PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy allows for a reset of the Default Mode Network which is often impacted by stress, trauma, & the challenges of living life.
This reset along with new neuronal growth in the brain allows for greater ease & capacity to create longer lasting change far after the medicine journey is completed.
Psychedelic assisted therapy is gaining mainstream momentum as people receive proper education vs. scare tactics of the past. As more research & astonishing stories are shared from people of all walks of life, there is more openness to this non-traditional method that goes beyond the ordinary.
My attendance at a training by the legendary trauma expert Bessel Van Der Kolk and author of The Body Keeps The Score validated what I’ve witnessed as shortcomings in regular talk therapy. Van Der Kolk showed the data & went on record to state that even the most skilled, compassionate therapist can’t compare to what psychedelic assisted therapy can offer.
Perhaps though what is the biggest marker of success is hearing others’ healing journeys & transformations.
Disclaimer: Psychedelic assisted therapy is not for everyone & there are varying levels of success & risk. I always encourage those interested to be well-informed & discuss with an experienced, trauma-informed mental health professional or guide doing this work. Don’t feel scared to ask about someone’s experiences, their mentorship/supervision, and/or if they’ve had personal experience with the varied medicines.
I have been working with Julianne for the past 5 years, seeking help for anxiety, panic attacks, and all around personal growth. From the very first session, she made me feel seen and understood. She also made me feel safe. She always creates a safe space where I can express my thoughts freely. Even so, I was a bit hesitant to switch things up and go on a psychedelic journey as I had a negative experience in the past.
Julianne was so accommodating and professional in helping me eventually get to a place where I desired to give it a try. I felt truly ready and I couldn’t be more happy with my experience. Julianne walked me through the process and was there for me every step of the way. I was able to see myself through an entirely different perspective. She consistently asked the right questions, helping me arrive at these self discoveries on my own.
In the moments of doubt or fear she made sure to support me and provided a comforting presence. Since starting therapy, I’ve noticed significant improvements in my ability to manage stress and anxiety. Julianne has helped me develop healthier coping mechanisms, and I feel more empowered in my day-to-day life. These positive outcomes have been significantly bolstered by my journey with psychedelics. I highly recommend Julianne to anyone seeking a compassionate, skilled therapist. I also couldn’t recommend the experience more, as it has truly changed my life.
From an attendee of a group psychedelic experience (retreat).
Attending this retreat has helped reshaped my understanding of myself. Approaching the experience, I felt a mix of fear and uncertainty, but Julianne and Annie immediately created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that eased my nerves. They took the time to foster connections among us, allowing for genuine fun and laughter, which helped establish a sense of safety and belonging right from the start.
The journey itself was challenging at times. I confronted emotions and experiences I had long avoided. I asked the medicine to guide me, and it did not disappoint. Each moment brought deeper understanding and healing, pushing me to face what I needed to confront. Emerging from the experience, I felt a profound openness to my emotions—something I’ve historically struggled with. I found new ways to express myself and connect with others, and most importantly, I connected with my inner child, learning to love and accept her. I realized that I truly matter; I am more than enough, and I’ll continue to remind my little girl of this.
This retreat has not only transformed my emotional landscape but also reinforced the importance of facing fears in a supportive environment. I’m incredibly grateful for the insights I gained. If you’re on the fence about attending this retreat, I promise there’s no safer, more compassionate space to learn about yourself, confront your deepest fears, and discover the love within you. Julianne and Annie are the perfect guides for this transformative experience.
Psilocybin Support Services
In November of 2022, voters in Colorado passed Proposition 122 which legalized the personal use of several psychedelic natural medicines, including psilocybin mushrooms. This allows for the personal possession, growing, uncompensated sharing, and ingestion of these natural medicines. Under this new state law, Julianne is able to offer support services to individuals and groups engaged in the use of psilocybin under the personal use provision of Proposition 122 within the context of healing, personal, or spiritual growth. This includes bona fide support services, psychedelic preparation and integration coaching, and harm reduction.
Not sure what this might mean with what I can offer you?
Reach out & let’s chat for clarity. Julianne is also in process of creating tiered pricing structures to help with more equitable & accessible cost of treatment.
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy services at licensed healing centers will be legally available in Colorado at the end of 2024, once the State has finalized the rules and regulations. While Julianne already has formal training through Skylight Psychedelics, Fluence, attended educational trainings at elite conferences like Psychedelic Science, & has journeyed with psilocybin for 8+ years personally, she will be undergoing an additional extensive training approved by the state of CO to be ‘official official’.
If you have any questions about any of this or interested how Julianne can help you, please reach out for more information.
KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY 101
I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) which is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help those who are eligible experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement.
Disclaimer: Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, compared to other more traditional psychedelics, can be considered a more gentle experience. This is not meant to disqualify it’s effectiveness as many experts in the field believe that sustainable opening of the mind & progress is important versus going “too big, too soon” which can be harmful.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a safe & effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, disordered eating & body image issues, attachment-related patterns & relationship issues, & PTSD. While Ketamine is legal, the use for mental health is considered “off-label” at this time, although doctors have been prescribing for mental health concerns (initially, major depression) for about 20 years.
