Questions about psychedelic-assisted therapy in Denver
MDMA- and Psilocybin-assisted therapy aren’t available yet, but Ketamine-assisted therapy is legal and available today.
Contact us for a Ketamine appointment in Denver, Lone Tree, or Greenwood Village.
Note: We’re therapists, not a medical clinic or research facility. We don’t provide microdosing, “trip sitting,” or psychedelic guiding, but we’ve done more Ketamine-assisted therapy sessions than nearly every other therapy office in Denver
What is psychedelic-assisted therapy?
Psychedelic assisted therapy is a form of psychotherapy that utilizes certain psychedelic substances, such as MDMA, Ketamine, or Psilocybin to help people explore and process traumatic experiences and other mental health issues. It’s a relatively new form of therapy that has been gaining popularity due to its potential to help individuals find more clarity and peace with themselves and their past in transformative ways, but MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapy aren’t available yet.
Psychedelic assisted therapy is typically conducted with the help of a trained psychotherapist and under the guidance of a medical professional. Therapy sessions often involve the use of substances such as ayahuasca, psilocybin, and LSD, and can help to provide a different perspective on difficult emotions and experiences, allowing for greater insight into one’s life.
The only alternative therapy of this kind that’s available in the United States right now and approved by the FDA for therapy is Ketamine-assisted therapy, which we provide in-person for our clients. There are also online Ketamine services like Mindbloom, which can be a convenient, more affordable option for people living in rural areas or who don’t have a therapist who is trained in Ketamine therapy near them.
As a private practice, we have collectively done more Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) sessions with our clients than nearly every other private practice in the Denver area since KAP was legalized. Our Denver therapists are some of the most requested therapists who use Ketamine-assisted therapy with our clients at our offices in Denver, Greenwood Village, Douglas County, and Golden.
When will PSILOCYBIN-ASSISTED THERAPY BE AVAILABLE?
On November 8, 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122, which decriminalized possession, growing, and personal use of psilocybin. However, this didn't make psilocybin (also known as "mushroom therapy") immediately available in Colorado.
Officials in Colorado are now responsible for creating rules to licensed psychedelic therapists and clinics. Based on the latest information, we anticipate that psilocybin-assisted therapy will be available sometime in 2025.
WHEN WILL MDMA-ASSISTED THERAPY BE AVAILABLE?
Phase 3 of research trials for MDMA were recently completed, but MDMA-assisted therapy hasn't been approved by the FDA yet. FDA approval appears unlikely because an FDA panel recently advised against approving MDMA for therapeutic use. It’s not yet legally available for the general public. In the meantime, Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is legal now and showing similar benefits in clients with depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and more — that compare to the recent MDMA trials.
HOW MUCH WILL PSILOCYBIN-ASSISTED THERAPY COST?
Based on the information we have, it's very likely that psilocybin-assisted therapy will cost multiple thousands of dollars per session. This is due to the anticipated length of these therapy sessions, and the regulatory requirements required of therapists.
A recent study estimated that psilocybin-assisted therapy will cost between $7,638 and $9,532, depending on the price of psilocybin. Even without therapy, a guided trip in Oregon at a psilocybin service center currently costs about $3,500, depending on how many grams someone takes during a session.
HOW MUCH WILL MDMA-ASSISTED THERAPY COST?
Similar to psilocybin-assisted therapy, based on limited information, it's also likely that MDMA-assisted therapy will cost over $5,000 per session. This is due to the anticipated length of these therapy sessions, and also a potential regulatory requirement for two therapists to work with the client simultaneously.
A recent study estimated that MDMA-assisted therapy will cost $11,537, which would include 3 initial therapy session, 3 MDMA-assisted sessions, and 9 integration sessions.
WHAT ALTERNATIVE PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY CAN I DO NOW?
At My Denver Therapy, we are one of the leading providers of Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in Colorado. We've been providing this type of therapy since it was approved by the FDA, and we do many Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions every week with our clients.
