Psychedelic Integration Therapy

Psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin, LSD, or ayahuasca, can induce profound and often challenging experiences that may include intense emotions, vivid hallucinations, and altered perceptions of reality. It is important to catalogue, ground and integrate these experiences into your psyche after you have them. 

Psychedelic integration therapy is not about administering psychedelics but rather supporting individuals in the process of understanding their psychedelic experiences and integrating them into their daily lives. It is a way of making meaning and processing the insights and emotions into long-lasting positive transformations.

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What is Psychedelic Integration Therapy?

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Challenging experiences

Psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin, LSD, or ayahuasca, can induce profound and often challenging experiences that may include intense emotions, vivid hallucinations, and altered perceptions of reality.

It is important to catalogue, ground and integrate these experiences into your psyche after you have them. 

A way of making meaning and processing

Psychedelic integration therapy is not about administering psychedelics but rather supporting individuals in the process of understanding their psychedelic experiences and integrating them into their daily lives. It is a way of making meaning and processing the insights and emotions into long-lasting positive transformations.

Key Aspects

The specific format of the your sessions will be decided by you and the therapeutic support system you may choose to work with, however, these are some common elements or stages: 

Preparation

Therapists help individuals prepare for their psychedelic experiences by discussing intentions, fears, and expectations. Establishing a supportive and safe environment is crucial.

Guidance during the Experience 

some individuals may choose to undergo psychedelic experiences in a therapeutic setting, guided by a trained therapist. This can provide additional support and guidance during the journey.

Integration Sessions: post-psychedelic experiences, individuals engage in integration sessions where they discuss and explore the thoughts, emotions, and insights gained during their journeys. Therapists help individuals make sense of their experiences and apply them to their everyday lives.

Processing and Integration Tools: therapists may use various therapeutic techniques and tools to help individuals integrate their psychedelic experiences, such as mindfulness, meditation, somatic experiencing, and creative expression.

Long-Term Support: integration is an ongoing process, and individuals may continue therapy sessions over an extended period to support continued personal growth and integration.

The Power of integration

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Without some degree of integration, the psychedelic experience simply remains a potential. It may have provided visceral emotional release or provoked profound insights but without embodying these lessons and turning them into actionable habits, beliefs and positive behaviours, they will remain as transient experiences. ....

Integration

Integration is an opportunity to bring the magic of a psychedelic experience into your daily life. It is a process of evolution and requires investing time and energy to gather all the puzzle pieces together, however, the payoff in terms of positive growth and expansion is very much worth it.

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Some ressources....

This field is still emerging and tools, techniques, and frameworks are constantly being developed and refined. If you are interested in pursuing psychedelic integration therapy it is important to do your own research and find a practitioner who can support you in this process. 

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Aside from that, here are some commonly used models or resources that may be useful for you: 

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• The Psychedelic Integration Handbook
• MAPS Psychedelic Integration List
• Psychedelic.Support
• ACE Model 

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Note: If you’re suffering from a mental illness and are curious about using psilocybin or any other psychedelic therapy, please consult one of the relevant medical authorities first. Do not self-prescribe, it’s vital to have the right support and guidance when using psychedelics as medicine.