FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Thanks so much for your interest in working together and/or learning more!
I’m floored by the positive reception around Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy in Alabama, as well as the interest in other Psychedelic Assisted Therapies (as they become FDA approved for a mental health counseling setting)! The significant interest in new tools to address our mental health crisis and degree of suffering on our planet are equally humbling.
Due to the exponential increase in demand for intensive therapy work (with Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, Brainspotting, and EMDR) and consultation around alternative and emerging therapies, and the limited number of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy specialists in the state, I’m continually strategizing around how to be the most helpful to our community while also making sure to avoid burn out by taking on too much.
To address this, I’ve written the following detailed responses to commonly asked questions.
If this brings up additional questions, or if this is all too much information, I would love to meet for a first appointment to talk further! If you can please complete the WAITLIST & GENERAL INTEREST SURVEY, I will get back to you as soon as possible!
WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
– I specialize in intensive therapy work (with Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, Brainspotting, and EMDR) and consultation about alternative and emerging therapies. Sessions are also available for integration, follow up, and check-ins if we have worked together previously.
More details about these services and my specialties can be found HERE.
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
– Birmingham, AL
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
– If you can please complete this WAITLIST & GENERAL INTEREST SURVEY, I will get back to you soon!
WHAT IS YOUR RATE?
– My rate is $250 for a 50-minute session. A sliding scale fee of $200 or $150 per 50-minute hour is available for those in financial need and is offered to every client in our first appointment. – While this hourly rate is high, there are additional costs associated with this therapy that are covered by session fees. Additionally, extensive time and resources are now being channeled into continued trainings to learn how to be a better practitioner and various projects to expand access to legal, ethical, and safe psychedelic experiences. This rate helps cover the miscellaneous expenses and time allocations involved in legitimizing psychedelic work in Alabama so we can make these options more widely available to you and our community! – Our first session will be 80 minutes but will be charged as a 50-minute meeting. – Payment is due at time of every session. I accept cash, check, debit, credit, HSA, and FSA.
INSURANCE
DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?
– Unfortunately, I do not take insurance. – If your insurance plan covers out-of-network providers, however, you may be eligible for reimbursement, and I'm happy to offer a 'superbill' so you can submit session claims if needed. – I realize that out of pocket therapy is a barrier for many, and my goal is to make this kind of work as accessible as possible. For the time being, however, I'm only able to provide these services out of pocket.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE INSURANCE?
– Even though intentionally engaging with non-ordinary consciousness for personal growth and development is a practice that dates back thousands of years, the use of consciousness altering medicines is an innovative approach within our current mental health system. Accordingly, psychedelic therapy and related services are not widely supported by insurance companies, particularly in Alabama. Even with insurance coverage, psychedelic-related services may not be compensated at this time without significant health care system changes and/or persistent advocacy efforts. – There are only so many hours in the day, and I'm trying to focus them less on insurance interactions, and more on therapy sessions, continued education, advocacy efforts in other domains, and creative undertakings to increase awareness and access to this approach in our area. – I worked exhaustively with insurance companies in my previous job and would like to continue exploring what's possible without those constraints. – Insurance requires a diagnosis on the first session, which has several drawbacks. (1.) I don't want to ascribe a label to you, the person, especially after knowing you for less than two hours; (2.) I don't want you to carry the stigma or identity of a diagnosis if they don't serve you; (3.) I'd like to explore the relationship between your presenting concerns and your life experience, rather than getting stuck on a label; and (4.) I don't want to potentially impact your future healthcare coverage or life plans, if either might be negatively influenced by a diagnosis. – I want to work with motivated clients who value our time together, and while the cost of therapy sessions is high, it's my hope that you find our work together to be worth it.
DOES INSURANCE COVER KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY?
– The superbill that I send only lists our therapy time together. For example, it would show that you were charged for a 50-minute or 240-minute therapy session. There’s no mention of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Your insurance company might have several questions about having a 240-minute session, and that may require following up with them to explain.
THERAPY SUPPORT
WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT ALL CLIENTS HAVE A PRIMARY THERAPIST?
