What is psychedelic integration and how is it different from psychedelic assisted psychotherapy?

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy involves the use of psychedelic substances as an adjunct to traditional psychotherapy. During a psychedelic-assisted therapy session, a person ingests a psychedelic substance, such as psilocybin or MDMA, under the guidance and supervision of a trained therapist. The therapist then provides support and guidance during the experience and helps the person process and integrate any insights or experiences that arise during the session.

Outside of strict research protocols such sessions are only currently legal in Australia

Psychedelic integration, on the other hand, is the process of incorporating the insights, lessons, and experiences gained from a psychedelic experience into your daily life. It can help you make sense of what can otherwise be a very overwhelming experience.

As a term, ‘Psychedelic integration’ is a fairly broad category of care - it can involve a range of techniques and modalities, including talk therapy, mindfulness practices, creative expression, and embodiment practices. Regardless of what way it is practiced, the goal is always the same - to help you integrate the insights gained (during the psychedelic experience) in a way that allows you to live your most rich, full, and meaningful life - on an ongoing, daily basis.

Why is it so important?

Integration is considered an essential part of the psychedelic experience, as it can help individuals avoid potential negative effects such as confusion, anxiety, or a sense of disconnection from reality (1). It can also help individuals make lasting changes in their attitudes, behaviors, and relationships, and can promote greater self-awareness, personal growth, and spiritual development (2), (3).

What is very clear from the research is that subsequent integration of the psychedelic experiences through talk therapy promotes improvements in well-being, and may even be integral to the process (4).

Isn’t it illegal?

No. Psychedelic integration is not illegal in Australia, and therapists are able to offer support to individuals who have had a psychedelic experience. However, the legal status of psychedelic substances in Australia is complex.

Most psychedelic substances, including psilocybin MDMA and LSD, are considered illegal in Australia and are classified as Schedule 9 drugs, which are substances that are deemed to have no therapeutic value and a high potential for abuse. This will be due to change as of 1st July 2023, but even after this date, the possession, use, or supply of these substances (outside the scope of heavily constrained clinical research settings) can result in criminal charges and penalties. There has been growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in recent years, and an exponentially increasing number of clinicians and researchers are exploring ways to use these substances in a clinical setting. The use of psychedelics in a mainstream therapeutic context is currently illegal in Australia, but there are ongoing discussions and debates around the potential benefits and risks of these substances and the need for changes to current laws and regulations - so watch this space.

In the meantime, therapists who work with individuals who have had a previous psychedelic experience may focus on integration and support without directly providing or facilitating the use of psychedelics. They may use a range of techniques and modalities, such as talk therapy, mindfulness practices, creative expression, and somatic work, to help individuals integrate their experiences and make meaningful changes in their lives. There is a logical precedent for all psychotherapists in Australia to discuss the previous use of illicit substances with their clients - if such conversations are deemed therapeutically useful and there is no clear and present danger to the client or others.

Whilst I am a psychotherapist and not a psychologist, I generally follow the gold standards of psychotherapeutic practice as set out by the APS (Australian psychological society ) According to these guidelines, psychotherapy is conducted within ethical and legal guidelines that privilege the maintenance of clients' privacy. Situations, where such confidentiality must be breached, are vanishingly rare and would really only come into effect if it can be demonstrated that there is a serious risk of present or future harm to the client or someone else if such information is not disclosed. You are neither in breach of the spirit nor the letter of the law in discussing your previous psychedelic experiences with me - especially since our goal is to help you improve the quality of life for both yourself and those around you.

Why do you offer one-on-one online psychedelic integration instead of running integration circles?

Both online psychedelic integration and in-person, open groups for psychedelic integration can offer you valuable support and resources if you wish to integrate your psychedelic experiences. However, there are some potential benefits to individual online integration that may be worth considering:

1. Accessibility: Online integration can be much more accessible than evening group sessions - especially if you have kids or a busy work schedule.

2. Anonymity: Online integration offers you a much greater degree of anonymity, and this can be deeply important if there are things you want to disclose away from the ears of strangers.

3. Flexibility: Online integration offers you much greater flexibility in terms of scheduling and frequency of sessions. We can talk about what works best for your current lifestyle.

4. Individualized support: I have a lot of experience running groups, so I am well aware of the magic that can occur within this dynamic. However, when we are working one-on-one I can focus solely on your experience and your needs. Shifts can occur a lot faster as a result.

5. Safety: simply recalling powerful psychedelic experiences can be disorienting. Sometimes being ‘in situ’ in your safe home environment after a challenging online integration session is preferable to having to navigate the drive home in the dark after a particularly profound in-person sharing circle.

6. Validation: Whilst the tide is certainly turning, many more conservative psychologists and GPs are still fairly clueless about the profound psychedelic paradigm shift that is happening (in the field of mental health) under their very feet. It can be very invalidating to discuss challenging and confusing psychedelic experiences with poorly informed clinicians who are dismissive of your experiences. Psychedelic insights are profound, important, and disorienting. I get it. At this stage, there is nothing you can report back from your trip that will make my eyebrows raise or my brow furrow. it is all welcome!

