Ketamine is an anesthetic with dissociative properties. It is a non-competitive NMDA antagonist and it increases the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain. Ketamine has been shown to be connected to neuroplasticity and neuroprotective properties, which is partly what enables it to have such groundbreaking and rapid antidepressant and anxiety-reducing effects.

It is currently being used off-label for its psychedelic properties to treat depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal ideation, addiction, and chronic pain. It is important to understand that ketamine is not FDA approved for behavioral health purposes outside of Spravato.

Side effects include transient hypertension, nystagmus/blurry vision, nausea, drowsiness, numbness, dizziness, disorientation, risk of aspiration/choking, bladder urgency, and panic/psychotic episodes at extremely high doses or in at-risk populations. Long-term use has been associated with: cystitis, urinary tract dysfunction, dependence, flashbacks, and withdrawals.

At Whole Circle, your safety is our priority. While Ketamine is a very safe molecule, proper precautions should always be taken when administering it. We do not currently offer at-home or solo journey services.

We are happy to answer any questions you have. You can read more about ketamine and its history here.

The art and science known as Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) aims to offer healing and relief for individuals with problems of depression, anxiety, trauma, and history of suicidality. It is also used for the growth and expansion of consciousness. Research for other problems such as OCD, ADHD, autism and even eating disorders is being conducted.

KAP is a revolutionary and hybrid treatment that is composed of preparatory psychotherapy, three-hour ketamine journeys, and hourly integration psychotherapy sessions. It is typically completed over the course of 2-3 weeks, with follow-up sessions if necessary.

Research is showing remarkable progress for populations known as “treatment-resistant” meaning that they have failed multiple trials of antidepressants or other behavioral health interventions. However, at Whole Circle we believe that KAP should be accessible regardless of treatment history.

While KAP has been shown to have a radical improvement in many depressive symptoms, there is no way of predicting how one’s healing journey may unfold. As such, we encourage beginner’s mind approach and holding your intentions and hopes lightly.

You can read more about the therapeutic use of ketamine here.

Within the world of psychedelic research and practice, there are many philosophies and approaches to treatment.

Consciousness medicine can be defined as the school of thought where psychedelics such as ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin, and others are used for intentional healing purposes, with explicit involvement of ceremony, ritual, and transpersonal psychotherapy.

While there is no one-size fits all approach when it comes to working with psychedelics, at Whole Circle we see great value in a holistic, intentional approach.

KAP is composed of three main pillars: preparation, journeying, and integration.

Preparation is conducted after intake, and after we’ve provided you our impressions and recommendations for treatment. It is focused on using narrative, somatic, and transpersonal practices to better understand you and what you are looking for. This is a time of excavation or uncovering of problems, setting goals, and learning about how the medicine might work for you. We also discuss your intentions for journeying, and we curate/share a playlist for your journey. We believe music is an integral part of medicine work. You can read more about music in psychedelics here.

Integration comes after every journey. It can take place within the therapy room, but you will find it also unfolds in your everyday life. We use a variety of methods to discuss and unpack what you learn during your actual journey, solidify realizations made, and to ideate the next steps that might further your story of healing.

Integration may look like talk therapy, but it might also look like walking through nature, attending a gentle yoga class, journaling, meditating, listening to your journey playlist, or simply being with yourself and your loved ones. Integration is the glue that brings all the insights we are blessed to receive during our travels, and it is highly recommended for efficacious treatment.

KAP journeys are all unique but at Whole Circle we do have a general approach. Before your journey, you will be asked to prepare by not eating or drinking for several hours. There may also be some medications you are asked not to take up to 72 hours before the journey.

After you are medically cleared to receive the medicine that day, we spend time checking in and discussing your intentions and setting rules for safety. We create a container for you in a multitude of ways using ceremony, ritual, meditation, and other activities.

When it is time to journey, we will have you use your eyemask and prepare the music. We aim to provide comfortable spaces for you, including a couch/recliner, pillows, and blankets.

You can expect to feel the effects of your journey between 5-15 minutes, depending on the route of administration. A journey will last between 1-2.5 hours, with IM being shorter and oral longer. We allow three hours so you can spend time savoring and landing.

During the journey, detailed notes will be taken on all you say and do. Interventions will be primarily reflective and non-directional but can be more directive if needed and deemed appropriate.

Upon your return, we hold space and check-in to begin the integration process. Snacks and water will be offered. You cannot drive home, as you will still be recovering, and we do not recommend you take MTA. We encourage you to go slowly and take your time to relax for the rest of the day.

The experience of the journey will depend on the person, the mindset, the setting, and the dose.

These seven layers of experience are achieved with increasing doses: Mindfulness, Empathogenic effect, Out of Body Experience, Near Death Experience, Archetypal/Mythological Experience, Ego Dissolving Experience, and Mystical Experience.

Polaris Insight Center defines some of the categories as follows

“Empathogenic: increased awareness of the body, feelings of comfort and relaxation, reduction of ego defenses, increased empathy, compassion, and warmth. This is considered a sub-psychedelic dose and best supports talk therapy as there is more openness and relaxation of defenses.