– Since there are so few psychedelic therapy specialists in our state, I want to ensure that more members of our community are able to access these increasingly popular techniques. Accordingly, our work together will likely be focused around discussing various approaches that you may be curious to learn about and/or engaging with the techniques I offer. The nature of deep healing and lasting change often involves bringing repressed material to the surface so we can deal with it. The tools I offer are very effective at doing this, but the work doesn't stop there. Truly integrating whatever might come up during these experiences can take time, and having a regular ally to discuss and digest this for the days, months, and sometimes years afterwards can be invaluable. While I would love to remain this ongoing, regular support for everyone, I want to make sure these tools are as accessible as possible in our area. Recommending a primary therapist for every client is the best way I have found to make sure every client is set up for success in this powerful work, while also allowing more struggling people in our community to learn about and experience this approach. Participating in some sort of committed therapeutic work before an experience with non-ordinary consciousness can also enhance the results of this approach by adequately preparing your psyche for the journey, which is why I think this is so important. – For additional support beyond a therapist's office, I also recommend engaging in an integration support group and including friends and family in this process. Doing this can ensure that there's sufficient emotional space to process these experiences, and to make sure that others in your life can change alongside you. Viewing this work as a community undertaking that requires support from many directions can increase the likelihood of committed follow through and best possible outcomes from this approach.
COST EXPLANATION
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU LIKE THIS TYPE OF THERAPY TO COST?
– I would like this therapy to be accessible to EVERYONE RIGHT NOW!
These tools are incredibly important for so many reasons, and anything we can do to promote wider access is a mission I wholeheartedly support and actively engage with every day.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HELP WITH THE COST?
– While many of the following efforts may not help in the short-run, unfortunately, I'm always strategizing about how we can increase large-scale access to this approach. Some of the pursuits below hopefully reflect this. Even if these endeavors may not be relevant to you, directly, I wanted to include them here to illustrate concrete examples of doing what I can to increase access to Psychedelic Assisted Therapies, which includes Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. – In 2021 there were no psychedelic assisted therapy specialists in Alabama. My goal from the beginning has been to help legitimize this approach so that we can make it more available in the area. Hopefully by looking at the website, you can get a sense of the effort I've put into this mission. – Since opening private practice in 2021, I have consistently offered sliding scale rates and have engaged in pro bono work when I've been able to afford it. – In 2022, I partnered with Thank You Life (https://thankyoulife.org/), a charity organization for psychedelic assisted therapies, who offered two full sponsorships for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. – In 2022, I launched the Alabama Psychedelic Therapy Fund (https://bit.ly/AlabamaPsychedelicTherapyDonate), which was a hopeful, though unsuccessful, effort to raise funds to offset the cost of this work. (Note: If you would like to support their cause or sponsor a client, please consider supporting Thank You Life's local initiative to sponsor Alabama clients: https://www.kentonbartlettcounseling.com/nonprofit) – At the beginning of 2023, I launched a free psychedelic integration community that continues to offer peer-led integration support for members of our community who are engaged in intentional work with psychedelics. – In early 2023, I joined Alabama Entheogen, which is an advocacy group that works towards changing the laws in our state around psychedelic assisted therapies and medicines for increased access to those who may benefit. – In the summer of 2023, I reached out to other licensed clinicians in the area to begin building Alabama's Psychedelic Practitioner Community. The goal of this growing group is to bring together other clinicians in the area for peer supervision, education, and training around psychedelic therapy. As more therapists and physicians learn about this work, more will begin offering it, and it will become more widely available. – In 2023 I began making educational videos related to psychedelic safety. By increasing access to this information, my hope is that others may be able to use these tools in a safe and intentional way for the greatest possible benefit and least possible harm. – At the end of 2023, Thank You Life and I launched an ongoing fundraiser to sponsor struggling people in our community who may not otherwise have access to this form of therapy. You can learn more here: http://kentonbartlettcounseling.com/nonprofit – In early 2024, I participated in a fundraiser hosted by The Southeast Coalition of Psychedelic Practitioners (https://www.southeastpsychedeliccoalition.com/). This event seeks to raise money for individuals pursuing psychedelic therapy. If you would like to attend this event or contribute any financial resources, please reach out! – Since 2021, colleagues and I have presented many educational offerings to other clinicians, the general public, and to local lawmakers in order to increase public acceptance of this approach, and ultimately increase access.
