Sky Medicine

Sky Medicine is a small integrative therapy practice in Boulder, Colorado, offering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and psychedelic preparation and integration. Its founders, psychotherapist Sara Lewis and acupuncturist Brett Knowles, combine contemplative psychotherapy, somatic therapy and acupuncture.

Approach

Lewis, PhD, LCSW, is an associate professor at Naropa University, where she teaches contemplative psychotherapy and Buddhist psychology and directs training and research at its Center for Psychedelic Studies. She has done preparation and integration work since 2007. Knowles, MA, LAc, LMT, is a bodyworker and an advanced Somatic Experiencing practitioner. Both trained in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with the Psychedelic Research and Training Institute and in MDMA therapy with MAPS, which they say they will not offer before it is approved. Integration is largely somatic, with optional acupuncture.

Who it is for

The practice names depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, chronic pain and fibromyalgia among its indications, along with end-of-life distress and feeling stuck. Lewis also supports people through spiritual emergencies that can follow medicine work, and offers psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as well as ketamine.

Practical details

Sessions take place in person at the Canyonside Office Park, inside the Memoru Center for Visionary Healing Arts. Fees run from $115 to $250 an hour. A free 15-minute consultation is offered by phone or in person. Woodford, a rescue dog, can sit in on request.

Care and safety

After a first session, each client meets a medical prescriber, a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, who decides whether ketamine is safe and prescribes it. Two or three therapy sessions come before the first medicine session, and medicine sessions then alternate with integration. A medicine session lasts about 2.5 hours, with eye shades, music and a therapist present throughout. Contraindications include heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, pregnancy, a history of psychosis, personality disorders, current or past substance abuse and acute suicidal thoughts.