KAP Chaperone Guidelines
What is the role of a KAP chaperone for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) at Journey Clinical?
In the context of ketamine-assisted-psychotherapy at Journey Clinical, the chaperone provides support and assistance when the therapist is not physically present in the room. This individual is an adult (18+ years old) and a reliable and trusted person in the patient’s life, such as a partner, close friend, family member, or roommate, with whom the patient shares a positive and uncomplicated relationship. During the session, they may be asked for assistance by either the therapist or the patient as needed. For in-person KAP sessions, the role of the chaperone is to pick up the patient and accompany them home.
Before the session
When may a chaperone be asked to help?
In Case of Emergency: Contact 911 or go to the nearest emergency room and inform the therapist. In addition, please fill out the Adverse Events Form or text 999 to 936-251-5362 once it’s safe to do so. A member of our medical team will review your submission and contact you shortly via phone to develop an action plan.
Learn more about KAP at Journey Clinical
Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. At Journey Clinical we use oral lozenges alongside psychotherapy in what we refer to as Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, or KAP. A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-3 hours and can take place either in-person, remotely via telehealth, or self-guided with check-ins. A chaperone is required for remote and self-guided KAP. During a dosing session with Journey Clinical, patients self-administer their vitals and their ketamine lozenge. After this the patient will typically be in a comfortable, reclined position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. The peak effects of ketamine last for approximately 45 minutes. Once these effects subside, the patient will rest, and may process and discuss the experience on their own or with their therapist.
In the context of ketamine-assisted-psychotherapy at Journey Clinical, the chaperone provides support and assistance when the therapist is not physically present in the room. This individual is an adult (18+ years old) and a reliable and trusted person in the patient’s life, such as a partner, close friend, family member, or roommate, with whom the patient shares a positive and uncomplicated relationship. During the session, they may be asked for assistance by either the therapist or the patient as needed. For in-person KAP sessions, the role of the chaperone is to pick up the patient and accompany them home.
Before the session
- Show up in person 15 minutes before the KAP session begins
- Exchange phone numbers with the KAP patient’s therapist and check-in before the session
- Agree on check-in frequency with patient and therapist (e.g. non-verbal eye check every 15 minutes for self-guided KAP)
- Provide a distraction-free environment during the KAP session (e.g. keep kids and pets away with low noise level)
- Stay within voice-range and check-in on the patient based on agreed upon frequency
- Serve as point of contact for the therapist via text and/or phone call
- Help the KAP patient as needed (see below some examples)
- As needed, follow emergency process outlined below
- Stay with the patient until they are alert, able to move around safely, and feel comfortable on their own
When may a chaperone be asked to help?
- Physical Support: The dissociative nature of ketamine can be disorienting, so a patient’s balance could be poor and they may need help from the chaperone to stand up, move and walk to and from the bathroom, especially in a home with stairs.
- Technical Issues: Ideally, the patient’s technological set up is working (e.g. laptops, headphones/speakers are fully charged, the music is ad free etc.). In case of a technological difficulty, the therapist or the patient may ask the chaperone to help.
- Environmental Disturbances: In case unexpected disruptions arise, such as new people entering or increased noise levels, the chaperone helps manage these factors, maintaining a quiet and focused environment for the patient.
In Case of Emergency: Contact 911 or go to the nearest emergency room and inform the therapist. In addition, please fill out the Adverse Events Form or text 999 to 936-251-5362 once it’s safe to do so. A member of our medical team will review your submission and contact you shortly via phone to develop an action plan.
Learn more about KAP at Journey Clinical
Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. At Journey Clinical we use oral lozenges alongside psychotherapy in what we refer to as Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, or KAP. A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-3 hours and can take place either in-person, remotely via telehealth, or self-guided with check-ins. A chaperone is required for remote and self-guided KAP. During a dosing session with Journey Clinical, patients self-administer their vitals and their ketamine lozenge. After this the patient will typically be in a comfortable, reclined position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music. The peak effects of ketamine last for approximately 45 minutes. Once these effects subside, the patient will rest, and may process and discuss the experience on their own or with their therapist.
Hi {insert name},
has informed me that they would like for you to be their chaperone during their upcoming ketamine assisted therapy session. In advance of that session, it is very important that you read through the below information to ensure the safety of {insert client name} during our session.
Please review the below information and reply via email to acknowledge that you have completed your review. I look forward to seeing you during the session!