WHY DOES KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY COST WHAT IT DOES?
– The biggest cost of this treatment is time with a specialized therapist. As it stands, my full rate is $250 with sliding scale options to $200 or $150 per 50-minute session. I acknowledge that this is a high price per hour, and this covers the extensive resources that are being channeled back into ongoing, extensive trainings to become a better practitioner, as well as projects intended to expand access to this approach, generate more affordable opportunities for psychedelic assisted therapies, and legitimize this modality in Alabama. Additionally, this is market rate for a fully trained, licensed, and experienced therapist with additional specialties, and also falls in line with other specialists offering Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (see this for comparison: https://www.polarisinsight.com/services/fee/). – Furthermore, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a time-intensive approach, which requires several preparation meetings before engaging in the first four-hour KAP session. While you may get everything you’re looking for in a single KAP session, it could be more constructive to look at each journey as a single puzzle piece that will require more than one puzzle piece to make sense. Accordingly, I recommend thinking about this as a series of (approximately) four KAP sessions, with integration in between. After every KAP session, I encourage extended reflection, and that time period is different for everyone. Completing four journeys could be accomplished within two weeks on an intensive schedule, or over the course of a year or longer, allowing ample time to integrate each experience. – Other costs associated with this treatment would be an appointment fee with a medical provider, and your purchase of any prescribed medicine (i.e., Ketamine lozenges, anti-nausea medication). This would generally be an upfront cost, as one prescription will last for several KAP sessions.
HOW CAN I REDUCE THE PRICE?
– To lower expense, you could participate in integration sessions with an insurance-paneled therapist or engage in various integration practices independently, like journaling about your experience, sharing with an open-minded listener, or joining an integration group.
You can also space out sessions on whatever timeline feels appropriate, or engage in fewer sessions overall.
COST BREAKDOWN
WHAT WILL THIS COST?
– Our work together can take many shapes!
Please check out the THERAPY page for an overview of how much time is required for each of the techniques we could try together. Included there are a few 'intensive' protocols, which offer general guidelines about what series of sessions may best suit your needs.
All protocols are flexible, and we can work together to talk through what might work best! Listed below are two intensive protocols and what the cost would be at full rate compared to the lowest sliding scale.
Additionally, the cost of a single consultation session at the lowest rate is included below. This would be a great first step if you're curious about this approach and would like to meet to get to know each other, discuss you specific circumstance, and explore different options!
LOWEST RATE, CONSULTATION SESSION:
Consultation Session – 1 X $150 = $150
TOTAL COST: $150
LOWEST RATE, 'SAMPLE PACK' INTENSIVE:
Preparation sessions (includes Brainspotting, no Ketamine) – 2 X $150 = $300
Medical provider appointment & medical assessment – $250
Ketamine prescription (as discussed with medical provider, generally will last for several sessions) – $50
Anti-nausea medication prescription (as discussed with medical provider) – $20
Ketamine session #1 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $600
Integration session (50 minutes, no Ketamine) – $150
EMDR session (100 minutes, no Ketamine) – $300
Check in / Follow up session (no Ketamine) – $150
TOTAL COST: $1,820
FULL RATE, 'SAMPLE PACK' INTENSIVE:
Preparation sessions (includes Brainspotting, no Ketamine) – 2 X $250 = $500
Medical provider appointment & medical assessment – $250
Ketamine prescription (as discussed with medical provider, generally will last for several sessions) – $50
Anti-nausea medication prescription (as discussed with medical provider) – $20
Ketamine session #1 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $1,000
Integration session (50 minutes, no Ketamine) – $250
EMDR session (100 minutes, no Ketamine) – $500
Check in / Follow up session (no Ketamine) – $250
TOTAL COST: $2,820
LOWEST RATE, SLIDING SCALE, MONTH-LONG KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY INTENSIVE:
Preparation sessions (no Ketamine) – 2 X $150 = $300
Medical provider appointment & medical assessment – $250
Ketamine prescription (as discussed with medical provider, generally will last for several sessions) – $50
Anti-nausea medication prescription (as discussed with medical provider) – $20
Ketamine session #1 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $600
Integration sessions (no Ketamine) – $150 per session X 2 = $300
Ketamine session #2 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $600
Integration sessions (no Ketamine) – $150 per session X 2 = $300
Ketamine session #3 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $600
Integration sessions (no Ketamine) – $150 per session X 2 = $300
Ketamine session #4 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $600
Integration sessions (no Ketamine) – $150 per session X 2 = $300
Follow up sessions (weeks or months later) – $150 per session X 2 = $300
