A New Pathway to Healing: What You Should Know About Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy with Me
Sometimes, even after years of therapy, certain wounds feel just out of reach. If you've been doing the work — gaining insight, building awareness — and still find yourself stuck, carrying the weight of depression, anxiety, complex trauma, or OCD, you are not alone. It doesn't mean healing isn't possible for you. It may simply mean that a different kind of door needs to be opened — one that goes beyond the analytical mind and into the body, the parts, and the deeper wisdom that lives beneath.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a clinically supported, holistic treatment that combines the neurological effects of ketamine medicine with the depth and intention of dedicated psychotherapy. When these two elements are brought together thoughtfully, they can create conditions for the kind of transformation that psychotherapy alone sometimes cannot reach — including for those navigating treatment-resistant depression, attachment trauma, and complex PTSD.
I offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in partnership with Journey Clinical, whose specialized medical team manages all clinical and medical aspects of your care — including eligibility, prescriptions, and outcome monitoring. My role is to walk alongside you through every layer of the therapeutic experience: preparation, the dosing session itself, and the integration work that follows.
To learn more about whether KAP may be a good fit for you, visit: Journey Clinical's KAP Education Hub (https://journey.click/education)
What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
More than medicine — a complete therapeutic process.
Ketamine is a legal, well-studied medicine with a well-established safety profile that has been used in medical settings for decades. In recent years, it has gained significant clinical attention for its rapid-acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects — effects that can begin within one to two hours of treatment and may last up to two weeks.
At a neurological level, ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors and stimulating AMPA receptors in the brain, supporting the formation of new synaptic connections and strengthening the neural circuits that regulate mood and stress response. It also promotes neuroplasticity — the brain's capacity to reorganize itself — which can support more lasting change over time.
In ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, ketamine is not used in isolation. It is woven into a structured therapeutic process — combining the medicine's neurological effects with IFS-informed parts work, somatic-informed therapy, and attachment-based approaches — to help you access and move through what lies beneath the surface of your symptoms, with care and clinical support every step of the way.
My approach is distinct from purely medical ketamine models such as IV infusion clinics or telehealth prescription services, which typically do not offer the therapeutic preparation and integration support that research identifies as central to meaningful, lasting outcomes. In healing attachment wounds, the therapeutic relationship in KAP becomes even more vital and essential.
Who May Benefit from Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
KAP may be a meaningful option for adults living with:
Depression, including treatment-resistant depression
Anxiety disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Substance use disorders
Some literature reflects a 70% response rate among patients with treatment-resistant depression, with remission rates of 40–50%.
How KAP Works: The Process
Step 1 — Initial KAP Intake with Rachael
We begin with a 60-minute intake session to explore your history, your goals, and whether ketamine-assisted psychotherapy feels like a good fit. If we decide to move forward, I will refer you to Journey Clinical's medical team.
Step 2 — Medical Consultation with Journey Clinical
You will schedule an initial evaluation via Zoom with Journey Clinical's medical team, who will review your history, provide education, and determine eligibility. If eligible, they will develop a personalized prescription and outcome monitoring plan. A small amount of oral ketamine — enough for your first two sessions — will be sent to your home.
Step 3 — Preparation Session(s)
Before your first dosing session, we meet for one or more preparation sessions to set intentions, explore what you're hoping to move through, and ensure you feel grounded and ready. Cultivating the right "set and setting" plays a meaningful role in the quality of the experience that follows.
Step 4 — KAP Dosing Session
A dosing session typically runs two to three hours, via telehealth or in person (at your home, or in a private location of your choice). You will self-administer your ketamine lozenge and rest comfortably with an eye mask and carefully chosen music. The ketamine experience itself lasts approximately 45 minutes. I will be present with you throughout — holding a steady, attuned space that supports whatever arises.
Step 5 — Integration Sessions
Following each dosing session, we meet for integration sessions to explore the insights, emotions, and images that surfaced — and to weave these into lived, embodied change. Research identifies the post-ketamine period as a window of heightened neuroplasticity, making integration sessions essential to lasting transformation.
Step 6 — Ongoing Medical Follow-Up with Journey Clinical
Journey Clinical's medical team schedules regular follow-up consultations to monitor outcomes and manage prescription refills — at a minimum of once per quarter.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
A general starting point is 6 to 8 experiential dosing sessions, though this varies depending on your goals. Dosing sessions are generally spaced every two weeks, but at times can be spaced weekly or monthly, depending on your schedule or needs. Integration time between sessions is an essential part of the healing process.
Fees & Pricing
KAP Psychotherapy Fees — with Rachael Courtier
KAP Intake Session (60 minutes): $275
Preparation & Integration Sessions (50 minutes): $225 per session
KAP Experiential Dosing Session (120–150 minutes): $675 per session
All psychotherapy sessions are conducted online only, with in-person dosing sessions available upon request.
