Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
How it works: Modern neuroscience has revealed how malleable the brain is for new learning and restructuring at any age. This concept, called neuroplasticity, means there is real hope for deep and lasting changes in behavior, patterns or modes of thinking, and mental well-being. No matter how long or deeply you have suffered with difficult emotional issues, change is possible.
Ketamine is a dissociative medicine that is versatile in its use within psychotherapy. At lower doses, it allows the body and mind to relax, making it easier to approach challenging issues and make meaningful progress in therapy. At medium to higher doses, Ketamine can also induce expanded states of consciousness that may bring a profound sense of unity or connection, fostering feelings of peace and wholeness. Many people report a sense of belonging, acceptance, and connection to the world during these experiences.
Ketamine provides a "time-out" from the constant activity of your analytical mind and personality structures, creating space for creativity, imagination, and deeper wisdom to emerge.
On a neurobiological level, Ketamine activates the serotonin and glutamatergic systems, helping to repair and rebuild brain cells and connections (neuropathways). This biological support can be pivotal in facilitating long-term healing, allowing for deeper psychological change, growth and emotional resilience.
Medical Safety and Appropriateness of KAP
Dr. Jed and therapist Joe Klein ensure that you receive both comprehensive medical and mental health care throughout the process. We conduct a thorough intake, assessing your medical history, current medications, and mental health status to confirm that KAP is safe and appropriate for you. Our approach includes intentional preparation, guiding you before your sessions, and supportive integration sessions afterward to help you fully benefit from the increased neuroplasticity that Ketamine may create. This holistic process is designed to maximize the therapeutic potential of KAP while prioritizing your safety and well-being.
Dr. Jed on Recent News Surrounding Ketamine
Dr. Jed would like you to know that Be Well Now and himself take this treatment with the utmost seriousness. No one will be taking any medication home and it will always be used in a therapeutic method. While ketamine can be used inappropriately, it has a solid history in Military medicine, Anesthesia medicine and Emergency medicine. It is now showing great benefit in helping in the Mental health field.
How We’re Different
We provide a fully integrated therapeutic experience - we are NOT simply a ketamine dosing clinic.
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Unlike ketamine clinics that solely administer the medication, we combine Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) with ongoing therapeutic support, ensuring you receive the care and guidance needed to process your experiences and achieve meaningful, lasting results.
Why Psychotherapy is Essential in Ketamine Treatment
Combining ketamine with psychotherapy significantly enhances treatment outcomes and mitigates any risk of addiction. Research, including a study in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, demonstrates that Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) not only leads to sustained improvements in depression and anxiety but also helps integrate experiences from the treatment, which fosters long-term symptom reduction. Additionally, ketamine promotes neuroplasticity, and psychotherapy guides these new neural connections towards healthier patterns, supporting lasting change. By providing therapeutic support, we help make sense of altered states of consciousness induced by ketamine, facilitating emotional growth and ensuring the treatment’s effectiveness is both meaningful and safe.
Location
Located at the serene Floyd EcoVillage, our clinic provides a unique, tranquil setting that enhances your healing journey. Explore the beautiful grounds, which include several gardens with a variety of flowers and plants, a beautiful pond, picnic areas, sitting spots, trellises, and a charming gazebo. Take advantage of walking the trail through the woods, or visit the on-site farm, where sustainable farming practices thrive across three and a half acres of vegetables, flowers, and small fruits. The farm store is open during daylight hours for fresh, local produce.
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The Power of Nature in Integration
Research shows that natural environments can significantly enhance psychological well-being and aid in the integration process. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology highlights that exposure to natural settings can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase overall mental clarity. By incorporating the calming and restorative elements of nature into your therapeutic experience, we help you make the most of your treatment and foster a deeper, more holistic healing process.
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For those traveling or seeking extended integration time, we offer comfortable overnight accommodations, including camping options, cozy cabins, and hotel quality rooms in the earth-bermed lodge.