In-person, open groups for psychedelic integration can offer unique benefits as well - such as a sense of community and connection with others who have had similar experiences. Ultimately, the choice between online and in-person integration will depend on your needs, preferences, and circumstances, and you can always do both. Find the right fit for you.

How can I organize an appointment - and what does a typical session look like?

When you feel you are ready simply contact through this form. please provide the best number and time to be contacted.

I will be in touch to have a brief, confidential, and no-obligation phone consult with you.

If we feel it will be a good fit in both directions, we will then organize a tailored online integration session accessed through a simple link.

What is your personal experience with psychedelics - and why is this relevant?

Some years ago, I became disillusioned with the modalities that I was able to offer my clients. Whilst talk therapy is fantastic and can be life-changing for many, there was a sub-group of my clients that just never seemed to get any better. I felt like I was arriving at the earthquake of their lives with a dustpan and brush. I paid attention to breakthrough science in the field of mental health, and it was pretty clear that psychedelics were a true game changer. At that time, when I looked around for training I found there was really nothing available. I decided to solve my own problem, travel with my wife to Europe, and set up the mind manifest podcast. I have been lucky enough to interview and learn from some of the luminaries in the field. including Dr. Torsten Passie, Dr. Ben Sessa, and Amanda Feilding - you can listen to the podcast here HYPERLINK

Seeing the face of the mountain.

Whilst it has been wonderful to learn about these substances and their power, the more I learned the more I started to fully appreciate both the paradigm-shifting scope of these substances for the Western Medical model (and the infinite depth of my own ignorance), However, it became quite apparent through my studies that the true learning in psychedelics was not scientific - but experiential.

The true mountaineer eventually realizes that there are only so many books you can read about the mountain before you must step onto its face.

I was fairly certain that these pockets of science in the uK and the US would soon globalise, and so I researched where it was possible.

It is of course not partuclary difficult to find , but I felt it was very important that when the Aiustralian culture was ready. I travelled to the Netherlands to have some legal psychedelic experiences, with a view to being able to speak publically about them in an Australian context. they were life changing and indespesnible for my peronsal growth and mtuaratin as a father, husband, health professional and as an authentic man. that work continues and will never end, but i simoky cannot put into words how inyegral they were for me. The more i have leanred and expereinced in the field of psychedelics, there more i understand the importance of contexualising them within the framework of a ‘good life’ - and also how they are but one of a suite of important keys into the depths of our psyche. this is why I am so professioanl interested in clincial hyypnosis, because it offers from some another pathway to personal grwth and healing, in a way that is perhaps less fraught than psychedlic explriation.

I appreicate you reading this FAQ. I share some of my personal story here not to create a ‘brand’ but rather to engnederbooefully a bit of trust.

the first thign i will sya to you when we work together is the folliwing

there is nothing you can say to me that will make me think more or less of you. you are a child of the universe - the same as me, and

whatever you expereinced dufring your pscyhedelic trip was pheneomlogically real for you (ie your subjective expereicenwas valid and subjevtitvely real) it is not my place to try and fact check what has come up for you

i have absolutely no answers for you, just observations

your mind is a mountain - the terrain is yours to climb. i will not make the climd for you, but i will be yoru sherpa for a hiwle.

Talking about a psychedelic experience with a therapist who has never had one is like talking about swimming with someone who has never been in the ocean.

I am careful to point out that I have intentiaonlly traveled to the Netherlands in order to be able to legally take psychedelic substances, with a view to being able to openly talk about

Whilst every psychedelic trip is totally different, there is a shared appreciation between those of us

I have also helped facilitate legal group psilocybin retreats at synthesis, a retreat centre in Ho

In one form or another, I have worked with nonordinary states of consisouness for the majority of my psychotheraputic career, whether in the fields of depth psycholgoy, dream analysis or clinical hypnosis. There are a great many overlaps, so I am very comfrotable discussing whatever has come up for you in the context of your trip and helping you make sense of it.

Whilst it is not directly related to I have been luck enough to host the mind manifest podcast and have had the pleasure of interviwign some amzing people.

This was in part because I was underwhelmed with the training pathways and wanted to speak - I have had many illuminating discussiosn with some of the and try my best to uincroporate their teachings and coneptualisations into my way of working with propke

I will also

I am at apins here to state that I by no means consider myself - there are two things that have helped me successfulyl naviaget legal pscyhedelic experince - humility and curisoisty - I will provide the same reverance for your expereinces

Can you direct me toward underground psychedelic-assisted psychotherapists?

No. I make it very clear that I do not in any shape or form advocate for the injudicious use of psychedelics. I do not offer psychedelics, I do not practice psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and I will provide absolutely no signposting to underground therapists who do - so please don’t ask!

Refereences

1. Carhart-Harris et al. (2018). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(5), 356-366.

2. Ross et al. (2016). Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1165-1180.

3. Griffiths et al. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1181-1197.

4. Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, M., Rucker, J., Day, C. M., Erritzoe, D., Kaelen, M., ... & Taylor, D. (2018). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 399-408

Disclaimer

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