TOTAL COST: $4,520
FULL RATE, MONTH-LONG KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY INTENSIVE:
Preparation sessions (no Ketamine) – 2 X $250 = $500
Medical provider appointment & medical assessment – $250
Ketamine prescription (as discussed with medical provider, generally will last for several sessions) – $50
Anti-nausea medication prescription (as discussed with medical provider) – $20
Ketamine session #1 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $1,000
Integration sessions (no Ketamine) – $250 per session X 2 = $500
Ketamine session #2 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $1,000
Integration sessions (no Ketamine) – $250 per session X 2 = $500
Ketamine session #3 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $1,000
Integration sessions (no Ketamine) – $250 per session X 2 = $500
Ketamine session #4 (4-hours, with Ketamine) – $1,000
Integration sessions (no Ketamine) – $250 per session X 2 = $500
Follow up sessions (weeks or months later) – $250 per session X 2 = $500
TOTAL COST: $7,320
DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS UPFRONT?
– Not at all! All therapy sessions are 'pay-as-you-go.' Only Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions are required to be paid for 7 days in advance for single sessions or 14 days in advance for intensives, due to the time that must be reserved for these sessions. Additionally, my general posture is to be present and available for any work you would like to do, while encouraging you to trust your own intuition about the number of sessions you would like to engage in and their frequency. Meeting for a first appointment is a great first step to see if this approach feels right for you. If you would like to proceed after that, I would love to continue! However, you are never locked in to any ongoing sessions.
DO I HAVE TO DO THIS ALL AT ONCE?
– The timeline is up to you! There are many ways to use Ketamine, and different philosophies around how to get the most out of this medicine. Completing a series of four Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions could be done intensively, within a couple weeks, or could be spaced out over the course of a year or two— allowing ample time to fully digest any insights that may have surfaced. We do not yet have definitive data on the optimal number or spacing of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions, and there could be benefits to various approaches. Additionally, what's neat about psychedelic medicine work is that it allows us to connect more deeply with ourselves and foster a sturdier sense of self-trust, which can often be an essential element towards the deep healing that can come about as a result of this work. With this in mind, even though I'm here for questions, feedback, and support, this is your journey, and you know best about what you need. My encouragement is always to trust yourself about what you would like this to look like, and the length of time between sessions.
A FULL COURSE OF TREATMENT IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME RIGHT NOW, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS?
– Again, please know my commitment to making this more accessible as soon as possible. My heart aches at the suffering in our world, and my most sincere goal is to be of as much assistance as possible to our local community while knowing I'm limited as a single therapist. Additionally, because this approach is so new to our mental health system, and especially to Alabama, it's essential that this work be carried out at the highest standards to ensure the best possible outcomes, as well as positive word of mouth. I continue to explore scholarship opportunities to ensure that this treatment can be available to EVERYONE. At the same time, because this is such a powerful approach that can necessitate ongoing sessions and simultaneous therapeutic support from a primary therapist, those who engage in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy are encouraged to have adequate and ongoing options for emotional support before and after these experiences. Having these elements in place will increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for those who pursue this treatment, and therefore increase the likelihood of expanding access for psychedelic assisted therapies as soon as possible. – Meanwhile, I realize that the economics of this treatment, as well as barriers to access in our mental health system as a whole can be frustrating on many levels. If the cost of these services brings about additional frustration, please consider directing this energy at changing our health care system, or the institutions that have created barriers that limit access these invaluable tools, rather than at clinicians like myself, who work hard to make this approach more accessible. – If we haven't met, I hope it's evident that my heart is in this for the right reasons. I work extremely hard to educate our community about these invaluable tools, continue learning how to provide the best possible care with this high-impact approach, and explore creative paths for more of us to access the benefits of psychedelic medicines. Meanwhile, this field is rapidly evolving, and I hope that very soon there will be no financial barriers for anyone seeking psychedelic-assisted therapies, supported by trained and licensed therapists. If you would like to contribute to this cause and help others who may need assistance, please check out the 'NON-PROFIT' section of this website!
