Frequently Asked Questions

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No one has remained indefinitely in the hypnotic state. The state can be terminated at will. It is as simple as opening the eyes. You cannot get stuck in hypnosis and not “wake up.”

In many cases, one or two sessions may enable a person to successfully break a habit. However, in most cases, it requires several sessions before the desired result is obtained. It is not a panacea meaning it cannot cure all human problems and do it instantly. 

90% of people can be hypnotized. Every time that you practice and go into hypnosis it becomes easier and easier. 

It takes imagination and a willingness to participate in hypnosis. The more intelligent and imaginative the person, the easier it is to hypnotize them. The best hypnosis subject is a person who has a definite reason or motivation for wanting to be hypnotized. 

You cannot be hypnotized against your will. You must “want” to be hypnotized for it to happen. 

In hypnosis, a person cannot go against his or her moral principles. They have the power to select on the suggestions they are willing to accept. They will reject any improper suggestions. 

In hypnosis, your awareness is increased. If a person falls asleep, that person is not in hypnosis. In hypnosis you are fully conscious and aware of everything going on. You are fully aware of what is being said to you and what you are saying. 

No. You do not need to be in a deep state of hypnosis to receive the incredible benefits. Beneficial results can come from taking suggestions while in a light trance. 

You can be relaxed and yet not be hypnotized. You can also be hypnotized and yet not relaxed. Relaxation is only one aspect of the work. 

No. A hypnotist cannot make someone do something that they would not do normally and empowers the client to access this state. It is all to allow the client to make positive changes on their own. 

The subconscious mind is an incredible gauge on what a person can handle when it comes to content coming up in a session. Nothing will come up that you do not have the capacity for. If something comes up that you do not want to share, you have the power to not share it. However, I am here to help you process anything that comes up. 

I charge $150 per hour and accept cash, checks, and credit cards at the time of appointment. I do not bill insurance, however, I provide you with a superbly at the end of each month that you can submit to your insurance company. Before booking an appointment, I suggest calling the number on the back of your insurance card to inquire about your 'out-of-network' therapy benefits and learn how to submit an out-of-network reimbursement claim. 

I require a 48 hour cancellation notice for all sessions. If a session is cancelled after the 48 hour window, you will be charged 100% cost of the session. A repeated pattern of 2 or more late cancellations will result in a cessation of services and a referral to another provider. 

Ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a mental health treatment method that involves using Ketamine’s trance-inducing and pain-relieving properties to help individuals work through various mental and emotional issues. Ketamine’s dissociative and pain-managing processes help individuals safely explore emotions and memories held within the mind and body. Thus, making Ketamine a very nontraditional therapy tool. 

Most people describe the ketamine experience as deeply relaxing, calm, and a bit dreamlike. You’ll remain aware of where you are, able to communicate, and able to respond if you need anything. Many clients feel lighter, more open, or more connected to their inner world — similar to observing their thoughts and emotions from a new perspective.

You won’t lose control of your mind or behavior. You may feel detached from your usual worries or sense of self for a short period, but you’re still conscious, safe, and supported the entire time. Your therapist stays with you, monitors you, and guides the process. The goal is not to “take over” your mind, but to create a gentle, spacious state where insight, healing, and new patterns can naturally emerge.

Most clients say the experience feels meaningful, peaceful, and manageable — and that they felt safe and supported throughout.

In most cases, the medication is in the form of a lozenge that is swished in the mouth for 15 minutes before spitting or swallowing. Shortly after, patients will start to feel the dissociative effects. For the next 45 minutes or so, with the therapist monitoring, patients will explore whatever the medicine journey provides. 

You may experience important changes in personality, mood and cognition during treatment, in the aftermath, and in the days and weeks that follow. Some experiences may be temporarily disturbing to you. The ketamine experience itself is designed to enable your own healing wisdom to be accessed and beneficial to you. The psychotherapy support you will receive will aid you in making your experience(s) valuable and understandable to you. We will endeavor to assist you in changing patterns of mind and behavior that are of concern and cause you difficulty.

New patients are asked to make a commitment for five preparation sessions, six lozenge sessions, followed by six post medicine integration sessions. Please understand you are able to withdraw from treatment at any time. 

