Psychedelic Integration Services
As a psychologist, therapist, and coach, I’m aware that not everyone’s experience with psychedelics or plant medicines is easy and straightforward. That is why using psychedelic integration is crucial.
Even though these substances are not legal in the UK, a lot of people choose to go abroad to take part in ceremonies with psychedelic substances, both natural and synthetic. People often don’t know how to ensure the safety of such
experiences and/or how best to prepare for such encounters.
Sometimes it’s the challenging nature of the journey itself that leaves people confused. Other times it’s paradoxically the bliss and wonder of an altered state of consciousness that’s difficult to incorporate with one’s understanding of life and everyday reality. It can also be both. Either way, it can be tricky.
I’d like to emphasise that PSYCHEDELICS ARE NOT SUBSTANCES TO BE TAKEN RECREATIONALLY. These are powerful healing agents and metaphoric teachers, that need to be treated with respect and reverence.
Psychedelics have the ability to connect us with different dimensions within ourselves and the world we live in. They can bring mystical and spiritual aspects to our existence. They can offer deeper, richer, and more symbolic meanings than we are used to processing in our normal wakeful consciousness. Sometimes this is a welcome experience, at other times it brings up issues or memories that we were not expecting to deal with.
However, most people don’t realise that the real growth journey starts only when the actual psychedelic experience is over. This is when the integration work starts.
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What is psychedelic integration?
Integration is the recovery of the mind, body, and spirit from the psychedelic experience. It involves psychological processing and assimilation of insights from other states of consciousness into your life, for the purpose of growth and well-being.
The extraordinary nature of these non-ordinary states of consciousness can be life-changing and profoundly healing, but overwhelming. Integration is the process of taking insights or teachings from altered states and incorporating them in ways that benefit us, our relationships and our communities.
In the field of Psychedelic Harm Reduction, challenging experiences are often seen as valuable learning opportunities which can enrich one’s sense of self. One of the main assumptions is that “difficult doesn’t necessarily mean bad”. Psychedelic states can be an opportunity for powerful growth, but it doesn’t automatically translate into changes in daily life. To see lasting change, we need to do the work, and this often requires the support of a qualified professional.
All my work follows the spirit of Harm Reduction Practices. I’m therefore happy to support people who have already had experiences with psychedelic substances which perhaps left them confused, disoriented, and struggling. I offer a safe and confidential space to integrate the states induced by psychedelic substances or spiritual emergence.
What do I do?
- Help you make sense of psychedelic experiences you’ve had
- Assist you in using your psychedelic-induced insights for health and personal development
- Work with any symptoms or states you may have developed or have been exacerbated since your psychedelic journey
- Help you to translate the symbolic messages and teachings from the plant medicines into your life
- Assist you in changing habits of doing, thinking and relating to reinforce the neuronal changes that occured in your brain
What don’t I do?
- Provide “sitting services” or referrals to underground providers of such
- Offer psychedelic psychotherapy, since currently in the UK it’s only available by participating in the Clinical Research Trials
- Provide advice on growing, obtaining, dosing, or administering any illegal psychoactive substance. Neither do I provide any advice regarding sourcing psychedelics
- Encourage psychedelic use since these substances are not legal
If I have no interest in psychedelics but I’ve experienced altered state(s) of consciousness, can I still work with you?
Absolutely. The common thread running through my integration services is a passion for working with the nature of consciousness. My clients often have an interest in contemplative practices such as meditation, breathwork, or yoga.
Psychedelics are just one of many catalysts or techniques for experiencing altered states of consciousness that can provide healing and insight.
How many integration sessions would I need?
I request that new clients commit to attending at least 6 sessions with me. Typically these are weekly or fortnightly. After this initial series, we’ll have a collaborative conversation about the next steps, and if we both feel a resonance in the work, we’ll commit to a second series.
I find it helpful to work with clients in this concentrated, serial approach – checking in every 6 sessions to ensure a mutually committed, energizing, and beneficial relationship throughout our work.
