The Pursuit of Wellness LLC has partnered with Journey Clinical to provide KAP: Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to residents of Oregon and Washington. TPOW and JC are working together to prescribe, supervise, and monitor at-home ketamine treatment in the form of dissolving sublingual tablets.

If you are an adult and do not have a cardiac condition, uncontrolled high blood pressure, glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, active psychosis/mania, or active addiction, you may be eligible to participate. After TPOW refers you to Journey, you will complete a medical screening with your Journey prescriber to determine eligibility for KAP. Once approved, the medicine will be delivered to your home or a local pharmacy or UPS for pickup. The ketamine will be in the form of dissolvable lozenges. The initial medical consultation with the prescriber at Journey costs $250. 

Depending on your goals and needs, you will meet with you KAP therapist at TPOW for one or more visits to prepare and set your intentions for the ketamine journey. Since you will have improved neuroplasticity, open-mindedness, and cognitive flexibility for several days after each ketamine dosing session, it is important to plan some action steps to capitalize on this increased brain power. Most people start by seeing the prescriber and completing two ketamine sessions ($88) to get a feel for the medicine, and then decide if they'd like ongoing treatment (a check-in visit with the prescriber and six more ketamine sessions for $298).

Your TPOW therapist will support you virtually during the administration and experience of the medicine from the comfort of your own home. With your therapist remotely present, you will be guided to self-administer the ketamine, find a comfortable position, wear an eye mask, and play relaxing music. Your ketamine journey will last approximately one hour, followed by journaling and relaxing activities. During remote sessions, a "chaperone" (friend, family member, etc.) will need to be available in-person for support if needed. The chaperone does not need to be continually in the room with you during the medicine journey, but must be able to check on you periodically. They will have access to your TPOW therapist during the ketamine session in case urgent support is needed. 

The day of your ketamine session, you will abstain from food and drink for about 2-3 hours ahead of time, avoid caffeine or stimulants 3-5 hours ahead of time, and abstain from other mind-altering substances (specifically alcohol and cannabis products) for about 24 hours before and afterwards. You can take zofran or dramamine for nausea before each session, as a preventative measure. You will feel "normal," grounded, and regulated again within about two hours of your ketamine session and will be able to freely eat and drink when you're done. You may not drive or operate a motor vehicle for about 3-5 hours after your session.

If TPOW is in-network with your insurance provider, you may use insurance to cover KAP and pay separately for the psychiatric assessment and prescriptions through JC. For the medical evaluation and two doses of ketamine, the cost is $338. For a follow-up with the prescriber and six more doses, the cost is $298.

Ketamine has been shown to have a positive effect on the following:                   

• Depression, including treatment-resistant depression
• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress
• OCD
• Substance use / recovery (not during active, current use)
• Bipolar disorder (outside of an acute phase)
• Eating disorders
• Thoughts of suicide
• Existential angst, grief, and anxiety about death

Common immediate effects of KAP include: 

• Improved mood
• Increased neuroplasticity / cognitive flexibility
• Brighter outlook
• Greater introspection and reflection on one's life
• Lowered defenses (particularly useful during therapy)
• Spiritual growth
• Openness to new ways of thinking
• Deeper attunement to oneself
• A peaceful mindset

For more info, click on the following links:

• KAP Informed Consent 
• KAP 101 and FAQs
• Medication Management FAQs

Research Articles on Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: 

• Safety, effectiveness and tolerability of sublingual ketamine in depression and anxiety: A retrospective study of off-label, at-home use
• Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy
• KAP: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature
• The role of dissociation in ketamine’s antidepressant effects
• At-home, sublingual ketamine telehealth is a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe anxiety and depression: Findings from a large, prospective, open-label effectiveness trial
• Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review
• Active mechanisms of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy: A systematic review
• Ketamine: A Transformational Catalyst
• Yale scientists explain how ketamine vanquishes depression within hours

Items you will need for your at-home ketamine sessions: 

• Blood pressure cuff (not a heart rate monitor or smart watch)
• Eye mask
• Journal and pen
• Earbuds or headphones
• Relaxing music without lyrics or commericals that lasts at least 90 minutes (spotify, etc)
• A cup for spitting into after the medicine dissolves in your mouth for about 7-12 minutes, per protocol
• Water and a healthy snack for afterwards

Emergency: Call 911 or 988, or click HERE for a list of crisis lines.