A note on sliding scale: I hold a small number of sliding scale spots. Please reach out to inquire.
Journey Clinical Medical Fees
Initial Medical Consultation (one-time): $250
Follow-Up Medical Consultation (min. 1x/quarter): $150
Ketamine Prescription — Compound Pharmacy: $97–$163 (covers 2–6 sessions)
Accepted payment methods: All major credit cards and debit cards. FSA and HSA cards may be accepted — please inquire.
A Note on Insurance: I accept out-of-network insurance, and I hold a small number of spots for clients with Kaiser insurance, through which I can bill for preparation and integration sessions and typically the first hour of a dosing session. For out-of-network clients, I provide a superbill for potential reimbursement. Out-of-network clients generally can receive reimbursement for preparation and integration sessions and the first hour of the dosing session.
Journey Clinical's medical consultations may also be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. Ketamine prescription costs are not covered by insurance.
Journey Clinical Insurance FAQs: https://journeyclinical.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/28002696219028-Insurance-FAQs
About Journey Clinical
Journey Clinical is a platform that supports licensed psychotherapists in offering evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapy — beginning with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy — safely and effectively within their practices. Their in-house medical team manages all aspects of patient eligibility, prescriptions, and outcome monitoring, while I provide the therapeutic care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ketamine, and how does it work? Ketamine is a legal, safe, and clinically established medicine used to treat depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and complex trauma. Its antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects are rapid-acting — often noticeable within one to two hours — and can persist for up to two weeks. Neurologically, it works by blocking NMDA receptors and activating AMPA receptors, supporting new synaptic connections and enhancing neuroplasticity. In my practice, I work exclusively with sublingual lozenges through Journey Clinical.
What does a ketamine experience feel like? Most people find the experience pleasant and, at times, profound. For approximately 45 minutes to an hour, you may feel a gentle sense of distance from your ordinary thought patterns, along with perceptual shifts many describe as expansive or dreamlike. Once the effects subside, we will have time together to begin processing and integrating the experience. Research indicates that benefits to mood and neurological functioning can extend up to two weeks following a session.
Who is a good fit for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy? KAP may be a meaningful option for adults living with depression, anxiety, complex trauma, PTSD, attachment trauma, OCD, or substance use challenges — particularly when other treatment approaches have not provided adequate relief. It can also be used to deepen and accelerate existing IFS-informed or attachment-based therapy work, and can be especially powerful for those whose attachment patterns and protective defenses have made it difficult to access deeper material in traditional therapy.
Why does the psychotherapy component matter? There are providers who offer ketamine without any therapeutic framework. While ketamine alone can produce neurobiological benefits, the therapeutic relationship and process are what make those benefits truly transformative and lasting. Combining ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with IFS-informed parts work and somatic-informed therapies creates the conditions for integrated, embodied change — and for reconnecting with the inner healing intelligence that the medicine can help bring to the surface.
Are there risks associated with KAP? Yes. Psychologically, ketamine can produce intense emotional experiences, altered perceptions, dissociation, and in some cases transient hallucinations. Physical side effects are generally short-lived and may include nausea, mild disorientation, and a temporary increase in heart rate. Although ketamine has a comparatively low dependency profile, there is still a risk of psychological dependence, particularly outside of a supervised therapeutic context.
Is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy covered by insurance? I do not accept most insurance, though I provide a superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement. I hold limited spots for Kaiser clients. Journey Clinical's medical services may also be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. Ketamine prescription costs are not covered by insurance.
What is your training in KAP? I have completed ketamine-assisted psychotherapy training through the Integrative Psychiatric Institute and Journey Clinical, as well as additional training in MDMA-assisted therapy, psilocybin-assisted therapy, and psychedelic-assisted therapy preparation and integration. I maintain ongoing consultation with experienced providers and regularly engage with continuing education and emerging research.
Do you prescribe medications? No. Prescribing, administering, or providing any form of medication or psychedelic substance falls outside the scope of my practice. All prescribing is handled exclusively by Journey Clinical's licensed medical team.
What is Journey Clinical? Journey Clinical is a specialized platform that enables licensed psychotherapists to offer evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapy within their private practices. Their in-house medical team oversees all aspects of patient eligibility, prescription management, and outcomes monitoring.
Ready to Explore Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Please book a free consultation to discuss eligibility and next steps. There is no pressure — just an open conversation about whether this path feels right for you.
Helpful Resources
Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment — Raquel Bennett, Psy.D., for MAPS
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes — Jennifer Dore et al., 2018
Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders — Erica Zelfand, ND, for Townsend Letter
Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression — goop
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical — Psychology Talk Podcast
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