How We Can Help You

We all experience times in our lives when we have a “felt sense” of not being OK. We need someone to help us make sense of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. When you reach this point in life, Pathway Life Counseling is there to help you. We offer a diverse array of compassionate services to meet your needs today.

Individual Counseling 

The issues you are waging war with now may be deeply personal and seemingly insurmountable, but they can be overcome through one-on-one, individualized counseling. Our goal is to help individuals like you find the strength and courage to open up in a safe and confidential environment, identify precisely what is causing you so much pain or keeping you from being the person you are meant to be, and learn healthy coping skills to manage them. 

Never feel embarrassed to ask for help. Sometimes, you may struggle with not having as much control over your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors as you would like. When this happens, your first reaction might be to pretend those issues don’t exist or try to resolve them on your own in the best way you know how. Sadly, many have found this approach only causes more harm to our relationships, work life, and sense of well-being. Seeking professional help through therapy can be an effective way to address this plus other mental health issues and personal concerns such as:

Couples Counseling

Every relationship has its share of struggles. Perhaps it’s unexplained emotional distance, conflict, intimacy or fertility issues, life transition, or addiction. Relationships can also be difficult if you weren’t taught how to relate to others in a healthy way. That’s where couples counseling can help. At Pathway Life Counseling, we help couples identify problems or areas where they feel “stuck” and give them practical solutions to move forward in their relationship.

However large or small your marital issues are, couples counseling provides the space you and your spouse need to discuss your challenges and unhealthy patterns and behaviors. More importantly, it’s a chance to speak openly, candidly, and without judgment. In doing so, everyone feels heard and experiences a deeper level of understanding, empathy, and connection. Common issues addressed in couples counseling include the following:

Family Counseling

Your family means everything to you, and there isn’t anything you wouldn’t do to foster and protect a loving and harmonious future together. Engaging in consistent and compassionate family counseling is a wonderful gift and a positive step toward that reality, especially when psychological, behavioral, and emotional issues are causing more problems than you can tackle on your own. Our goal at Pathway Life Counseling is to give everyone (mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, etc.) a platform to identify and address conflicts, barriers, and mental health issues in the family. 

It is well-documented that positive changes in one or more family members will influence change in other parts of the family. Family counseling is integral to that process and can address many common issues hindering a healthier and more stable family life. Some issues we address include:

Trauma Therapy: EMDR and Brainspotting

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) helps clients process painful memories and experiences so that they are not continually triggered in the present. Brainspotting (BSP) is an exciting brain/body-based therapy approach that eases the emotional and physical lockdown you may be experiencing by locating, accessing, processing, and releasing neurophysiological sources of pain and trauma held deep in the subcortical brain. Both therapies can be powerful tools for many issues and concerns we experience at different times. Some issues we address include:

Addiction

The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as “a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences.” When most of us think of this term, our minds automatically leap to drugs, alcohol, and other chemical dependencies. We also tend to believe this is an individual concern. Both beliefs couldn’t be further from the truth. 

The reality is that addiction takes many forms, whether it be drugs, alcohol, smoking, eating disorders, gambling, sex, relationships, self-harm, or something else. It’s also far from an individual issue. When one family member struggles with addiction or enters a program and experiences recovery, it impacts the entire family system. Unless each family member positively adjusts to the change, the chances of relapse are much higher. We work with individuals as they step down from a higher level of treatment to support their continued recovery. We also work with the family members by supporting them as they make the necessary changes to create a healthy family system. 

Additional Services and Areas of Expertise Provided by Pathway Life Counseling

Infertility

Many couples assume they can conceive a child effortlessly. When they can’t, their lives are instantly marred by hurt, disappointment, confusion, grief, and the feeling that life isn’t fair. Whether this is your first experience with infertility or it’s been an ongoing issue for you and your family, seeking out professional help from a therapist can help you process your grief and learn healthy coping skills. 

Parenting in Adoption

Adoption is a wonderful gift for children who are looking for a forever home and parents who are willing to provide that for them. At the same time, adoption is not without its highs and lows. Attachment, trauma, and behavioral issues are very common, and as an adoptive parent herself, Meg can relate to your struggles. We support you in your journey to building healthier relationships with your new family.