Ketamine helps to break up any rigid thought, emotion, & behavioral pattern(s) that might be limiting how you experience life. 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 - 2.5 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 can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, via nasal spray and using sublingual lozenges. In my practice, we’ll use only the sublingual lozenge form which will require an evaluation & prescription with a qualified prescriber.
How Does Ketamine Feel?
The direct effects of ketamine last for approximately 45 - 60 minutes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body and facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience with an eye-mask to encourage an internal experience.
Once these effects have subsided, we’ll spend the remainder of our appointment giving you space to process your experience & begin to integrate it into your healing journey. While it may feel hard to articulate what happened during the experience for some, clients feel like the insights gained are nonetheless clear & beneficial. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to 2 - 2.5 weeks after the Ketamine dosing experience.
Why are the dissociative effects of Ketamine conducive to therapy?
"Ketamine, however, dissociates the mind from the body. All of a sudden you can work through a problem—you can really look at yourself—without having all the negative feedback from your body. You’re looking at a situation or a memory without your body giving you unpleasant feedback that you’re ashamed, scared, or sad. But in your mind, you’re fully aware, you’re conscious, you’re present. You’re almost able to make changes to how you think and the way you look at the world while you’re in that state. As the ketamine comes down, people often feel differently—better—about a situation that’s been bothering them for a long time. The memory of the trauma is still there—it always will be—but the context has shifted.“
Will Siu, MD, DPhil, previous psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School & current Columbia University Faculty
How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?
1. Initial consultation with Journey Clinical or other local prescriber (ask me for referrals)
2. Preparation sessions:
Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation, dosing and integration sessions. Preparation session(s) will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of a preparation session(s) is to align on the process, set intentions, & plan ahead for how to cope with any emotional challenging moments during the journey.
3. KAP Dosing + Integration Sessions
A typical ketamine dosing + integration session lasts typically 2 - 2.5 hrs. and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth. I try to streamline the process for 2 hour appointment times to help with expenses. Should you want longer sessions I bring in somatic therapy practices to help prep & integrate the healing on a deeper, cellular level.
During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge either in my office or in your home. You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.
After you come down from the Ketamine (45 - 60 minutes approximately), we spend time in the integration process. Essentially this means to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session as it relates to your healing. We make sense of it all together & the meaning & significance to you. We also discuss how you can further this experience in your day-to-day.
I cannot emphasize enough that Ketamine is a conduit to allow for change to happen, yet the openness to your experience & the consistency with integration practices is crucial. What you get out of it can depend on how self-disciplined you are during the integration period between sessions.
You may be thinking can this therapy really be done virtually?
It may feel anxiety-inducing to think about doing it virtually, but there are protocols put in place, including having a chaperone on call, & we oftentimes start with a conservative dose to help you acclimate. Being in your own space where you feel the most comfortable can also be a plus.
Success Stories
Click to hear from other KAP Therapists & Providers about the amazing transformation they’ve seen with their clients. Link: Ketamine Assisted Therapy Success Stories
What is the Cost of Treatment?
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy has the potential to be more effective & cost effective overall versus engaging in years & years of talk therapy. Talk therapy alone cannot rewire patterns in your brain & stored trauma like Ketamine can do. Although the medical intake and follow-ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.
If you want different prescriber options other than Journey Clinical, I definitely know of more options whom I value & trust. Prices & services differ for medication evaluation & follow-up.
Journey Clinical Medical Costs: Initial evaluation, treatment plan, and medication for up to 2 sessions: $338*. May be eligible for partial insurance coverage depending on your plan.
6 additional treatments $298*. May be eligible for partial insurance coverage depending on your plan.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: My hourly rate is $165/hr; can submit reimbursement as an out-of-network provider
Suggested # of Sessions & Frequency: 6 - 8 dosing + integration sessions every 2 - 2.5 weeks
From lead prescriber at Journey Clinical:
“On average, 2 weeks is a good anchor for cadence considering the neuroplastic boost, which lasts from 2-2.5 weeks. As noted, most protocols call for 6 dosing sessions, so this is what we'd state would be a good "trial." Ideally, these dosing sessions are happening in a regular cadence.
All that to say, it's so highly personalized, and there are some that have 1-2 dosing sessions and spend a fair bit of time doing integration work with positive outcomes. Some might do much more. So it seems reasonable to plan for the 6 sessions and check in after that point.”
Reminder: I can provide receipts as we go for reimbursement as an out-of-network provider. We also can discuss conditions for self-administering & taking ketamine without me present as a guide as an option to reduce cost. We would still do the integration therapy together as that is necessary for lasting change.
If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me for psychedelic assisted therapy, please call at 469-573-2672 to discuss eligibility & next steps. If ready to schedule your first intake & prep session with me, feel free to self schedule click here.
Helpful Resources
1. An Introduction to Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy by Psychology Today
2. Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS
4. Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders by Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter
5. Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop
6. Yale University: How Ketamine Works
7. How To Change Your Mind (about psychedelics for mental health in general)