Visit the EcoVillage webpage to learn more or to book your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a versatile medication originally developed as a dissociative anesthetic used in surgery since the 1960s. It produces a trance-like state that facilitates pain relief, sedation, and memory loss during surgical procedures. More recently, ketamine has gained recognition for its therapeutic potential in treating mental health conditions. In lower doses, it has been found effective in addressing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain, especially when other treatments have failed. Its ability to induce altered states of consciousness and promote neuroplasticity makes it a valuable tool in mental health therapy.
How does ketamine work?
Ketamine helps the brain create new connections and improve its function by affecting how it processes certain chemicals, leading to lasting changes in thoughts and emotions. Ketamine affects the brain by acting on the glutamatergic system, particularly by blocking the NMDA receptors. This action increases the availability of glutamate, which helps to repair and strengthen neural connections, promoting neuroplasticity. This neuroplasticity is what allows for lasting changes in thought patterns, emotional processing, and behavior.
Is ketamine addictive and dangerous?
While ketamine has the potential for misuse when taken recreationally or in unregulated settings, it is generally considered safe and non-addictive when used in a controlled, therapeutic setting. The doses used in therapy are carefully monitored to prevent dependency, and the focus is always on therapeutic benefit rather than recreation. No prescriptions for at-home use of ketamine are given to clients at Be Well Now.
How is it administered?
In mental health, ketamine is administered in low to moderate doses under medical supervision. Our office administers ketamine as a shot, known as intramuscular (IM), or sublingually, as a lozenge that dissolves under the tongue. This is combined with psychotherapy to help clients relax, explore their thoughts and emotions, and create lasting changes in their mental well-being.
What conditions can ketamine treat?
Ketamine has shown effectiveness in treating a range of mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, end of life / terminal illness anxiety and suicidal ideation. It has also been explored as a treatment for chronic pain and certain substance use disorders.
Who cannot receive ketamine treatments?
Ketamine treatment is not recommended for individuals with severe cardiovascular conditions, uncontrolled hypertension, active substance abuse, or active psychosis. It is also contraindicated for those with a history of substance abuse, severe liver disease, or significant suicidal ideation. A thorough medical and psychological evaluation is necessary to determine if ketamine therapy is suitable for you.
What are the side effects of ketamine?
Common side effects during treatment can include mild dizziness, nausea, or a sense of dissociation (feeling detached from reality). These effects are usually short-lived and resolve after the session. Only a small percentage of people experience nausea; we have anti-nausea medication available during sessions if needed. Patients are closely monitored to ensure safety and comfort.
How is ketamine different from other antidepressants?
Unlike traditional antidepressants, which often take weeks or months to start working, ketamine can produce rapid improvements in mood and symptoms, often after just one session. It works through different neural pathways (glutamate and NMDA receptors) compared to most antidepressants, which target serotonin or dopamine systems. Following a recommended treatment plan will help ensure long-lasting change.
What does it cost?
Our prices include the presence of a therapist and healthcare professional who is with you throughout each session. The thorough initial screening and preparation sessions provide an important foundation for entering into work with this medicine. Initial Phone Consult (20 min) - Free Mental Health Intake (50 min) - $150 Medical Intake (45 min) - $125 KAP Preparation session (50 min) $150.00 Ketamine dosing sessions paid individually: (120 min) - $375.00 Integration Sessions: (50 min) - $150.00 3 Session Package Paid Upfront - $1,400 ($300 savings) **Further sliding scale pricing is available upon request and availability, with priority to veterans, first responders, and elderly of the community in need.
Do you take insurance?
We do not currently take insurance, but we’re working on it! No insurance currently covers the medicine sessions for KAP. We can give you a superbill for all of the other services provided (medical and psychological intakes, prep sessions and integration sessions) that you can bring to your insurance to receive reimbursement if you pay the full pricing listed above. Sliding scale payments of lesser amounts are not available for superbill insurance reimbursement.
How Do I Get Started?
Schedule a free 20 minute call with us here to get started. You can also call us at 540-745-2222, email us at contact.bewellnow@gmail.com or fill out the contact form below with any questions or a request for more details. We will help assess if you’re the right fit to continue exploring KAP treatments and if so, we will schedule psychological & medical intake sessions and create a treatment plan with you.