Life Coaching

Our job is to help clients define clear goals for themselves, get unstuck, and lead happier, more productive lives. Our services in this area range from career counseling and emotional intelligence to goal-setting, accountability, strategic thinking, self-awareness, and more.

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 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. Here’s a link to more information about KAP to see if it may be a good fit for you. https://journey.click/education

What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

KAP is a legal modality that pairs ketamine treatment with dedicated psychotherapy sessions for more deeper therapy, more frequent breakthroughs and better clinical outcomes. To learn more about KAP, visit https://journey.click/education

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. 

How Does Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Work?

1. Initial consultation with Journey Clinical

• You schedule an initial evaluation with a clinician from the Journey Clinical medical team via zoom. They will go over your medical and psychiatric history with you, provide education on the treatment and determine if you are eligible for KAP.

• If Journey Clinical’s medical team determines that you are eligible for KAP, they will develop a personalized Ketamine prescription and outcome monitoring plan for you. 

• Journey Clinical’s medical team will write a ketamine prescription for you, and a small amount of oral ketamine will be sent to your home, enough for the first 2 KAP sessions. You will be taught to take your vitals and self-administer the ketamine lozenges by Journey Clinical’s medical team in advance of our KAP sessions.

• Preparation sessions: 

• Once you receive your ketamine lozenges, we will schedule time together for our KAP preparation, dosing and integration sessions. Preparation session(s) will be scheduled just like regular therapy sessions prior to the KAP dosing session. The goal of a preparation session(s) is to align on the process and set intentions for our KAP sessions together.  

• KAP Dosing Session: 

• A typical ketamine dosing session lasts between 1-2 hours and can take place either in-person at my office, or remotely via telehealth. 

• During a dosing session, you will self-administer your ketamine lozenge either in my office or in your home.  You will be in a comfortable, reclining position wearing an eye mask and listening to calming music.  Although a KAP dosing session may be largely an internal experience, I will be present with you the entire time to hold space and provide support as needed.

• Integration Sessions: 

• After our KAP dosing session, we will meet for multiple integration therapy sessions to review the memories, thoughts & insights that arose during your dosing session, and to prepare for the next dosing session.

• Follow-up consultations with Journey Clinical:

• After our first KAP session, Journey Clinical’s medical team schedules regular follow ups with you to monitor outcomes and prescribe ketamine lozenge refills, as appropriate.  The frequency of follow ups depends on your unique treatment plan, at a minimum of once per quarter.

  What is the Cost of Treatment?

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is an affordable, accessible modality. Although the medical intake and follow ups are not covered by insurance, they are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Sessions

My typical hourly rate is $150/hr 

Journey Clinical Medical Costs:

Consultation: $250 

Non-covered services (including medication): $97 (two doses)

KAP Follow-Up Consultation: $150 

Non-covered services (including medication): $163

Medication Management (regular psychiatry appointment): $250 flat fee

Journey Clinical Insurance Information: https://journeyclinical.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/28002696219028-Insurance-FAQs

How Do I Sign Up?

If you would like to explore the possibility of working with me on KAP, please e-mail me at Meg@PathwayLifeCounseling.com to discuss eligibility and next steps.

What is Journey Clinical?

Journey Clinical is a platform for licensed psychotherapists to incorporate science-based psychedelic therapies in their practice safely and effectively, starting with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Journey Clinical’s in-house medical team takes on patient eligibility, prescriptions and outcome monitoring, while I take on the therapy.  Their collaborative care model is designed to deliver personalized treatment plans to meet your individual needs and improve long-term outcomes. 

Helpful Resources:

1. Paradigms of Ketamine Treatment by Raquel Bennett, Psy.D. for MAPS

2. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy - research study by Jennifer Dore et al, 2018

3. Ketamine for Depression and Mood Disorders by Erica Zelfand, ND for Townsend Letter

4. Ketamine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression by goop

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Jonathan Sabbagh of Journey Clinical - Psychology Talk Podcast