My approach to psychedelic preparation and integration therapy

You may have read some books or listened to a few podcasts about the amazing benefits of psychedelic assisted therapy. You’ve probably heard how it can eliminate PTSD symptoms or drastically improve depression and anxiety. Or you’ve even tried psychedelics on your own but really want to maximize their healing potential. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

In my own exploration of psychedelics, I loved the idea of using this powerful medicine as a part of my therapy. But going to a clinic where I didn’t know anyone or an experience totally separate from my ongoing therapy didn’t feel right.

In my practice, I offer preparation and integration therapy for a psychedelic experience, using Internal Family Systems therapy. While I cannot advise you on how or where to have a psychedelic experience, I can support you in making the most out of the experiences you choose to embark on outside of our work together.

Psychedelic preparation and integration therapy, using IFS, is a specialized form of counseling designed to help you prepare for and integrate your experiences with psychedelic substances. While psychedelics can offer profound insights, their effects can be challenging and even harmful without proper support. IFS provides a container with which to hold the experiences and insights from an expanded state of consciousness. Together we’ll focus on:

• Preparation: Part of you may be super ready and excited to have a psychedelic experience. You might have parts that are fearful or anxious. Part of you might be hoping psychedelics will solve all of your problems. Together we will develop relationships with your parts first, so you can have a safe, healing experience with your chosen medicine. You’ll learn how to go inward and navigate your internal landscape. In my experience, the more prepared you are, the better and safer the experience will be.

• Integration: Using IFS therapy, we will update all of your parts about the experience you’ve had. After your experience, I will support you in making sense of the insights gained and integrating them into your daily life to foster lasting transformation. IFS therapy supports the crucial step of anchoring the experience you had the expanded state. This may look like continued re-processing of past trauma, working with skeptical parts around a spiritual experience, or updating your protective system that healing has occurred.

While psychedelics can offer healing potential, they may also bring up unresolved trauma, emotions, or big life questions. Working with a therapist ensures you have the tools and emotional support necessary to navigate these experiences safely.

With professional guidance, you can:

• Cultivate a safe container for your psychedelic journey

• Gain clarity around complex experiences

• Develop a sustainable plan for emotional integration

• Enhance the therapeutic impact of psychedelics