WHAT ABOUT TRIP SITTING OR PSYCHEDELIC GUIDING SESSIONS?
Because psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy both aren't legal yet, some entrepreneurial people are starting to provide what's known as "trip sitting" or psychedelic guiding sessions, which involves paying someone who may have no training or qualifications to watch while you use MDMA or mushrooms that you acquire yourself.
While it's an interesting idea to pay a stranger to look at you, this experience is very different from working with a therapist who is trained in using pharmaceutical-grade psychedelics in a structured, scientifically proven sequence to help you work through what's bringing you to therapy.
Because we're state-licensed and registered therapists who are held to a higher standard, we are required to wait for these types of psychedelic therapy to be fully legal before we use them with our clients.
WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG FOR PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY TO BE AVAILABLE?
There are a lot of agencies and regulatory organizations involved here, including the FDA, state of Colorado, and advisory boards. Most recently, a bill was introduced (Senate Bill 290) that lays out the legal framework for how this will work in Colorado. So far, it looks like the first licenses for facilities where you can ingest psychedelic mushrooms will come in 2025.
Some of the people who are making the decisions that will affect how these types of therapy are used by therapists are still being identified and hired today, so there are many factors involved in the years-long timelines to make MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapy legally available.
WHY CAN'T A THERAPIST PROVIDE MDMA- OR PSILOCYBIN-ASSISTED THERAPY NOW?
Because these two types of psychedelic-assisted therapy aren't legal yet, any therapist who provides these types of therapy now at risk of losing their license and ability to legally provide therapy. Licensed and registered therapists are held to a different standard than people who provide "trip-sitting", microdosing, or psychedelic guiding sessions, which basically requires little to no formal training or experience. It's like paying your nice neighbor to watch you do mushrooms.
As one of the leading providers of Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in Colorado, we're highly invested in when both psilocybin- and MDMA-assisted therapy are available, and we plan on being among the first to provide it as soon as it's legal.
CAN I TRAVEL TO COLORADO FOR KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Because Ketamine-assisted therapy is legal and available throughout the United States, as much as we'd love to help, we generally don't recommend traveling to Colorado for this type of therapy. There are online services like Mindbloom that make Ketamine-assisted therapy available even in rural area.
We have more experience with Ketamine-assisted than most therapy private practices, but there's a very good chance there's a therapist near you who can provide it. Especially because flight delays and therapists' schedules can change, it's usually easier for clients to work with someone near them.
DO YOU OFFER PSILOCYBIN THERAPY RETREATS OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY?
Because psilocybin isn't legal for therapy yet, we don't currently offer psilocybin retreats outside of the United States. Due to the legal sensitivities around psilocybin therapy right now, we don't have partnerships with international agencies providing retreats like this.
This doesn't mean that it's something that we won't ever plan for, but we're waiting for it to be completely legal for therapists.
HOW MUCH WILL PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY COST?
Whether it's MDMA- or psilocybin-assisted therapy, all signs are pointing towards both being all-day therapy sessions, possibly with multiple therapists.
As a result, these highly-effective sessions combined with the cost of the prescription itself will likely cost over $5,000 per session or over $10,000 to complete a full treatment plan..
What if I live in a rural area and want Ketamine-assisted therapy?
When it's not an option to see a therapist near you for Ketamine-assisted therapy, there are popular online Ketamine therapy services like Mindbloom. that give clients the option to experience psychedelic-assisted therapy from home.
What is psychedelic-assisted therapy like?
Psychedelic therapy is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, and it generally involves the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA in a safe and supportive environment.
The goal with this type of therapy is to create a space where people can explore their emotions and feelings, and gain insight into their lives. Psychedelic-assisted therapy can help people gain a greater understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behavior, as well as an increased sense of self-awareness and insight.
It’s common for the experience of using psychedelics to lead to profound shifts in a person’s worldview, allowing them to see the world in a new light. Psychedelic therapy typically involves a combination of talking and guided meditation, as well as the use of the psychedelic substance.
