Services

I am currently offering in-person and telehealth appointments.

My current waitlist is 2-4 months. I am currently accepting clients for KAP and EMDR Intensives.

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

I offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine isused as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible patients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. I take on the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while Journey Clinical’s medical team supports you on all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes. Below is more information about KAP to help you navigate if it may be a good fit for you.

DISCLAIMER: I do not provide psychoactive or illicit substances. I do not conduct or promote psychedelic psychotherapy outside of approved clinical trials and I do not provide referrals to “underground” (illegal) psychedelic services.

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a legal, safe and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. Ketamine has rapidly-acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within 1-2 hrs. after treatment and last for up to 2 weeks. It works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors as well as by stimulating AMPA receptors, which are thought to help form new synaptic connections and boost neural circuits that regulate stress and mood. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement.

  • Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including IV infusion, intramuscular injection, via nasal spray and using sublingual lozenges. In my work with Journey Clinical we only use the sublingual lozenge form.

How does Ketamine feel?

The effects of ketamine, which most patients find pleasant, last for approximately 45 minutes. These effects can make you feel “far from” your body, and facilitate shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Your motor and verbal abilities will be reduced, so you’ll be lying down in a comfortable position during the experience. Once these effects subsided, we’ll spend the remainder of our appointment giving you space to process and discuss your experience. While it may feel hard to articulate what happened during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are none-the-less clear. Studies have shown that the benefits to mood and neurological growth can last up to two weeks after the Ketamine experience.

What are the benefits of Ketamine?

The Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) can offer a wide range of experiences and benefits. KAP sessions are generally 3-4 hours in order to allow for a natural, therapeutic flow from preparation work to experiential to integration phases. An emphasis is placed on providing psychotherapeutic support and processing material that arises during sessions.

Clients can expect to experience a range of benefits, including:

  • An altered state of consciousness and break from the ordinary mind and reality

  • Decrease in negative or obsessive thoughts and negative self-talk

  • An increase in self-compassion and self-esteem

  • Profound shifts in perspective on self, relationships, and worldview

  • An increase in motivation for positive behavior and lifestyle shifts

  • Potential for spiritual or mystical experiences and the relief of existential distress

EMDR

I am a trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist. EMDR is a treatment modality that is used to resolve traumatic memories by shifting how these memories are stored in the brain.

What is EMDR?

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an evidenced-based mode of therapy that has been very successful in treating symptoms of trauma as well as symptoms of anxiety, panic disorders, and depression. EMDR helps to shift how traumatic memories are stored in the brain. This occurs through the use of bilateral stimulation (BLS), usually in the form of rapid eye movements, which is believed to mimic the REM eye movement pattern.

As memories are reprocessed, they are stripped of distressing emotions, strong bodily stress and tension, and dysfunctional/inaccurate beliefs about self. As memories are resolved, you are able to experience a more peaceful state. EMDR does not cause people to forget disturbing memories or events, but instead enables you to look back at these memories with less distress.

What are the benefits of EMDR?

EMDR therapy is extremely effective in resolving traumatic memories, including memories related to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, as well as traumatic events like injuries, car accidents, natural disasters, illness, and exposure to violence. EMDR has also been shown to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, maladaptive self-referencing beliefs (schemas), addictive behaviors and substance abuse, panic disorder, phobias, and migraine headaches.

Clients can expect to experience a range of benefits, including:

  • Decrease in emotional distress related to traumatic memories

  • Decrease in negative or obsessive thoughts and negative self-talk

  • An increase in self-compassion and self-esteem

  • Increases in connection to emotions and somatic sensations

  • Adaptive shifts in perspective on self, relationships, and worldview.

In addition to EMDR in weekly, or bi-weekly sessions, I also offer EMDR Intensives. EMDR Intensives are a way of delivering EMDR therapy in a short period of time - typically a weekend. Research supports the use of intensive EMDR therapy for effective treatment of symptoms of trauma and stress. Intensives are offered in one, two, or three day segments, depending on your scheduling needs and therapeutic goals. Multiple EMDR sessions are completed per day. As clinically appropriate, KAP can be used during EMDR Intensives for increased symptom reduction.

Is an EMDR Intensive right for me?

If you…

  • Sense that you need a profound shift in your life, or notice being triggered more often by thoughts, feelings, or body sensations that remind you of past traumas.

  • Are looking for focused treatment that doesn’t require the weekly check-ins.

  • Don’t want to wait weeks or months to feel better… you’re looking for focused treatment that delivers more immediate, lasting results and doesn’t require the weekly check-ins.

  • Have been meaning to start therapy for some time now, but have been on waitlists or can’t make weekly sessions fit with your schedule.

  • Are already established with a talk therapist, but are interested in complimenting that with EMDR.

  • Have a short window of time in which you would like to invest in yourself (e.g. summer break, medical leave, etc.).

Then EMDR Intensives may be a good fit for you! Contact me to discuss the process further.

Rates & Insurances

  • I am in-network with the following plans:

    Independent Health

    Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY

    Aetna

    Univera

    Optum

    Oscar

    Cigna

    Please note that KAP and EMDR Intensives are not currently covered by insurance and are subject to private pay rates.

  • My current rate is $170 per 50 minute session. Please contact me for sliding scale options.

  • To ensure that others have the opportunity to book appointments, kindly give a 48-hour notice if you need to cancel. This way, I can offer the available time slot to someone else. Please note that appointments canceled within 48 hours or missed appointments will be billed a $75 fee.