Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Troy!
Cultivating Connections is pleased to announce that we are launching a new ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) service offering in Troy, New York!! If you have been in mental health treatment for a while with limited results, or you have made some progress but find yourself at a plateau on your healing journey, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy might be a helpful tool for you! The link above to our KAP service page outlines what KAP is, current research on efficacy, qualifying conditions, contraindications, and the process of starting KAP with us.
Joined by Agapi Ermides, D.O., a talented and affirming anesthesiologist and Hospice/Palliative Care trained physician, we will be offering intramuscular injection ketamine with conjoint psychotherapy two days per week at Dr. Ermides’ office on the East side of Troy, NY. We provide KAP to adults only, both individuals and couples (all subject to psychological and medical evaluation). Rachel Rampil, LCSW, is a certified Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy practitioner, has completed extensive training with the Fluence training institute, and conducted KAP with clients since 2022.
Like other psychotherapy offerings at this practice, when you contact us about KAP, we will outline the process and answer any questions in a free 20 minute consultation with you, followed by a comprehensive clinical evaluation (typically takes 3-4 full sessions, plus at least one preparation session). If you are a current client of our practice, you are welcome to inquire with your therapist about this offering. We require medical records from your current psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or general practice physician to complete evaluation. If no contraindications are present and both you and your therapist agree KAP may fit your therapeutic goals and needs, you will be referred to Dr. Ermides for medical evaluation and injection appointment scheduling.
Injection appointments involve both the prescribing physician and your therapist, and are scheduled for a length of 2 hours. The structure typically includes the physician taking vital measurements, the therapist offering intention setting and a mindfulness exercise, injection and monitoring by the physician, your internal journey with the acute effects of ketamine, and integration work with the therapist as acute effects wear off. A post-injection integration session 1-3 days later is scheduled with the therapist. The number of ketamine injection sessions you will book can depend on your presenting symptoms and concerns, psychological and medical evaluation, budget, but the medical research indicates 6-8 sessions is a typical range.
Intake, preparation, and post-injection integration psychotherapy sessions are typically 45-50 minutes, and as such, can be billed to your insurance plan if we are in network. Dosing psychotherapy sessions (during injection) at Dr. Ermides’ office are typically 120 minutes, and therefore are not eligible for insurance billing, however, a sliding scale based on self-reported income is offered. Insurance companies at this time do not cover ketamine injections for mental health treatment, but because non-dosing psychotherapy sessions can be billed through insurance, this service offering may be a more affordable option for you.
Contact us today to learn more and set up an intake!