The Trip Report

#7: Jonathan Sabbagh - A Masterclass in Psychedelic Entrepreneurship

Sep 28, 2023

In this engaging discussion, Jonathan Sabbagh, founder of Journey Clinical and a former finance professional turned clinical psychologist, shares his insights on psychedelic-assisted therapy. He highlights the importance of collaboration between therapists and prescribers, revealing the challenges in creating effective care models. The conversation dives into the transformative potential of ketamine-assisted therapy and the pressing need for innovative healthcare solutions in mental health. Jonathan also explores opportunities in the evolving landscape of psychedelic treatments and the role of technology in advancing access to care.

47:51

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Jonathan Sabbagh

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Quick takeaways

Journey Clinical addresses the critical gap in mental health care by integrating therapists and prescribers to enhance ketamine-assisted therapy outcomes.

The evolving regulatory landscape around telehealth presents both challenges and opportunities for psychedelic therapies, highlighting the need for adaptable care models.

Deep dives

Transformative Model of Collaborative Care

The journey towards a collaborative care model for psychedelic-assisted therapy emphasizes the importance of integrating therapists and prescribers to create tailored treatment plans. This model allows licensed therapists to effectively incorporate ketamine-assisted therapy into their practice, addressing a significant gap wherein therapists face challenges in finding collaborating medical professionals. By enabling continuous communication and shared insights between therapists and medical teams, the model enhances the quality of care and minimizes negative patient outcomes. This seamless integration ensures that patients receive comprehensive support, improving their overall therapeutic experience.

Intro

5min

Transformative Healing Journeys

17min

Transforming Healing: From Physical Space to Health Tech

3min

Navigating the Future of Psychedelic Therapy

12min

Navigating Telehealth Regulations and Mental Health Access

5min

Emerging Opportunities in Psychedelic Treatments and Investments

2min

Exploring the Future of Psychedelic Drug Development and Technology

3min

Welcome back to The Trip Report Podcast, a production of Beckley Waves, a Psychedelic Venture Studio.

Today, we’re speaking with Jonathan Sabbagh, founder of Journey Clinical, a digital health tech company pioneering a collaborative care model for psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Journey Clinical was founded in 2021 with the mission of creating a decentralized clinic model that would enable licensed therapists to incorporate ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) into their practice.

Jonathan and his co-founder (and wife) Miriam Barthes interviewed 600 therapists before starting Journey Clinical to understand their biggest pain points and challenges.

When it came to KAT, a promising treatment for several mental health conditions, the overwhelming response from the therapists they interviewed was that it’s difficult to find medical professionals with whom they can collaborate on care. After all, therapists do not prescribe medications, and most physicians do not do therapy.

Thus, connecting therapists with partner prescribers was the core need, and with this insight, the Journey Clinical model was born.

As many who are well-steeped in the psychedelic field are aware, KAT is a promising modality for stubborn mental health conditions, especially when paired with psychotherapeutic support. However, the majority of ketamine usage for mental health is as a standalone treatment at specialized clinics. What is missing from this brick-and-mortar care delivery environment is supportive wrap-around care.

And in my opinion, this is the promise of technology-enabled support for psychedelic therapies.

I have been a fan of the Journey Clinical model since I first met Jonathan and Miriam back in 2021. From the outset, it was clear they had a unique insight and mission.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Leaving a career in finance to study clinical psychology;

* The role of psychotherapy in supporting transformational perspectives;

* The importance of therapeutic alliance;

* The origin story of Journey Clinical and the pivot from a service provider to a health tech company; and

* The Ryan Haight Act Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008.

I should also note that Beckley Waves is an investor in Journey Clinical.

Listen to the episode on Substack, Spotify, Google or Apple.

Credits:

* Hosted by Zach Haigney

* Produced by Zach Haigney, Erin Greenhouse, and Katelin Jabbari

* Find us at thetripreport.com