Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an emergent modality that uses an altered state induced by ketamine to help patients deepen their work in psychotherapy. KAP is often done one-on-one with a therapist, but in that format, patients do not have a community of peers to rely on for support. Group KAP can be an opportunity to do so, while also advancing individual goals. While group KAP is not a replacement for individual KAP, it is a different modality with its own unique benefits. All group members will need to be connected to another mental health resource (ex: therapist, psychiatrist, coach, group therapy etc). The group facilitators will speak with you individually to make sure this modality is appropriate
Facilitator
Dr. Stephanie Waitt, LPC-S, CEDS is a licensed therapist supervisor with a private practice in Sherman, TX where she offers ketamine assisted psychotherapy and works with clients to prepare for and integrate after psychedelic experiences. Dr. Stephanie Waitt has been a licensed professional therapist and certified eating disorder specialist since 2008. She lives in Sherman TX and owns Texoma Specialty Counseling and The Recovery Academy. She works with women, young adults and teens to recover from eating disorders, disordered eating and trauma and helps clients find confidence and happiness. Stephanie is dedicated to helping individuals receive access to eating disorder treatment. She believes that everyone deserves quality and specialized treatment. Stephanie is also a licensed supervisor in the state of Texas and enjoys helping young professionals not only gain essential professional tools, but also learn how to care for self while managing the deep work we do. She is passionate about eating disorder awareness, eliminating mental health stigma, dogs, and Wonder Woman. You can find her spending time with her husband visiting book stores or a small town boutiques, and hanging out with her beloved Golden Retriever Prince Fenway and Corgi Lord Odin.
We will be joined by a certified sound healer and yoga instructor during our final dosing session. You can learn more about our sound and yoga teachers by clicking the button below
Group Size
Each group will be a closed cohort of 3-4 participants. We will max the group limit to 4 individuals.
Format
Each series will include three preparation sessions, three dosing sessions, and four integration sessions. Preparation and integration sessions will run for 1 ½ hours each via Zoom. Dosing sessions will be 3 ½ hours each and take place in-person in our wellness space at Texoma Specialty Counseling and Wellness. During preparation, participants will get to know one another and discuss their goals and intentions for working with ketamine. They may choose to discuss their previous work with ketamine or other psychedelic substances or non-substance-induced altered states, either recreational or therapeutic (or both). We will invite conversation about expectations, desires, anxieties and fears about the dosing session. As the facilitators, we will provide information about the ketamine experience and answer questions about the process.
The dosing sessions will include a group discussion, mindfulness exercise, co-creating a sacred space, an inward-facing ketamine journey, group processing and a light snack. The third dosing session will include live music with an invited sound practitioner. Participants will receive specific instructions on supplies to bring prior to this session. Dosing sessions will be followed by integration sessions where participants can process insights from the journey, make meaning of their experience and –most importantly– strategize about how to build practices in their life that will support these insights. The group will serve as both a supportive community and provide a level of accountability to following through on commitments to integration.
As the group facilitator, my role is to cultivate a safe environment and encourage deeper intimacy in conversation, which will enhance the therapeutic component of the group. Each participant will be screened by Dr. Stephanie in advance for appropriateness for the group and goodness of fit within the group. I will provide supplemental materials and resources for psychoeducational purposes and to enhance contemplative practices, which will be useful during non ordinary states of consciousness and integration.
Preparation
I encourage group participants to prepare for the group by clarifying their intentions and desires for participating. You will have an assessment session with Dr. Steph and we will begin the process of clarifying and setting intentions for your KAP experience during this initial meeting. Other things I may suggest to begin the KAP involve processes like journaling, meditation or other contemplative practices or embodiment practices such as yoga or dance. During the group, we can provide feedback on these practices, and the group may serve as a means of accountability. As the group progresses, participants will be encouraged to maintain these practices in between sessions as a means of preparing for and integrating the experiences from the medicine work. Both research and anecdotal evidence demonstrate that engagement in these practices will create better outcomes.
Pricing
There are two options for payment, you may be in full to secure all services or I will work with you if you need to pay in installments. If you wish you can elect to be charged the day of service but note that all sessions are required.
The total cost is $1,500.00 to be paid via SimplePractice - my Electronic Health Record and billing system. The group is priced at $50.00 per clinical hour, and each group is 3 clinical hours in duration = $150/group for a total of 30 clinical hours is $1500.
If you have out of network benefits, you may be able to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. We can provide you with documentation and a list of questions to ask your insurance to see whether the group might be covered; however we cannot guarantee reimbursement and payment will still be expected even if you are not reimbursed.
In addition, patients will be referred to Journey Clinical for a consultation with a nurse practitioner who will prescribe ketamine lozenges to participants if it is determined to be clinically appropriate. We cannot guarantee that participants will receive a prescription but can discuss counter indications on a general level to help determine if there are any obvious ruleouts.
The fee for Journey Clinical is $250.00 for an initial consult. Participants will be prescribed enough sub-lingual ketamine lozenges for the three dosing sessions.
Commitment
This is a closed group, meaning that the same members will participate each time and it will not be open to any new members for the duration of the series. Group participants will need to commit to and pay for the entire series. While conflicts may arise, the group cannot run without this full commitment and we cannot offer any refunds for missed sessions for any reason, including illness. If unexpected circumstances do arise, I will speak with participants about potential alternatives and will make every effort to accommodate them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have a bad experience?
While I cannot guarantee what sort of experience you will have during the ketamine session, some people do have challenging experiences. I will be present to support you through the dosing session. Even though the experience may be challenging, it may also bring to light important issues to address during integration. What additional support options might be available? For those who wish to continue working after the group is over, I will work with you to ensure that you are scheduled for follow up sessions.
Are people required to be in therapy for this experience?
There is no prerequisite to be in therapy to join the group, however, I do require all participants to be connected with some mental health resources that they can access for support after the completion of the program. This can include an individual therapist, group therapy, psychiatrist, coach, etc. since after the group, we will not be able to provide ongoing clinical support. We will offer referral resources for people who are interested in additional treatment.
Can I join with a friend?
We will evaluate friends who wish to join on a case-by-case basis. While this may work, issues may arise in group cohesion and we may ask friends to separate.
What kinds of indications would make me a good fit for the group?
This group is specifically for any licensed mental health professional. Anyone working in the field that is interested in KAP or curious about integrating this practice into your practice can experience this for yourself. This is also a great idea if you are experiencing therapy burnout, vicarious trauma, or life stress. You might be also be a great fit for the group if you are working through depression, addiction, anxiety, PTSD and other clinical diagnoses. Some people may require a higher level of care, and during the initial assessment interview, we will determine whether we are able to accommodate you in the group.
Next Steps
If you are interested in joining the next group, please review the preliminary schedule below and then contact me at stephanie@texomaspecialtycounseling.com or select the button below to email me directly. The first step will be to schedule a 15 minute screening call to determine preliminary eligibility.
Schedule
Preparation (in person) Thursday March 6, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Preparation (via zoom) Thursday March 13, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Preparation (via zoom) Thursday March 20, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Dosing #1 (in person) Friday March 28, 2025 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Integration (via zoom) Saturday March 29, 2025 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Dosing #2 (in person) Friday April 4, 2025 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Integration (via zoom) Saturday April 5, 2025 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Dosing #3 (in person) Friday April 11, 2025 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Integration (via zoom) Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Final Integration (in person) Thursday April 17, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM