The Inward Journey
The
Inward
Journey
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Ellis Froeschle, MD
Ben Schartman LPC
Our Mission
To help people use the power of
psychedelic experiences
to enhance their mental health,
spiritual growth, and
individual sense of purpose.
Ellis Froeschle, MD
I am a medical doctor, trained at The Medical College of Pennsylvania, followed by residency in Family Practice at the University of Missouri. I have always had the idea that wellness is based on right-relationships--with oneself, with others, with nature, and with the divine. In order to give authentic assistance to my patients, after ten years in conventional practice, I obtained further training in several holistic modalities, the latest being certification in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Ben Schartman, LPC
I have been a licensed professional counselor since 2017. I trained at the Polaris Insight Center for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, and I also have personal experience with psychedelics and altered states of consciousness. In addition to training in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, I am also trained in the therapeutic modalities of IFS, DBT and person-centered psychotherapy. I am often described as warm and kind and I believe that the most important aspect of psychotherapy and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy are rapport and trust between client and counselor.
Taking the Inward Journey
Deni Cary Phillips
The Inward Journey is a therapeutic process designed to quiet the mind and connect with your innate capacity for healing.
With Ketamine Assisted Therapy, clients are guided into an expansive state of consciousness, creating an opportunity for profound self-discovery and transformation.
If you have used psychedelics recreationally, you may wonder how Ketamine Assisted Therapy compares to these past experiences. The key distinction lies in the set and setting. With intention set for healing and self-exploration, and the setting arranged for an inward journey—with powerful music, eyes covered, and a safe, supportive environment—the altered state of consciousness brought on by ketamine can lead to deep understanding and healing.
In our daily lives, we often focus outwardly—on work, relationships, and tasks. Beneath this external reality lies a somewhat buried, subconscious layer of mind that influences and drives our thoughts, actions, and experiences. We may feel that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed without the need for introspection. However, when patterns or feelings of unease persist, the root cause may be found in visits to this mysterious inner world.
Knowledge from this deeper layer of mind can seep through naturally, during meditation, dreams, “flow” states, such as during exercise or creative endeavors, and even through times of extreme distress. The window for expanded understanding is open, perhaps briefly, in these instances. With psychedelic medicine, there can be more extended periods of awareness, during which one may see the unfolding of a new way, may find clarity, peace, and experience the removal of lifelong obstructions. Much can be accomplished in a single session!
Who do We Serve?
We work with clients who struggle with issues such as:
-
Treatment resistant depression
-
PTSD
-
Anxiety
-
Existential distress
-
Ruminative thoughts
-
Addiction, and
-
Depression related to physical pain or injury.
We find that most clients have attempted other types of therapy with limited success.
Deni Cary Phillips
What is ketamine and How is it Used
Ketamine, originally developed as a safe anesthetic in the 1960s, has emerged as a powerful tool in mental health and psychedelic-assisted therapy. At The Inward Journey, we use low-dose intramuscular (IM) ketamine to support deep inner exploration, healing, and emotional insight. Unlike IV ketamine infusions—often used in clinical settings for symptom relief—our approach is designed to facilitate a transformative experience, guided by your own inner healing intelligence. Each session is carefully supported with preparation and integration to help create lasting change.
What happens during a
Ketamine Treatment Session
Prior to the day of taking the medicine, clients meet with Inward Journey therapists and share their experiences, their symptoms, and anything they find important for the transformation they are seeking. Clients will be introduced to all aspects of the process, and equipped with tools for making the most of it.
On the day when the medicine is taken, there will be a short ceremony for the expression of intentions. Then the client will lie back in a comfortable position and their dose will be administered. Two therapists watch over the process and keep everyone physically safe, tend to the music, keep records for the client, and hold quiet intentions for the best outcomes. It can feel like a sacred time.
There is a great variation in what clients will experience in the non-ordinary state of consciousness brought on by the ketamine. With the IM (a small shot in the arm or leg) route of administration, the change in consciousness happens within minutes. For a time you may feel unaware of your body, but more in touch with and connected to a larger field of awareness. You float with the music, and observe what teaching or healing is being made available to you.
The usual state of mind returns in stages. The client may wish to sit up and talk a bit, and then “go back under” for a while, as the music continues. After a few hours, there is an invitation to express what one has experienced. There will be simple art supplies for this, and of course, listening ears.
