KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY
“Depending upon dose, ketamine promotes a time-out from ordinary, usual mind, relief from negativity, and an openness to the expansiveness of mind with access to Self in the larger sense. These effects enhance a patient’s ability to engage in meaningful psychotherapy during and after administration. Ketamine is potent for respite, analysis, and meditative presence, and potent for recover from depression and the lingering effects of trauma.” (Dore, et al., 2019)
In partnership with journey clinical, we also offer in person ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) to clients based in Colorado or Texas (coming soon to Connecticut and Georgia) that would like to be supported in this way. In combination with good psychotherapy, ketamine is an incredibly helpful tool for breaking through psychological barriers to reaching one’s potential and achieving greater clarity. KAP is also particularly beneficial for treatment resistance anxiety and depression. Please reach out to schedule a consultation if you are interested in learning more.
ABOUT KAP:
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used 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
ABOUT 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. 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.
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 subside, 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 happens during the experience, patients feel like the insights gained are clear.
Please read more about this service here and review KAP preparation guidelines here.
MEET OUR ROOTED RHYTHM KAP TEAM
Kendall Schauermann, MA, LPCC | Head of KAP (Denver, CO)
Kendall brings a holistic outlook to therapy that is rooted in compassionate presence. He believes in co-creating a safe environment for growth and healing with his clients, where trust and empathy are central.
Kendall specializes in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), psychedelic integration, supporting fathers of young children, grief and loss, and healthy masculinity. He often supports men who have been living in anxiety or depression, and who are ready to find meaning and purpose in their lives. Kendall has experience with individuals in hospice care and people with dementia, as well as supporting their families.
Becoming a psychotherapist is a second career for Kendall. He studied finance at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He previously worked in non-profit accounting and helped run a clothing company. He has a 7 year old daughter and 5 year old son who have been instrumental in Kendall’s healing and growth. This life and family experience, blended with a strong daily meditation practice and an interest in continued study of therapeutic theory, offers a grounded and impactful healing space to his clients.
Kendall has a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the Contemplative Psychotherapy and Buddhist Psychology program at Naropa University. He has completed several Psychedelic Assisted Therapy trainings including the Transpersonal Research Institute of Psychotherapeutic Psychedelics KAP Clinician Training and Beyond the Mind’s Integrated Somatic Interventions Program.
Book a consultation with Kendall directly, here.
Joel Ciarochi, MD, MBA | Chief of Operations (Dallas, TX)
Joel, who is a board-certified anesthesiologist and MBA-holding serial entrepreneur, brings a new level of clinical excellence, compliance, and oversight to the talented and dedicated Rooted Rhythm team.
In addition to three decades of training and experience as a physician and businessman, Joel has a passion for using information technology to focus healthcare delivery on quality of care, customer service, and simplicity—all of which have led to success in building fast-growing technology companies, healthcare companies, and medical practices. He has served in many executive and advisory roles in such companies and helped bring them to greater levels of community impact.
Assisting with Rooted Rhythm's mission to support therapeutic healing for adults through the use of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), Joel brings deep medical knowledge of and significant experience in this approach. His experience ranges from ketamine's use for general anesthesia and sedation to its administration for mental health treatment, including methods as complex as electroconvulsive shock therapy for major depression. As a father of three grown children, Joel brings both life experience and genuine care to Rooted Rhythm's work with families.
Joel's education includes Rice University (BA), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (MD), University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Parkland Memorial Hospital (Anesthesiology), and Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business (EMBA).
Sophie Schauermann, LCSW | KAP Therapist
With an undergraduate degree in child development and psychology from Tufts University and a graduate degree in social work from the University of Denver, Sophie’s approach is strongly rooted in trauma informed and body oriented methods and aims to work closely in relationship with you.
Sophie is studied and experienced in play therapy, EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) therapy, and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. She has 12 years of experience working closely with children and families in many settings, including the Harvard Medical School's laboratory for youth mental health, the public school system, community based mental health programs, and now at Rooted Rhythm. Her greatest learning, however, lies in her personal story of healing and growth into the person that she is today.
Sophie lives in Denver, CO and is licensed to provide and supervise ketamine-assisted therapy in Colorado, Connecticut, and Texas. She holds a special passion for supporting mom’s in exploring the corners of their psyche through the use of KAP.
