GWCIM has been providing KAP Psychotherapy in a calm, comfortable setting for over a decade. The treatment is available to GWCIM patients and new patients after obtaining a recommendation from one of GWCIM’s medical providers. KAP pairs low‑dose ketamine with therapeutic guidance to support relief from depression, anxiety, pain, and treatment‑resistant conditions. We focus on safety, evidence‑based care, and a personalized healing experience.
Our choice of administration is intramuscular (IM). Oral and IV routes can be discussed with our specialists. We provide sessions for one or two patients at a time, in a private room at GWCIM with dedicated facilitation. GWCIM’s focus is to support not only mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, but also chronic medical conditions, especially those involving long‑standing or chronic pain and fatigue.
How does it work?
FDA-approved as an anesthetic, it is used “off-label” for psychiatric and medical conditions and is thought to work by affecting the brain’s glutamate system, which can rapidly enhance neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections). This creates a window of opportunity for therapeutic breakthroughs by:
- Interrupting negative thought cycles and creating a temporary distance from painful emotions and memories.
- Interrupting pain signaling and temporarily reducing the brain’s sensitivity to pain by blocking NMDA receptors involved in amplifying chronic pain signals.
- Enhancing emotional flexibility and reducing self-criticism, which helps patients engage more deeply in therapy.
- New interpretations and meanings of life experiences, made possible by the expanded perspective and increased emotional flexibility.
Read the article,” K Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy,” to learn more about the review and meta-analysis.
How to receive KAP at GWCIM
For all KAP services, we require initial approval from one of our qualified doctors, who will review your medical history to ensure that KAP is appropriate and safe for you:
- Dr. Mihail Kogan, MD, Integrative and Internal Medicine
- Ashley Drapeau, PA-C, GWCIM Medical Director
- Dr. Misty Embrey, MD, Psychiatry
If you are an existing GWCIM patient, you may inquire about KAP with your current provider. If you are new to GWCIM, please indicate your interest in KAP on our New Patient Inquiry Form, and we will guide you from there.
Once you are approved, you will receive a consent form along with our pre‑ and post‑session instructions, and we will schedule your first session. A typical session lasts about three hours, and we generally offer them in the morning. You will need to take the full day off and arrange for a chaperone to help you get home after the session. Follow‑up sessions and other KAP options are discussed based on your response to the initial session.
During the session, your medical doctor will be present in the clinic and checking with you occasionally, and your KAP facilitator will stay with you for the entire session. Our facilitators:
KAP Treatment Cost
Initial medical review appointment (30 min or more, only one time): cost varies by provider.
KAP session: $600 (3 hours with medical providers)
** includes up to 30 minutes of follow-up with your facilitator within one week after the session.
Contact us to learn more about KAP at GWCIM in Washington, D.C.
In this interview, Dr. Kogan explores the evolving landscape of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with Dr. Scott Shannon, a trailblazer in integrative psychiatry.