A somewhat altered state can persist for some time after the end of the session, and for this reason, a friend or family member will be required to drive the client home from the appointment.
Followup sessions are scheduled, to further process and integrate what you have received from your inward journey.
Deni Cary Phillips
What are the Program Options?
Currently there are two options.
The long program is patterned after the psychedelic assisted therapy protocol used in the research setting at Johns Hopkins university, and includes a minimum of 7 sessions. For each visit, a packet of materials—with readings, writing prompts, and other “homework” suggestions—will be provided, to help you explore your own areas of friction and wonder. Meditative tours through your lifetime of photographs, art workshops, embodiment therapies, such as craniosacral treatments, float tank sessions, and yoga nidra classes will be offered as part of the preparation and integration, along with talk therapy. If you find yourself uplifted when you take time for creative endeavors, or if you know yourself to be mainly “in your mind” and would like to learn how to also be “in your body,” then this series will be worth the time you invest.
The cost for the long program is $5000.
Our shorter program consists of an initial medical intake visit, 1 to 3 preparatory meetings, then the IM ketamine medicine session, and at least one integration session. The cost for this program ranges between $1800-$3000 depending upon the number of preparatory sessions needed.
Each of these program choices are designed to achieve maximum results. The difference is in the level of need and commitment.
The medical intake will be conducted with Dr. Froeschle. The number of preparatory sessions will be based upon a determination of the client’s readiness to enter into the altered state of consciousness.
The preparatory visits, ketamine session, and integration sessions will be conducted by both Dr. Froeschle and Ben Schartman.
Getting Started
For more information about the process please contact Ben Schartman: Ben@theinwardjourney.org or (573) 326-4561.
Deni Cary Phillips
Learn More About Ketamine and
Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy
The Ketamine Breakthrough
Dr. Mike Dow & Ronan Levy
A clear, practical overview of how ketamine and psychotherapy are being combined to treat depression, anxiety, and trauma. Helpful for both clients and clinicians.
The Ketamine Papers: Science, Therapy, and Transformation
Edited by Phil Wolfson, M.D. & Glenn Hartelius, Ph.D.
A foundational collection exploring the science, ethics, and transformative potential of ketamine therapy through research and clinical perspectives.
The Ultimate Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Companion
Meredith Futernick-Gerak
A guided journal and workbook designed to help clients and therapists prepare for, engage in, and integrate KAP sessions.
How to Change Your Mind
Michael Pollan
An engaging exploration of the modern psychedelic renaissance, providing historical and cultural context for therapies like ketamine.
The Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Treatment Companion (forthcoming)
Kate Kincaid
A step-by-step guide for clients and clinicians preparing for KAP sessions, integration practices, and finding ethical providers.
Ketamine Connections (podcast)
Hosted by Anna Krishtal (“Your Ketamine Coach”) — personal stories, integration guidance, and current discussions about ketamine therapy.
The Ketamine Assisted Therapy Podcast
With Dr. Mark Leeds — clinical insights into how therapy and ketamine are integrated for healing and transformation.
Ketamine Insights (podcast)
Molly Dunn & Lynn Schneider discuss real-life experiences with ketamine, from preparation to integration, in accessible and compassionate language.
Talking Ketamine Podcast
Evidence-based conversations that help demystify how ketamine works for mental health and emotional healing.
Transcend Ketamine Podcast
Explores the use of ketamine in treating depression, trauma, and anxiety, including insights from clinics and practitioners.
The Ketamine Training Center
A leading educational organization offering professional certification, continuing education, and ethical training for KAP providers.
Ketamine Research Foundation
Dedicated to advancing scientific understanding and ethical standards in ketamine therapy through research, education, and practitioner support.
How to Change Your Mind (Netflix)
A beautifully filmed exploration of the history, science, and potential of psychedelics—including ketamine—as tools for healing and transformation.
Magic Medicine (Independent Documentary)
Follows participants in psilocybin therapy trials, offering insight into the human experience behind psychedelic healing.
Deni Cary Phillips
The Inward Journey
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Columbia, MO
(573) 326-4561
© 2025 The Inward Journey
Disclaimer: This site is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Ketamine is FDA-approved for anesthesia; its use in psychotherapy is “off-label.” If you are experiencing a crisis, call 911 or dial 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).