Psychedelic medicine and the healing process

The use of psychedelic medicine is now well documented to aid in the healing of a host of mental health challenges for some people. It can open new pathways of experiencing and recovering from past depression, anxiety and some addiction rooted in chronic or acute trauma.

The ability to prescribe psychedelic medicine and to sit with a client during their journey is not yet a reality in most of the country, save for the pioneering states of Oregon and Colorado. I can not at this time, legally condone the use of any psychedelic substances in the therapeutic process. 

Psychedelic integration is the key

It is not psychedelic medicine alone that facilitates healing, but guided, intentional preparation and the processing and integration of one’s journey. 

• The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has documented that it is the combination of effective psychotherapy, both pre- and post-journey that produces freedom from the long running mental and emotional distress of PTSD and associated depression, anxiety, and often co-occurring addictions

• Clinical psychologist Dr. Rosalind Watts and Clinical Lead for Imperial College London’s psilocybin trial emphasizes in this Medium piece the role and necessity of the therapeutic experience to facilitate healing. 

“With psychedelically-assisted therapy, I have experienced a transformation from “not enjoying my life” to a deep-seated gladness that unfolded gradually through the combination of caring psychotherapy and medicine assist.

After close to zero benefit from decades of trying to “figure it all out,” including working with about six therapists over my lifetime, this has been an immense relief.

Through preparation, and integration focused on feelings and emotions, the process gave me a deep experiential shift out of old patterns of feeling, thinking and being, which the medicine greatly aided in. But it was the integration of those experiences through skilled talk therapy with Joseph that made the opening and now the felt shift possible. How entirely different I am and feel now is hard to describe because it really is everything.”

– Psychedelic Integration Client

Psychedelic integration, done in a safe setting, with one or two trained therapists can help:

• Concretize insights or new perspectives
• Thoughtfully make changes based on new insights
• Make meaning and generate useful internal narratives 
• Make sense of confusing journey experiences
• Resolve conflict between psychedelic experience and one’s prior belief systems
• Address lingering distress