Internal Family Systems (IFS)
-
We will begin by mapping out your system (aka we will get to know your parts, or who the major players are).
We will start to map out how your parts interact with one another (ex: when I start to feel that I am slacking at work, I then start to feel guilty and then to move away from the guilt I begin snapping at people around me. In this example, guilt, or shame triggers a critical protector part).
Once we have a "lay of the land" we will start to dive deeper into parts in order to understand and relieve the burden they are carrying.
this process can ease suffering, feelings of being stuck in repetitive unhelpful behaviors, reduce addictive tendencies, manage anxieties, increase understanding of depressive thoughts, etc.
We will unburden wounded parts and increase your connection with your authentic Self--who it is you are when you are not overwhelmed with depression, anxiety, grief, addictions, etc.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
-
What to expect from a typical EMDR session:
We will start by setting goals and making sure you have some strategies to regulate your mood.
We will then begin processing! Processing might be around a specific event, image, belief, emotion or body sensation.
While you focus on the event, I will guide you through a series of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones) until the event no longer causes you distress!
What does "processing" mean?
Processing is when you start to move through your stuck points and store material in a more adaptive way.
Basically, what is helpful will be integrated and learned from and what is not helpful will be discarded because the traumatic experience will be resolved.
The best part? Your brain will continue to heal even after you leave the therapy session!
Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP)
-
I offer a therapeutic modality called KAP in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible patients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. I take on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you on all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes. Below is more information about KAP to help you navigate if it may be a good fit for you.
-
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 can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, via nasal spray and using sublingual lozenges. In my work with Journey Clinical we only use the sublingual lozenge form.
-
The effects of ketamine, which most patients find pleasant, last for approximately 45 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. Once these effects subside, we’ll spend the remainder of our appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happened during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are none-the-less clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the Ketamine experience.
-
1. Initial consultation with Journey Clinical
● You schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team via zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are eligible for KAP.
● If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you.
● Journey Clinical’s medical staff will write a ketamine prescription for you, and a small amount of oral ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first 2 KAP sessions. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team in advance of our KAP sessions.
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 and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.
3. KAP Dosing Session:
● A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-2 hours and can take place in-person at my office
● During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge in my office. 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.
4. Integration Sessions:
● After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.
5. Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical:
● After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team schedules regular follow ups with you to monitor outcomes and prescribe ketamine lozenge refills, as appropriate. The frequency of follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter. Follow-up Consultations with Journey Clinical:
● After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team schedules regular follow ups with you to monitor outcomes and prescribe ketamine lozenge refills, as appropriate. The frequency of follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter.
-
The medical intake and follow ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
My typical hourly rate is $200 for 60 minute integration and preparation sessions.
Ketamine sessions are 3 hours at $150 per hour (total is $450 for 3 hours).
Journey Clinical Medical Costs
First-time patients: Initial medical consultation with Journey Clinical: $250
Cost of medication: $88 (enough for 2 sessions)
Ongoing treatment
Follow-up medical consultation with Journey Clinical $150 (at least 1X per quarter)
Cost of medication: $148 (enough for up to 6 sessions)
-
Journey Clinical is a platform for licensed psychotherapists to incorporate science-based psychedelic therapies in their practice safely and effectively, starting with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Journey Clinical’s in-house medical team takes on patient eligibility, prescriptions and outcome monitoring, while I take on the therapy. Their collaborative care model is designed to deliver personalized treatment plans to meet your individual needs and improve long-term outcomes.
-
If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please click the button below to discuss eligibility and next steps.
-
1. Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS
2. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy - research study by Jennifer Dore et al, 2018
3. Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders by Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter
4. Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop
5. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical - Psychology Talk Podcast
Brainspotting
-
What can I expect from a typical brainspotting session?
Brainspotting was born out of EMDR so while there are some similarities, there are quite a few significant differences.
The belief is where you look impacts how you feel.
We begin by identifying a target belief, emotion, body sensation, image, or event.
Next we will connect to any negative beliefs or emotions related to the target event.
We will locate the eye position(s) associated with the target.
Then we begin the processing.
Processing consists of a "dual attunement" frame where our nervous systems (autonomic nervous system and limbic system) attend to one another, and give your system a deeper sense of safety.
Processing also works by accessing, moving through, and releasing emotional and physical pain.
Similar to EMDR, we can use bilateral music to aid in the processing portion.
Populations Served
LGBTQIA2S+
As a queer therapist, I am dedicated to supporting adults on their mental health journey blending compassion, humility, and a touch of humor
Therapy for Therapists
Book for healing the wounded healer. Because you are worthy of healing too :)