SUPPORTING A LOVED ONE
MY LOVED ONE IS REALLY STRUGGLING.
I'VE READ A LOT ABOUT HOW KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (OR PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY) CAN HELP, AND I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT FIT. CAN YOU HELP THEM?
– I would love to work with them! However, as much as you want them to change, they have to want this for themselves. This applies with any therapy, and especially with psychedelics, as they are powerful tools that amplify the contents of the mind. The results will likely not be what you are looking for unless the motivation and desire for change comes from the individual themselves. Therefore, I strongly recommend your loved one complete the waitlist form, rather than you completing it on their behalf. If your loved one is resistant to this, and/or if you are at a loss for how to help them, I would encourage you to consider pursuing psychedelic work yourself. While this may immediately seem irrelevant, psychedelics may help you find peace within yourself about your loved one who may not be ready or able to change at this time.
MY LOVED ONE IS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THEIR JOURNEY WITH KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (OR PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY). HOW CAN I HELP?
– Talking with them about what they need from you is the best thing you can do! This might involve listening with an open mind, giving them space to process independently, or collaborating on various life changes that might support their overall mental health. Sometimes these journeys bring to light various patterns of thought and behavior that may have been contributing to different forms of suffering. Using that information to sustain those constructive changes in daily life, with your support, can greatly increase positive outcomes from this approach. – If it feels right, engaging in journey work yourself might also be a way of accelerating your own personal growth and having greater empathy for what your loved one might be going through during this process. – Having your own therapist during this time could additionally allow space to process anything that might be unfolding as you both navigate this new terrain together.
MANAGED EXPECTATIONS
I'VE HEARD THAT ONE EXPERIENCE WITH KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERPAY (OR OTHER PSYCEHDELIC MEDICINES) CAN BE LIFE CHANGING. IS THIS TRUE?
– The mental health applications of psychedelic medicines are exciting! However, we must be careful not to over-hype, over-promise, or over-expect what they can offer. While it is true that some people have seen life-changing movement after a single psychedelic journey, the majority of people who engage with these tools require multiple experiences and ongoing processing in between to see the kinds of shifts that might be hoped for. With this in mind, Ketamine is best looked at as a boost to make constructive life changes, or arrive at useful therapeutic insights, and not a remedy in and of itself. It works most effectively when clients take it seriously. And many clients find that the most benefit comes from completing a series of sessions, rather than a single experience, which is why I recommend thinking of this a series of approximately four journeys with integration in between. Additionally, it is not a cure. And unfortunately, it may not work at all. 30% of people don't respond to Ketamine, and many who do respond relapse afterwards. It cannot be overstated how important it is to manage expectations for this treatment to avoid despair on the backend. – If this approach doesn't work, there are other options. Some of these include EMDR, ACT, DBT, CBT, IFS, TMS, neurofeedback, polyvagal theory, meditation, reiki, energy healing, acupuncture, biofield tuning, float tank therapy, dark meditation retreats, somatic experiencing, holotropic breathwork, The Tapping Solution, The Wim Hof Method, Vision Quest, Muse Alchemy, sensorimotor psychotherapy, the Hakomi method, psychic mediumship, hypnosis, regression therapy, holistic yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, wilderness therapy, forest bathing, salt rooms, Vipassana meditation retreats, sweat lodges, herbal remedies, psychotropic medication, and so on. New drugs and treatments are being developed daily. There are also legal ways to pursue a wide range of psychedelic medicines (Psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, Ayahuasca, Iboga, Ibogaine, etc.) and many avenues to explore other non-chemical practices to find some relief.
NOTES FOR CLINICIANS
MY CLIENT IS PURSUING KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (OR PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY) WORK. HOW CAN I SUPPORT THEM?
