What is psychedelic integrated therapy?

Psychedelic therapy is the treatment of mental health disorders with the help of psychedelic drugs such as:

• Ketamine

• Psilocybin

• MDMDA

• LSD

• Ayahuasca

Have you heard about psychedelic therapy yet? It is definitely something that has been gaining more traction over the last few years. Psychedelic therapy is the treatment of mental health disorders with the help of psychedelic drugs such as ketamine, psilocybin, MDMDA, LSD, and ayahuasca. There are two main types, psychedelics assisted therapy and psychedelics integrated therapy. I do not offer psychedelic assisted therapy (I cannot prescribe or be there with you while you take it) but in my online therapy practice, I work with people all over California, helping them process experiences both good and bad. Psychedelics can can lead people to have an experience that can be amazing, wonderous, and even down right scary and therapy can help you process it in a healthy way. Psychedelics in therapy are gaining attention and I found it necessary to take additional training so that I could support people as they navigate this experience, by providing psychedelic integrated therapy. Keep reading to learn more about psychedelics in therapy. 

As of right now only ketamine assisted therapy is something that is legal and clinics that offer ketamine assisted therapy continue to pop up all over the country. Ketamine assisted therapy has been shown to help people with a wide range of mental health disorders, such as major depression disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and severe anxiety.

It appears that ketamine helps people have a space where their emotions become unstuck and they are able to engage in a different, often more effective way with the talking part of therapy. People report that they are able to see things differently and feel more motivated to make the changes that they couldn’t make before. For people who have tried talk therapy time and time again with no real progress ketamine therapy can provide people with the change they desperately need. I have heard of stories where people were constantly struggling with intense feelings of range, sadness, and oftentimes suicidal thoughts. And after trying ketamine as part of their treatment, they report that they feel like they can final breath again. That is powerful. 

There is more to the story of psychedelics therapy, for example people are now studying the use of psilocybin, MDMDA, LSD, and ayahuasca. But as of right now  psilocybin, MDMDA, LSD, and ayahuasca are not legal to use as a treatment options for mental health issues such as depression and PTSD. Right now the only way that a person can legally get this treatment is by finding and getting accepted into clinical trials. The scientific community is working hard on approving this as a legitimate treatment and the trials that are currently going on arare showing promising results. This is good news for so many people who have struggle for far too long with a mental health issue that wont respond to typical treatments. 

As a therapist I do hope that the trials continue to do well so that people who need this type of treatment can receive the help that they desperately need. However I do worry. I worry about people self medicated with street bought drugs or people becoming addicted to these substances. Just because something is regulated and FDA approved does not mean the general public is harmed, look at prescription drugs like narcotics and benzodiazepines. I worry about the price of psychedelic treatment. A single dossing session of Ketamine assisted therapy can have a beginning cost of $1200. Typically the price tag comes from not just the medication itself but from needing to have 2 therapists with you as you take the medication, as tends to be standard protocol. And most people will need about 6 sessions, so as you can see this is expensive and something that insurance does not always cover. 

Therefore people naturally are looking for a more affordable way to get help. That is why there have been some companies capitalizing on bringing Ketamine to consumers in a more affordable way, but that can also create risks. Sure you are able to take the treatment in the comfortable of your own home but you won’t have the support of a therapist should you experience any negative side effects such as intense negative feelings or more commonly called a the “k-hole.”

There are no bad trips, just difficult ones. -unknown

Now I want to circle back to psilocybin, MDMDA, LSD, and ayahuasca, because these are not legal in the USA and people are trying desperately to find something to help them overcome disorders like depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. So people either will get these drugs from someone on the street or go where it is legal like at a retreat or wellness center in another country. I don’t blame people, if I was suffering and nothing was working I am sure I would do anything to feel better. 

It is important to pick a therapist who is comfortable and has knowledge about psychedelics in therapy. I have additional training in psychedelics in therapy to be able to provide psychedelic integrated therapy because I want to provide people a non judgmental space to explore what this experience was like for them. Often people have no idea how to unpack what they experienced and need a place to process it, so that they can integrate the experience into their life. People will report that this was the most liberating experience of their lives, crying about how they finally can feel relief. Sometimes people feel like they have opened a box and now are left wondering how they will ever be able to “return to normal life again.” And I have even heard horror stories where people have been violated while on a psychedelic trip. This is sickening as you are in such a vulnerable place wanting to heal but instead you are further hurt. As a trama informed therapist I can help. 

In my online therapy practice, I work with people all over California, helping them process experiences both good and bad. I provide a safe space to explore the things  that can make other therapists uncomfortable. I won’t judge, because how could I? You just want to feel better. I work with people on integrating tough experiences. I create a safe space to explore life post a psychedelic trip, whether you were part of a clinical trial or went on a wellness retreat in another country. They say there are no bad trips, just difficult ones and I can help you unpack a difficult drug trip. There is a saying in the psychedelic therapy community, that there are no bad trips, just difficult ones. I can help you unpack a difficult drug trip and help you live a life you deserve.