Before participating in ketamine treatment, you will be carefully interviewed to determine if you are eligible for ketamine therapy by a prescribing physician referred by therapist, including a medical history, a physical exam if deemed necessary, review of your medical/psychiatric records, a psychiatric history and administration of brief psychological tests to assess your state of mind. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are not eligible because of potential effects on the fetus, or nursing child. The effects of ketamine on pregnancy and the fetus are undetermined, and therefore, it is advisable to protect against pregnancy while exposing yourself to ketamine or in the immediate aftermath of its use. Untreated hypertension is a contraindication to ketamine use as the substance causes a rise in BP. Similarly, a history of heart disease may make you ineligible to participate. Information on ketamine’s interaction with other medicines is only partially available and it will be assessed as to your eligibility for KAP. Ketamine should not be taken if you have untreated hyperthyroidism. There have also been reports of some decrease in immune function in patients receiving surgical doses of ketamine. Ketamine has an extensive record of safety and has been used at much higher doses for surgical anesthesia, without respiratory depression.

You will be asked to lie still during the ketamine administration because your sense of balance and coordination will be adversely affected until the drug’s effect has worn off–generally two hours. It is possible you may fall asleep. Other possibilities for adverse effects include blurred and uncomfortable vision (you are advised to keep your eyes closed until the main effects have worn off), slurred speech, mental confusion, excitability, diminished ability to see things that are actually present, diminished ability to hear or to feel objects accurately including one’s own body, anxiety, nausea and vomiting. Visual, tactile and auditory processing are affected by the drug. Music that may be familiar is not ordinary. Synesthesia—a mingling of the senses may occur. Ordinary sense of time will morph into time dilation. Because of the risk of nausea and vomiting, please refrain from eating and drinking for at least the 4 hours preceding the session. And eat lightly when you do. Hydrate well in that same time frame. If you are unduly nauseated, you may be offered Sea bands which can reduce nausea naturally using acupressure points on the wrists. Ketamine generally causes a significant increase in blood pressure but usually not pulse rate. If you have a history of high blood pressure and monitoring reveals that your blood pressure is too high the day of your treatment, you may be asked to delay administration.

Agitation may occur during the course of a ketamine session. The administration of Ketamine may also cause the following adverse reactions: tachycardia (elevation of pulse), diplopia (double vision), nystagmus (rapid eye movements), elevation of intraocular pressure (feeling of pressure in the eyes) and anorexia (loss of appetite). However, with low dose oral lozenges these agitations are less likely.

Driving an automobile or engaging in hazardous activities should not be undertaken after your KAP session until the following day. You should have someone who knows your general state of mind drive you home from your first treatment. You will be assessed for safety prior to leaving the office premises. In terms of psychological risk, ketamine has been shown to worsen certain psychotic symptoms in people who suffer from Schizophrenia or other serious Mental Disorders. It may also worsen underlying psychological problems in people with severe Personality Disorders. During the experience itself, some people have reported frightening and unusual experiences. These frightening experiences, however, may be of paramount value to your transition to recovery from the suffering that brought you to your KAP work. They will stop! You will receive psychotherapeutic help and ongoing guidance from your therapist.

Ketamine belongs to the same group of chemicals as Phencyclidine (Sernyl, PCP, “Angel dust”). This group of chemical compounds is known chemically as Arylcyclohexylamines and is classified as Hallucinogens (“Psychedelics”). Ketamine is a controlled substance and is subject to Schedule III rules under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. Medical evidence regarding the issue of drug abuse and dependence suggests that ketamine’s abuse potential is equivalent to that of phencyclidine and other hallucinogenic substances. Phencyclidine and other hallucinogenic compounds do not meet criteria for chemical dependence, since they do not cause tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. However, “cravings” have been reported by individuals with the history of heavy use of “psychedelic” drugs. In addition, ketamine can have effects on mood (feelings), cognition (thinking), and perception (imagery) that may make some people want to use it repeatedly. Therefore, ketamine should never be used except under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. Repeated, high dose, chronic use of ketamine has caused urinary tract symptoms and even permanent bladder dysfunction is individuals abusing the drug. This does not occur within the framework of our proposed treatment paradigm. You will be provided just the amount of lozenges necessary for your treatment. They have no significant street value.

Yes, after several preparation sessions, you will be referred to one of my medical providers who will independently schedule and charge for the medical intake and prescribing for ketamine. You will be responsible for coordinating and picking up your ketamine prescription. I do not prescribe or provide any medication.