| Carol Norris, MFT : Psychotherapy for the body, mind, brain and spirit |
KAP During COvid-19
Covid-19 has impacted us all in different ways. Some moderately, many profoundly. In addition to the challenges and issues you may have been dealing with prior to the pandemic, it’s important to consider the ongoing stress of Covid-19 not only as it relates to processing what you're experiencing, but in terms of the ketamine dosage that might best support you right now.
While the bulk of the therapy I’m doing is virtual and will continue to be that way for the foreseeable future, I’m excited to offer modified KAP sessions that are both virtual and in-office. The intakes, assessments, preparation, interpersonal and integration sessions are all the same process. The location and safety precautions are different. I take these safety precautions very seriously, as does the medical team I work with at 360 Medicine, and our office enforces them strictly. No exceptions. You’ll get a document detailing the guidelines and, as always, I'll answer any questions you may have.
If you haven’t, please read the KAP Overview now. What follows assumes you understand that information.
Virtual KAP
All virtual sessions will use lozenges as a deliver method and none of the sessions will aim for a more psychedelic experience.
Low-dose Interpersonal Session
During this interpersonal session, you’ll take a lower (yet impactful) dose of ketamine and stay interactive with me in a video session the entire time as feels best to you. In this mild trance-like when your mind is less fixed and more open, profound and powerful psychotherapy sessions often happen. You’ll be comfortably in your bed (slightly propped up), on a couch or a comfortable chair with an eye mask either on or off. You may choose to have wordless music in the background to support the experience. You’ll self-administer a ketamine lozenge that has been prescribed to you by the doctor at 360 Medicine. The effects of the ketamine depend on your nervous system and dosage, but typically start five to 10 minutes after administration. Peak effects vary, but typically last around 20 to 30 minutes and then diminish, in total taking about an hour to 1.5 hours. (Some effects, like speech, motor ability, and sensory perception may continue up to five hours, and are normal.) We start with the lowest dose based on your weight, history, sensitivities, and needs. This session typically lasts 90 minutes.
Low-dose Inner Experience with Integration Session
During this session, you’ll still take a lower dose, but you’ll have a supported, more inward journey. I’ll be there with you virtually to provide support and guidance if and when needed, but there will be minimal or no interaction until the medicine wanes. This is when the Psychotherapy Integration Session begins. This session typically lasts 2 to 2.5 hours.
You can also choose to have a Solo Inward Journey, experiencing most of your ketamine session alone, and then connect with me virtually for processing and Psychotherapy Integration Session as the medicine is waning. This session typically lasts an hour to 75 mins.
A third option is to have a Solo Inward Journey and have an Psychotherapy Integration Session the following day while the experience is still fresh.
Hybrid KAP
(Mostly Virtual/Partly In-Office)
With Hybrid KAP, the Intake, Preparatory Sessions, and the non-ketamine Integration Sessions are done virtually, while only the Ketamine Session is done in the office with special safety accommodations. (You’ll receive a copy of the safety guidelines.) The in-office Ketamine Session can be with either a low or low-moderate dose delivered via lozenge or intramuscular injection (IM) in the upper arm or hip, depending on your preference. During Covid-19, we are defaulting to giving lower doses of ketamine, but this may shift some if your clinical indications and needs warrant it.
We'll explore if a Low Dose Interpersonal Session or a Low-Moderate Dose Inner Experience with Integration Session best meets your needs.
You'll be asked to check in briefly by email within 24 hours of each KAP treatment. Your post-treatment experiences are vitally important not only for the insights you may continue to gain, but to understand how the medicine interacts with you so we can adjust and modify the treatment plan if needed.
I hope this brief overview gives you an idea of modified KAP during Covid-19.
While the bulk of the therapy I’m doing is virtual and will continue to be that way for the foreseeable future, I’m excited to offer modified KAP sessions that are both virtual and in-office. The intakes, assessments, preparation, interpersonal and integration sessions are all the same process. The location and safety precautions are different. I take these safety precautions very seriously, as does the medical team I work with at 360 Medicine, and our office enforces them strictly. No exceptions. You’ll get a document detailing the guidelines and, as always, I'll answer any questions you may have.
If you haven’t, please read the KAP Overview now. What follows assumes you understand that information.
Virtual KAP
All virtual sessions will use lozenges as a deliver method and none of the sessions will aim for a more psychedelic experience.
Low-dose Interpersonal Session
During this interpersonal session, you’ll take a lower (yet impactful) dose of ketamine and stay interactive with me in a video session the entire time as feels best to you. In this mild trance-like when your mind is less fixed and more open, profound and powerful psychotherapy sessions often happen. You’ll be comfortably in your bed (slightly propped up), on a couch or a comfortable chair with an eye mask either on or off. You may choose to have wordless music in the background to support the experience. You’ll self-administer a ketamine lozenge that has been prescribed to you by the doctor at 360 Medicine. The effects of the ketamine depend on your nervous system and dosage, but typically start five to 10 minutes after administration. Peak effects vary, but typically last around 20 to 30 minutes and then diminish, in total taking about an hour to 1.5 hours. (Some effects, like speech, motor ability, and sensory perception may continue up to five hours, and are normal.) We start with the lowest dose based on your weight, history, sensitivities, and needs. This session typically lasts 90 minutes.
Low-dose Inner Experience with Integration Session
During this session, you’ll still take a lower dose, but you’ll have a supported, more inward journey. I’ll be there with you virtually to provide support and guidance if and when needed, but there will be minimal or no interaction until the medicine wanes. This is when the Psychotherapy Integration Session begins. This session typically lasts 2 to 2.5 hours.
You can also choose to have a Solo Inward Journey, experiencing most of your ketamine session alone, and then connect with me virtually for processing and Psychotherapy Integration Session as the medicine is waning. This session typically lasts an hour to 75 mins.
A third option is to have a Solo Inward Journey and have an Psychotherapy Integration Session the following day while the experience is still fresh.
Hybrid KAP
(Mostly Virtual/Partly In-Office)
With Hybrid KAP, the Intake, Preparatory Sessions, and the non-ketamine Integration Sessions are done virtually, while only the Ketamine Session is done in the office with special safety accommodations. (You’ll receive a copy of the safety guidelines.) The in-office Ketamine Session can be with either a low or low-moderate dose delivered via lozenge or intramuscular injection (IM) in the upper arm or hip, depending on your preference. During Covid-19, we are defaulting to giving lower doses of ketamine, but this may shift some if your clinical indications and needs warrant it.
We'll explore if a Low Dose Interpersonal Session or a Low-Moderate Dose Inner Experience with Integration Session best meets your needs.
You'll be asked to check in briefly by email within 24 hours of each KAP treatment. Your post-treatment experiences are vitally important not only for the insights you may continue to gain, but to understand how the medicine interacts with you so we can adjust and modify the treatment plan if needed.
I hope this brief overview gives you an idea of modified KAP during Covid-19.
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Copyright 2014 | Carol Norris, MFT
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