Just before ketamine intake, we will have you take their vitals and text them to me:
When they are ready, they will place tabs under their tongue and begin swishing:
You will know when they are finished by them taking off their eye shades:
When they are finished, you must take vitals again and text them to me
Some additional guidance for after their session:
My cell phone number is: 626-390-0966
In case of emergency call 911
I have much gratitude to you for your support in this journey. Thank you for being a part of this beautiful process!!
has informed me that they would like for you to be their chaperone during their upcoming ketamine assisted therapy session. In advance of that session, it is very important that you read through the below information to ensure the safety of {insert client name} during our session.
Please review the below information and reply via email to acknowledge that you have completed your review. I look forward to seeing you during the session!
- Please familiarize yourself with the chaperone guidelines on Journey Clinical’s website and basics of ketamine assisted therapy, here is a page with a couple articles I recommend for this purpose
- Make an internal commitment to be fully present with yourself and with your person during their session
- Prior to the session, if needed consider regulating your own nervous system with some deep breathing exercises (e.g., 4 seconds in, 4 second pause, 7 seconds out, 4 seconds pause)
- Help your person prepare a “sacred space” for their journey (set and setting are very important) by going over the following with them prior to their session:
- Create a clean, comfortable, cozy space, with a pleasing smell that feels safe
- Keep noises and distractions away (including pets)
- Discuss dosing with your person and prepare the ketamine tablets
- Have a spit cup handy
- Have a pair of eyeshades ready
- Have a blood pressure cuff ready (and charged)
- Have a pair of headphones ready (and charged)
- Ensure a downloaded music playlist is ready
- Discuss physical touch and what your person says is ok and not ok
- Remind your person to use the restroom at the beginning of their session and brush their teeth and gums for increased ketamine absorption
- Decide with them if you are to stay in the room the whole time or be in another room WITHIN VOICE RANGE
- Have a journal or art supplies ready for them for immediately after their session
- Remind yourself and your person that this is an INWARD journey for them
- Even before your person takes the ketamine tablets, they have already entered their own journeying space. This is an important time for them so minimal to no talking is suggested once details have been communicated. Once they begin swishing, no interacting with them unless they ask for it. This is an internal process for them.
Just before ketamine intake, we will have you take their vitals and text them to me:
- MAX VITALS TO CONTINUE WITH KETAMINE ARE
- Blood pressure - 160/90
- Heart rate - 110
- Blood pressure - 160/90
- If vitals are too high it's not a big deal
- We will encourage them to take some slower belly breaths with a slightly prolonged exhale (e.g., 4 seconds in, 4 second pause, 7 seconds out, 4 second pause) for 3-5 minutes and then try again
- They can not proceed with taking the ketamine until their vitals are under the max threshold
When they are ready, they will place tabs under their tongue and begin swishing:
- You or I will set a timer for 12 minutes and keep track of time
- If your person wishes, you may be asked to leave the room at this time
- I will encourage them to go ahead and begin music and pull eyeshades down while sitting up to swish to keep the ketamine from going down their throat
- At 12 minutes they will spit the ketamine into a cup
- If they accidentally swallow the medicine, it may increase their chances of experiencing nausea
- If you are leaving the room, return every 15 minutes to check on them WITHOUT INTERRUPTING their experience
You will know when they are finished by them taking off their eye shades:
- Help them walk if they need to get up right away
- Encourage them to stay with their experience for as long as they can
- Do not try to engage them in conversation unless they express that they would like to
- Know that they will still be somewhat in their experience for several hours after journey, so allow them to begin conversation at their pace
- They will be extra sensitive to everything around them - your quiet support will be appreciated!
When they are finished, you must take vitals again and text them to me
- This is critical for them to be able to continue doing self-guided journeys with me as I have to report these vitals back to Journey Clinical, otherwise they will not be able to continue their treatment
Some additional guidance for after their session:
- I will encourage them to journal or create expressive art
- Have healthy, light snacks ready to offer (e.g., fruits, nuts)
- It's helpful for them to be able to clear schedule for rest of the day
- If they choose to share their experience, try being a witness and just listen to what they have to say rather than commenting on it - being heard and witnessed is so powerful!!
My cell phone number is: 626-390-0966
In case of emergency call 911
I have much gratitude to you for your support in this journey. Thank you for being a part of this beautiful process!!