The therapist will often create a safe and supportive environment to help the patient explore their experience and make sense of what they’re feeling. Through this process, the person can gain profound insight into themselves and their lives, and can move forward with more understanding and clarity.
Is Ketamine-assisted therapy available today?
Ketamine is the only legal psychedelic medicine available to mental health providers for the treatment of emotional suffering. MDMA-assisted therapy is in clinical trials and psilocybin-assisted therapy is at least a year from being legal in Colorado and the United States.
It has proven to help people with treatment-resistant mental health conditions that include depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma. Ketamine-assisted therapy is legal in Colorado with a prescription, approved by the FDA for therapy, and helps your mind heal in ways that can go far beyond traditional therapy. It’s also available for people who would rather try Ketamine therapy at home through Mindbloom.
After just one session, research has shown that about 50% of patients with treatment-resistant depression have a reduction in symptoms within 24 hours. About 66% have a reduction in symptoms after the 4th session. It is currently one of, if not the most, promising tools for treating medication-resistant mental health issues. More recently, in a year-long study of over 400 patients, researchers found that 72% of patients saw improvements in their mood after using Ketamine.
When you start Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in Denver with our trained therapists in Lone Tree, Greenwood Village, or Cherry Creek, you’ll know what to expect, how it works, and fee supported and prepared before, during, and after your sessions. It’s not about just taking the medicine; we know it’s about working with the medicine to create lasting results with any kind of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
How to start psychedelic-assisted
therapy in Denver?
Ketamine-assisted therapy goes far behind the medicine itself. The individual experience you have with using something like ketamine can be a critical part of your healing process.
In our Denver area offices (Denver, Lone Tree, Greenwood Village, Golden), we combine your Ketamine-assisted therapy with talk therapy under the supervision of dedicated medical and mental health professionals.
By combining the effects of Ketamine with talk therapy, you can use the clear and aware state that you’re in to talk about your concerns, patterns, and other things that are and have been on your mind. Many people are able to unlock feelings and emotions that they haven’t been able to access or experience due to trauma, and this opens the door to them being able to heal.
Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you – all of the expectations, all of the beliefs – and becoming who you are.
Rachel Naomi Remen
Meet our therapists
My Denver Therapy is one of the largest woman-owned therapy private practices in Colorado with many of the best, most requested mental health therapists in the Denver Metro area.
As a therapist-owned practice with decades of combined experience, we care about seeing our clients heal, grow, and thrive. We’re one of the only therapy practices in Colorado with licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, addiction counselors, social workers, and psychiatric nurse practitioners who actively see new clients. Whether you’re an adult, teen, young adult, couple, or family, our inclusive therapist team is built to specialize in you.
Our practice started with one therapist in a shared office suite, but we’ve grown to help thousands of people in Colorado by providing in-person therapy at our conveniently located Denver Metro area counseling offices in Denver, Greenwood Village, and Lone Tree, plus online therapy for clients throughout Colorado. Because of the way our team works, our therapists also provide consultation for other therapists and private practices in the Denver Metro area.
Our inclusive therapists provide some of the most innovative, effective, and in-demand forms of therapy available today, including EMDR, Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, CBT, and IFS. We also have more therapists trained in Ketamine-assisted therapy, EMDR, and more teen therapists and young adult counselors than nearly every other private practice in Denver.
We know that clients want to find the best therapists in Denver, so our team includes therapists with different backgrounds, specialities, and experiences to help you find the right fit. We’ll match you with one of our therapists who is the best for your goals, location, budget, and schedule to help you get started quickly.
We’re out of network for insurance, Tricare, and are unable to take Medicaid, but most of our therapists’ rates are lower than the local and national averages for therapy.
All of our therapists take a client-focused approach to counseling and approach each session with a commitment to your progress and growth.
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- With therapists and counselors in Denver, Greenwood Village, and Lone Tree, My Denver Therapy provides in-person mental health counseling for adults, teens, couples, and families in Colorado.
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