About Our Procedures and Fees

What You Should Know About the Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Process

The Center for Transformational Psychotherapy helps treat depression, PTSD, anxiety, other mental health conditions and relational issues using Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). In general, we offer two methods for administration of ketamine. Often, we begin treatment with lozenge sessions in the office. This allows us to understand your sensitivity to ketamine and is a gentle introduction to the medicine. When appropriate we provide ketamine in a limited prescription for at-home use under our close supervision. This arrangement intensifies the therapy, reduces in-office time, and thereby significantly decreases costs. Our second method is the administration of ketamine as an intramuscular injection. With both, we provide a dosage gradation that is respectful of the learning experience that is ketamine’s signature as an alternative medicine. We are always interested in you and your experience.

We are a truly different experience than typical ketamine intravenous clinics. We do not administer ketamine as a drug in a medical setting for a 50 minute session with a needle in your arm. Ketamine’s extraordinary record of safety with proper use makes for our ability to serve you in a comfortable setting conducive to your having profound and life changing experiences. We provide a therapeutic process that fosters your healing and opens your mind and heart. Another thing that sets us apart is how we run (and charge) our ketamine treatment sessions. Many IV ketamine providers ask clients to visit the office and undergo six sessions. They then charge patients accordingly for the treatment primarily run by nurses who generally do not have any interest in the consciousness aspects of the ketamine experience. No one present to process your experience and assist you in integrating it into your life.
Our practice, on the other hand, provides and charges ketamine treatments differently. Typically, we conduct two in-office sessions in the first month. Then, we do the other sessions every two to six weeks. We continue until our practitioners see improvement in consciousness and symptoms. The exact frequency will depend on the individual. We cannot predict in advance the number or frequency of sessions. This is dependent on you, your needs, the severity of your difficulty, and your response to ketamine and therapy. We schedule Integration sessions (as necessary) to amplify and support the therapeutic gains clients get from their KAP sessions. We maintain a high level of availability and support.

When our patients come to our office for a ketamine session, our practitioners provide intensive psychotherapy. This is another quality that gives us an edge, as other providers may not offer psychotherapy while the client is undergoing ketamine treatment. We view therapy as a crucial part of our overall process.

Each KAP session tends to last about three hours. The duration of the recovery period varies depending on your response to the medicine. You are not released to travel until it is safe to do so and we prefer you have a ride whenever possible.

KAP Costs

KAP fees are determined with you at your Intake session based on our assessment of the treatment program we plan flexibly with you for your time of healing with us.

As supervised at-home sessions are often a part of your treatment, your costs over time will be considerably less than with other programs. Overall, with ketamine therapy sessions that last on average three hours, the intensity and thoroughness of our therapy represents the medical standard for quality care using ketamine. In-office sessions in the beginning of treatment will occur weekly to three weeks apart depending on your needs and your readiness for our at-home support sessions. While we do our best to give you a sense of the duration of treatment you might expect, this depends on our knowing you more completely and following your response to treatment.

Your initial cost is for our In-Depth Psychiatric/Medical Assessment, Initial Evaluation, and Screening Intake – $450. We are a full service psychiatric program which means we are evaluating your existing treatment and how it relates to the program we develop with you. Whenever possible, we collaborate with your psychiatrist and therapist.

Fees are discussed at Intake when financial issues are discussed. Our ketamine assisted psychotherapy sessions last on average three hours and provide an intensive, personal and potentially deeply healing experience. Depending on our assessment of your needs and what is best treatment for you, you will be attended to by one therapist backed by one of our MDs: or by a team consisting of a therapist and an MD present for the full three hours. Fees for he 3 hour ketamine sessions range from $900- $1350 depending on the composition of the team treating you. With ongoing treatment established, the composition of the team and the attendant costs may well decrease. When appropriate, supervised at-home sessions will become a significant part of your treatment and these generally are not charged for thereby reducing your costs–as well as increasing the quality and intensity of your experience. Our In-office 3-hour sessions occur generally once every two to three weeks initially; and then stretching out to less frequent visits. So, initially more frequently and then moving towards a maintenance basis. Overall, this structure provides the most rapid and intense approach to the therapeutic use of ketamine for the least cost, with the most qualified practitioners.

Hour long Integration and half hour-long meds management sessions are a concurrent and inherent parts of our treatment approach and are charged based on the hourly fees appropriate to the practitioner—MD or therapist.

KAP and Insurance

Please be informed that insurance, as of this time, does not cover ketamine fees wherever you may go. As KAP practitioners, unlike with the IV clinics, what we are able to do is assist you with recovery of fees from your insurer, billing according to psychotherapy coding. Having you receive maximal insurance reimbursement is our goal.
If you think you’ll have issues paying the KAP, our center is open to discussing a financial arrangement with you. This is done at the end of our Intake session after we agree with you to proceed to KAP. You are responsible for the full fee of the Intake session.

See our FAQ for more information.

Cancellation Policy Reminder

If you can’t make it to one of our sessions for whatever reason, please notify us at least 48 hours in advance. Also, if your session falls on a Monday, please notify us at least by the Thursday before the scheduled date. Since our sessions run three hours, timely notification is essential to our practice. We thank you in advance for your understanding. You will be billed for unannounced missed sessions as this is essential to our livelihood,

Looking to get started? Give us a call at (415) 991-5616. You can also email transformationalpsych@gmail.com for inquiries related to our process and fees.