– Your support in this process is essential! If you've never worked with a client in this capacity, the best thing you can do is engage with their process with an open mind and curiosity. There's no explicit protocol for integrating these experiences, and the main idea is taking what happened during a journey with non-ordinary consciousness and incorporating these new insights and other concrete changes into daily life. The work you have already been doing with your client puts them in a great position for intentional psychedelic work, as many insights may finally 'click.' Your continued presence and engagement with your client during this process is an invaluable part of their journey!
I'M INTERESTED IN LEARNING TO PROVIDE PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE?
– There are many paths towards working directly with psychedelic medicines, and none of them should be taken lightly. Some of these include becoming a licensed therapist with specialties in psychedelic-assisted therapies, a ‘trip sitter,’ a facilitator in an entheogenic church, an ‘underground’ guide, a life coach or integration coach, and so on. Due to the complexity of legal restrictions around psychedelics and the unprecedented nature of working with these medicines in our culture at this time, it’s hard to say what the ‘best’ path would be. However, I’m personally quite nervous about the high potential of causing harm with these powerful molecules without excessive training, oversight, and accountability to a well-defined code of ethics. Even with these measures in place, these medicines remain extremely complex to work with, pose numerous risks, and can cause serious, lasting injury. I worry that the skyrocketing popularity of psychedelics and enthusiasm to work with them to treat our urgent mental health crisis will lead to unsafe situations and significant, unintentional harm due to a lack of adequate training and the long list of unknowns around these medicines. With this in mind, I would recommend whichever path can provide sufficient, multi-year training to do this work safely. In our culture, becoming a well-trained and fully licensed mental health therapist is an excellent first step in learning to work with the general public around delicate mental health challenges with the appropriate supervision, oversight, and ethical guidelines to do this safely. While there are certainly drastic areas for improvement within our current mental health system, becoming a trained and licensed therapist is currently the gold standard in the United States to engage with the public in this way. After going through this traditional training, seeing what’s possible with tried-and-true talk therapy techniques, and becoming proficient in this way, seeking additional training to incorporate psychedelics would be a great next step. It is unfortunate that most masters programs that train therapists do not yet include education around psychedelic-assisted therapies (with the exception of a few universities like CIIS). However, in my opinion, a sturdy foundation as a ‘therapist’ is a necessary precursor to becoming a ‘psychedelic therapist.’ – Because the therapy route is the one I’m most familiar with, my advice here is certainly biased in this direction. There are, of course, other valid paths to work with these medicines and many who do it well. One example includes shamans and healers in indigenous cultures, who have been working with non-ordinary consciousness for centuries. Many of the best at their craft devoted their entire lives to it, without ever stepping foot in a therapy classroom. All this to say, there are many legitimate avenues towards work with these medicines, and I’m unable to offer input on many of them. I only know that the potential to cause unintentional harm is high, the complexity and power of these medicines should not be underestimated, the need for oversight is warranted, the unfortunate risk of abuse increases significantly without professional accountability, and the requirement to devote significant time, energy, and resources into ongoing education is mandatory to do this well.
WHAT WAS YOUR TRAINING TO DO THIS WORK?
– My own path was that I completed the necessary training as a licensed therapist and worked for seven years at an eating disorder clinic to build skills as a talk therapist. This extensive background working with trauma, suicidality, and complicated clinical scenarios was an essential foundation to my work with psychedelics, as these medicines only amplify the elaborate intensity of the psyche. At the end of 2020, I had my first experience with psychedelics and became extremely curious and passionate about how these tools can help others. After this spark of inspiration, I completed two training programs: Polaris Insight Center for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and MAPS for MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy. I learned a lot from both programs, and found tremendous benefit from the in-person experiential retreat through Polaris. After beginning to offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy at the end of 2021, I have sought many additional trainings and continue to learn every day about these powerful medicines and how to harness their potential most effectively to benefit others. Despite all of this training, experience, and dedication to providing this work at the highest possible standards, I still feel like a relative beginner and am eager to continue learning and growing in this field!
I'M ALREADY A THERAPIST AND WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (OR PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY). DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE?