Sara Galaso, LMSW | KAP Therapist (Dallas, CO)
Sara offers unparalleled compassionate support and hope to parents navigating the terrain of parenting children. Providing a safe space to process big emotions, Sara empowers clients in effectively developing their connection to themselves and strengthening bonds with others.
After years of intensively supporting (migrant and refugee) families, Sara obtained her graduate degree in social work from the University of Texas in Arlington specializing in children and families. She has specialized training and experience in navigating grief and loss due to major life changes, such as death, divorce, infertility and faith deconstruction.
Sara knows the value of staying peacefully grounded during the chaos of change, by utilizing mindfulness based somatic practices like meditation, breathing techniques, sound/movement therapy and yoga. She is trained in play therapy and ketamine assisted psychotherapy to support children and women in connecting more deeply to their wellness.
Sara’s extensive education and life experience allow her to provide deeply healing opportunities for the children and adults whom she serves to feel confident in being their authentic selves. Her three teenage daughters have been her greatest teachers, and she loves witnessing them develop their talents and explore their own sense of identity in the world.
Sara is also fluent in Spanish and able to offer culturally responsive services to Spanish speaking families.
TESTIMONIALS
“I’ve had an extremely positive experience working with Kendall and Sophie. They understand the intricacies of psychedelic medicine and are extremely well informed on how to process and release trauma. Overall very professional with kind and personable therapists.” - J.K., Adult male client
“Kendall helped me take a bold step towards a more loving, pain-free existence. Throughout our session, he sat with me, at times comforted me, and gave me courage when facing the unknown. I’m sure he would be just as adept and gifted at holding space for other men. I’ve known Kendall for more than 15 years now and find him to be of the highest character. He is gentle, kindhearted, and conducts himself with admirable poise. In connecting me with other healers, Kendall has helped guide me on a life-changing journey that has forever transformed my life. I am a better human because of him, and would recommend him to you as highly as I have ever recommended anyone.” - T.W., Father of two
“Sophie embodies the wellness that she supports others to attain with ease, confidence, humility and humor. She has a multi-faceted expertise and I have had the gift of working with her as a parent (completing parenting course and ongoing weekly calls) and as a woman on my own healing journey (Ketamine assisted psychotherapy). It is so rare these days to be able to see one healer for various aspects of life (healing, relationships, parenting, spiritual curiosity) and Sophie strikes the just right balance. She toggles between holding space, coaching, inquiry, somatic approaches, play and research-based practices for integration. Sophie believes that individuals and families can attain wellness. I was dubious about this, due to my own complex trauma and experiences. However, with her commitment to my breakthroughs and my dedication, I'm confident that wellness is possible too.” - Mother of 2 year old girl and 4 year old boy
“My experience with Sophie & Kendall has been everything I wanted, and then some! I first started seeing Sophie during the Covid pandemic for some help & was not disappointed. We began meeting virtually then after some time shifted to in-person. Sophie did an amazing job of creating a safe space where I felt loving-kindness, my voice being heard, and gratitude for the tools being presented to me that really made a difference. Not only did Sophie accomplish these feelings/secureness in-person, but over video calls as well which is really quite impressive & really lends to the passion/hard work she puts in.
Next came my time with Kendall, working on gaining more knowledge/guidance with mindfulness, and life in general in addition to masculine energy. To no surprise the wonderful service I received from Sophie translated over into my work with Kendall. The space he held gave the opportunity for me to be completely vulnerable, and truly share what was on my mind/what I was going through with no fear of judgement. Doing so allowed me to put my guard down and realize a lot of what I was going through was fairly common. The impact that had allowed me to be more gentle & compassionate with myself.
If you’re looking for individuals who are loving, authentic, supportive, and truly invested in helping people then look no further than these two beautiful humans!” - J.S., Adult male client
"Sophie’s guidance has been everything I was looking for and beyond. Sophie’s unconditional support has shifted my thinking from "working" on parts of myself that I don't like... to embracing all parts of me for the full experience. I have felt guided, intentional, and held through every step of the way - something I've never felt in this way before..." - KAP participant