for those struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health challenges.
Ketamine, originally used as an anesthetic, has emerged as a promising option for mental health treatment. At low doses, it can rapidly alleviate symptoms by promoting neuroplasticity, which encourages the growth of new neural connections and helps reset thought patterns. Many patients experience improvements within hours or days, unlike traditional antidepressants that may take weeks to take effect. Ketamine has also shown positive results in individuals who haven't responded to other treatments, making it an effective option for treatment-resistant conditions.
While Ketamine can initiate significant shifts in mood and perception, integrating these experiences through therapy enhances and sustains the benefits. A therapist can help you navigate the insights and emotions that arise during ketamine sessions, providing deep emotional processing and personalized support. Therapy offers a safe space to address underlying issues and develop coping strategies, fostering lasting change rather than temporary relief.
As therapists trained to provide integration work through ketamine-assisted therapy, we offer a compassionate and personalized approach to your healing journey. We address both the physiological and psychological aspects of your well-being, ensuring holistic care. Your sessions are conducted in a secure setting where you can explore and heal, and we customize your therapy to align with your unique needs and goals.
If you've been struggling with mental health challenges and traditional treatments haven't provided the relief you seek, ketamine-assisted therapy might be the solution. Ready to explore new possibilities for your mental health? Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Together, we'll chart a path toward a brighter, more fulfilling future.
Understanding Ketamine Therapy
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
Promoting Neuroplasticity: Ketamine encourages the growth of new neural connections, helping to reset thought patterns.
Rapid Symptom Relief: Many patients experience improvements within hours or days, unlike traditional antidepressants that may take weeks.
Effectiveness for Treatment-Resistant Conditions: Ketamine has shown positive results in individuals who haven't responded to other treatments.
The Power of Combining Ketamine with Therapy
While ketamine can initiate significant shifts in mood and perception, integrating these experiences through therapy enhances and sustains the benefits.
Deep Emotional Processing: A therapist helps you navigate the insights and emotions that arise during Ketamine Assisted Therapy sessions.
Personalized Support: Therapy provides a safe space to address underlying issues and develop coping strategies.
Long-Term Wellbeing: Combining Ketamine with therapy fosters lasting change rather than temporary relief.
Why Choose Ketamine-Assisted Therapy with Us
At Playa Vista Counseling, we have therapists who have training in providing Ketamine Assisted Therapy so that we may offer healing through the integration process before, during and after a Ketamine experience.
Holistic Care: We address multiple aspects of your psychological wellbeing.
Safe Environment: Your sessions are conducted in a secure setting where you can explore and heal along with a therapist you have built a trusting relationship with.
Tailored Treatment Plans: Your therapist will discuss the process of KAP extensively with you before you begin treatment. Next, you will be referred to a medical provider through our KAP platform who will provide a medical evaluation and prescribe Ketamine that will be shipped directly to you if you are a good candidate for this treatment. Your therapist will provide a safe environment for you to have your ketamine experience and will provide sessions of integrative healing afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
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KAP is a holistic treatment that pairs the therapeutic effects of ketamine with structured psychotherapy. Rather than addressing symptoms through medication alone, it uses the openness ketamine can create to support deeper psychological work. At Playa Vista Counseling, we guide the therapy and integration side to help you turn insights into lasting change.
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KAP may be a good fit for people struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other challenges — especially when traditional therapy or medication alone hasn’t brought enough relief. During a consultation, we’ll help you explore whether it’s the right path for you.
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We offer KAP in partnership with Journey Clinical. Our therapists provide the psychotherapy and integration work, while Journey Clinical’s licensed medical team handles the medical side — determining eligibility, creating your treatment plan, prescribing the medicine, and monitoring your progress. You get expert care on both the psychological and medical fronts.
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Yes. Ketamine is a legal medicine that has been used safely for decades, and in KAP it’s prescribed and monitored by qualified medical providers through our partner, Journey Clinical. Eligibility screening and medical oversight are built into the process to keep your safety the priority.
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Experiences vary, but many people describe a relaxed, reflective state that helps them access thoughts and emotions more openly. Sessions take place in a calm, supportive setting, and we’re there to guide the experience and help you make sense of it afterward through integration.
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Infusion clinics generally focus on administering ketamine on its own. KAP intentionally pairs the medicine with psychotherapy and integration — so you’re not just experiencing ketamine’s effects, you’re doing meaningful therapeutic work designed to make the changes last.
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KAP tends to help people who haven’t found enough relief from traditional treatments and are looking for a safe, structured next step. Eligibility is determined by Journey Clinical’s medical team, and we’ll help you start that conversation during a consultation.
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Coverage varies. The psychotherapy portion may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement through a superbill, while medical and medication costs are handled through Journey Clinical. We’re happy to walk you through what to expect on a consultation.