What Are Psychedelics and Why is Everyone Talking About Them?
How you been curious about psychedelics? Read this blog to learn about how psychedelics can be used in mental health treatment.
Nathaniel Tabachnik, LMSW May 16, 2024
At myTherapyNYC, we offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) for individuals seeking an integrative approach to healing and growth. Our team partners with Journey Clinical, a trusted medical provider that oversees all medical aspects of the treatment, including screening, prescribing, and dosing.
KAP combines the use of ketamine with talk therapy to support deep emotional healing and lasting symptom relief. This collaborative approach can help enhance therapeutic breakthroughs, promote transformation, and reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions.
At myTherapyNYC, our therapists guide you through the psychotherapeutic process — helping you prepare for your sessions, explore insights that emerge during your ketamine experience, and integrate those discoveries into your ongoing personal growth.
Let’s Begin Your Therapy Journey Together!
At myTherapyNYC, we offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) for individuals seeking an integrative approach to healing and growth. Our team partners with Journey Clinical, a trusted medical provider that oversees all medical aspects of the treatment, including screening, prescribing, and dosing.
KAP combines the use of ketamine with talk therapy to support deep emotional healing and lasting symptom relief. This collaborative approach can help enhance therapeutic breakthroughs, promote transformation, and reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions.
At myTherapyNYC, our therapists guide you through the psychotherapeutic process — helping you prepare for your sessions, explore insights that emerge during your ketamine experience, and integrate those discoveries into your ongoing personal growth.
Offers a transformative pathway, enabling profound exploration and integration of past traumas
Coping with symptoms of depression, anxiety, or panic attacks
Battling feelings of guilt and self-blame
Navigating a complex mix of fear of isolation and difficulty trusting others
Grappling with anger, irritability, and emotional volatility
Seeking to embark on a journey of healing and forward progress
Medical Consultation
During this initial screening, you will go through your medical and psychiatric
history, receive education on the treatment and determine if you
are eligible for KAP.
Medical Consultation
During this initial screening, you will go through your medical and psychiatric
history, receive education on the treatment and determine if you
are eligible for KAP.
Preparation Sessions
After determining if KAP is right for you, we have 1-2 talk therapy sessions to prepare for your journey experience.
Preparation Sessions
After determining if KAP is right for you, we have 1-2 talk therapy sessions to prepare for your journey experience.
KAP Dosing Sessions
You will receive specific guidance on your self-administered dosing sessions. These can either be in person in our offices or at home/virtually (with a chaperone).
KAP Dosing Sessions
You will receive specific guidance on your self-administered dosing sessions. These can either be in our offices or at home/virtually (with a chaperone).
Integration Sessions
Following your KAP dosing session, you’ll have at least 1 talk therapy session with one of our therapists to discuss and process your journey.
Integration Sessions
Following your KAP dosing session, you’ll have at least 1 talk therapy session with one of our therapists to discuss and process your journey.
Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive substances known for their profound effects on perception, cognition, and consciousness. Common psychedelics include psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms), LSD, MDMA, and ayahuasca.
Psychedelics have the ability to alter brain function in ways that promote introspection, emotional processing, and neuroplasticity. By temporarily disrupting default modes of thinking and perception, these substances can help individuals access deep-seated emotions, memories, and insights that may be inaccessible during normal waking consciousness.
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.
Ketamine typically induces pleasant effects lasting around 45 minutes, characterized by a sense of detachment from the body and expansive shifts in perception. During the experience, motor and verbal abilities may be reduced, prompting you to recline comfortably.
Following the subsiding of these effects, our session will focus on providing you with ample space to process and discuss your encounter. Though articulating the experience may initially prove challenging, patients often find the insights gained to be remarkably clear.
Research indicates that the mood-enhancing and neurological benefits of the ketamine experience can endure for up to two weeks afterward.
Ketamine experiences can be intense and emotionally challenging, but when used responsibly and in a supportive and controlled setting, they are generally considered safe for most individuals. However, there are risks associated with ketamine, including the potential for psychological distress, adverse reactions, and interactions with certain medications. Our therapists undergo rigorous training to minimize these risks and ensure the safety and well-being of our clients.
KAP preparation and integration sessions are covered by in-network insurance, but the dosing sessions are not. All can be eligible for reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits.
The medical and prescription components may be covered either in-network or out-of-network, depending on your plan. The medical portion is in-network with Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare/Optum.
No, you just need to book an evaluation with the prescriber (Journey Clincial). Journey Clinical will provide all the necessary medical evaluations.
The number of treatment sessions required to achieve meaningful results with psychedelic therapy can vary significantly depending on individual factors such as the nature of the presenting issues, treatment goals, past experiences, and overall responsiveness to therapy.
Traditional therapy typically relies on verbal communication between the client and therapist to explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In contrast, psychedelic-assisted therapy involves the use of psychedelic substances to induce altered states of consciousness, which can lead to profound insights, emotional release, and spiritual experiences.
The effects of KAP can vary depending on the individual, the substance used, and the specific therapeutic goals. Some individuals may experience profound and lasting changes after just one session, while others may benefit from multiple sessions spaced out over time. The insights and breakthroughs gained during psychedelic experiences have the potential to catalyze long-term healing and personal growth.
Therapists play a crucial role in guiding and supporting clients throughout the psychedelic experience. They provide a safe and supportive environment, help clients set intentions, navigate challenging emotions, and integrate insights gained during the session into their daily lives. Therapists also conduct pre-session preparation and post-session integration sessions to maximize the therapeutic benefits of the experience.
Psychedelic Webinar from myTherapyNYC
Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical – Psychology Talk Podcast
What is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy?
Science behind ketamine and the brain
How you been curious about psychedelics? Read this blog to learn about how psychedelics can be used in mental health treatment.