Out of Body Experiences (OBE): complete separation from one’s body; significantly diminished ego defenses but with continued awareness of the self. OBEs may also include mythological/archetypal imagery, visiting non-physical realities, possible encounters with spiritual entities and non-terrestrial beings, vivid dreams of past and future lives and incarnations, and re-experiencing aspects of the birth process.

Near Death Experiences (NDE): the experience of the complete departure from one’s corporeal and biographical existence, complete ego dissolution/loss of identity, (perceived) death of physical body and identity, reliving/reviewing one’s own life, and merging into the field of collective consciousness.

Ego Dissolving Experience (EDE) is an ecstatic state that can involve: the dissolution of boundaries between the self and external reality; complete dissolution of one’s body and sense of self; transcendence of time and space and the five senses, connection to collective consciousness; unity with Nature/Universe; sacredness; feelings of becoming one with God; immersion into an ocean of brilliant white light; deep feelings of love, peace, serenity, joy and bliss; and, a sense of ineffability of the experience.”

However, some people achieve mystical experiences at low doses of ketamine. It is a highly individualized experience. One thing you can count on is regardless of the journey experience, you will come back.

At Whole Circle, we encourage a narrative view when it comes to problems, which is that people are not problems, problems are problems. We work to address the problems you face, but there is no guarantee it will be a quick fix or permanent solution.

Polaris Insight Center offers the following as potential benefits from receiving KAP treatment: “understanding and cultivating resilience, meaningful engagement, and interconnectedness.

Developing heightened compassion for oneself and others.

Gaining access to a wider range of feelings.

Developing cognitive and emotional flexibility.

Gaining perspective on one’s identity and history.

Working through and releasing unhealthy levels of shame, guilt, and self-defeating beliefs.

Developing an appreciation of, and tolerance for, ambiguity and uncertainty.

Enhancing creative problem-solving abilities.

Improving self-care and healthy habit formation.

Decreasing or discontinuing addictive and self-destructive behaviors.”

While KAP can sometimes have radical improvements within a short period of time, for others, it can be a non-linear unfolding process of challenges and growth. We cannot promise a cure but we can commit to walking beside you along the way.

Whole Circle is a holistic mental health practice, and as such does not shy away from spirituality within healthcare. We firmly believe that transpersonal domains can offer profound healing, especially when combined with the use of medicine for consciousness growth, however, the practice is non-specific in that belief.

You are more than welcome regardless of your spiritual identity (or lack thereof). We ask that all members of the community hold one another with compassion, respect, and grace.

Any substance, activity, or lifestyle can invite addiction-like behavior. As a schedule III controlled substance with a well-known history of recreational use, it is understandable to wonder if Ketamine is addictive, however, there has been little research evidence to show addiction in short-term, clinical settings. Addiction has been seen in street use and at exceedingly high doses.

We do not recommend that you ingest ketamine without a prescription and monitoring from a medical provider. We also do not recommend daily ingestion, over a significant period of time, despite what at-home protocols or recent research may suggest.

Dr. Inez believes in as much transparency as possible in so far as it is promotive of healing. Dr. Inez has a professional and personal relationship with psychedelic medicines. She firmly believes in experiential learning and has significantly benefitted from the use of psychedelics to reduce problems of depression and anxiety. She is deeply aware of their sacredness and power, and as such she uses them solely for intentional journeying and healing purposes.

Dr. Inez accepts the following insurances: AETNA, CIGNA, BCBS, and OPTUM (UHC and others) for psychotherapy, medication management, preparation, and integration sessions. This significantly reduces the cost of services.

We accept insurance through Alma. Out-of-pocket services may receive a detailed invoice.

Insurances do not routinely cover KAP services, and as such, all journey sessions must be paid out-of-pocket. You can see our rates here.

Currently, Dr. Inez will treat populations between the ages of 18-65. She treats problems of depression, anxiety, trauma, adjustment, identity, LGBTQ+, and personal growth. She can treat ADHD.

Dr. Inez does not view people as diagnoses, however, she does not currently work with problems of psychosis, addiction, bipolar mania/depression, multiple medical comorbidities, or chronic pain.

Furthermore, Dr. Inez does not prescribe benzodiazepines for the use of anxiolysis or opiates as there is little evidence showing their long-term efficacy.

Regarding KAP, Dr. Inez provides oral and intramuscular administration only.

All KAP sessions will be delivered in person in our NOMAD office located at 286 5th Ave.

Psychotherapy, medication management, or any other talk therapy sessions are typically delivered via telehealth using our HIPAA-compliant software.

Dr. Inez primarily sees individuals for 60-minute combined psychotherapy and medication management sessions. However, she does set aside a small section of her caseload for medication management only.

For KAP, Dr. Inez offers preparation, journey and integration services. Dr. Inez is happy to work with you and your therapist for preparation and journeying purposes. If your therapist is KAP-trained, Dr. Inez offers prescription and psychiatric evaluation services.

To protect the integrity of my fiction, I primarily publish under a pseudonym. You can read my poetry and my blog on this website here and here.