– Doing your own psychedelic medicine work in safe and legal settings with trained professionals is an essential aspect in learning about this approach. If you can find some way to access intentional work with these tools, I think firsthand experiences are the best teachers. Additionally, there are many opportunities for psychedelic trainings, and I would recommend diving into the ones that sound interesting and branching out from there. Learning as much from books, documentaries, academic articles, and podcasts is also an excellent habit, and the ‘EDUCATION’ section of this website includes several recommendations. Because this approach isn’t yet widely integrated into our culture, and because we are currently lacking in formal, oversight organizations for psychedelic-assisted therapies, the burden falls on practitioners to be especially competent to ensure that this work is practiced at the highest level of safety. This includes building trust with our communities by continuing to learn as much as possible and demonstrating commitment to abiding by best practices. – Beyond the medicines themselves, there are several complimentary and supportive techniques that don't require any external chemical, and getting trained in those could be invaluable. At the end of 2021, for example, I discovered Brainspotting as a therapy technique, which is an excellent tool that any therapist can use right now without controversy. It operates on similar principles as psychedelic therapy (namely the ‘Inner Healing Intelligence’ philosophy), feels similar to a low-grade psychedelic experience, and requires no medicine. Additionally, the introductory course can be completed in a weekend, which allows clinicians to begin practicing with this simple technique. If you’re familiar with Brainspotting, a quick note is that I typically use 'Gazespotting' in sessions, because I have found this intuitive technique to complement the self-trusting benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy. EMDR is another therapy tool with some similarities to the psychedelic process. It can can feel a little like a low-grade, highly-targeted psychedelic experience. Internal Family Systems and Somatic Experiencing are additional complimentary techniques that could be learned and practiced right now, without specializing in psychedelic medicines. Holotropic Breathwork is another modality worth mentioning. This technique offers windows into non-ordinary consciousness by simply modifying the breath, and it was popularized by Dr. Stanislav Grof, who is a thought-leader in psychedelics and psychiatry. – As you start becoming proficient with various techniques and medicines, I’d also like to note that I think Ketamine is underrated for its inner healing potential. It is extremely safe when approached professionally. It’s also fully legal and all doctors can prescribe it (however, most are reluctant to prescribe Ketamine due to liability). Additionally, Ketamine can be used with nearly all psychiatric medications, which makes it a viable option for many people struggling with mental health concerns. Whereas classical psychedelics, like Psilocybin and MDMA, have more medication interactions and therefore would not be appropriate for many people. If you can learn to work well with Ketamine, you will be equipped to work with other medicines as they become more available in our culture.
I'D LOVE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS!
CAN WE SET UP A TIME?
– Absolutely! I'm incredibly passionate about this subject and would love to speak with you if you're interested in engaging in this work professionally so we can continue building our community of providers and facilitators to expand access. However, due to the demands on time and overwhelming interest in this subject, I am unfortunately unable to engage in detailed discussions beyond consultation sessions. This is a complex subject, and I want to make sure we have enough time to answer any questions and compile resources to send afterwards if needed! Even though this would require an upfront expense, I'm hopeful that talking more about your specific circumstance and sharing any relevant information from years of devoted specialized training, personal experience, and clinical practice will be worth it. – In the meantime, check out the media page (https://www.kentonbartlettcounseling.com/media), which includes educational material and recommendations on where to learn more! – I'm excited to begin a professional relationship together as colleagues in this space and am excited to see how we can continue legitimizing and expanding this important work.
HIPAA
HIPAA POLICY
– You will have an opportunity to review my HIPAA-compliant privacy policy when filling out intake paperwork. In the meantime, I'm required to publicly list it, which can be viewed here: Privacy Policy
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
THIS IS TOO MUCH INFORMATION! CAN WE SET UP A TIME TO MEET TO TALK THROUGH MY QUESTIONS?
– Absolutely! If you can please complete this WAITLIST SURVEY, we can coordinate a first session to talk through any questions you may have!
Due to demands on time and the complexity of these techniques, I'm unable to verbally engage beyond session times or respond in depth to e-mails. Having a full session will allow enough time to discuss some of the specifics of your life and thoroughly answer any questions you may have without feeling rushed.
I appreciate your understanding around this and hope we can meet soon to cover any ground that may be helpful!