How does Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy help with Mental Health?

Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy has the ability to be the final "piece of the puzzle" for many individuals who persistently struggle with severe mental health issues and/or conditions.

As a marriage and family therapist who has worked in a variety of crisis driven, trauma based therapeutic programs for over 10years as a clinician; and 20years as a social service provider, psychedelic assisted psychotherapy appears to be a therapeutic method that has the potential to help individuals with severe trauma based mental health conditions such as, treatment resistant depression, anxiety, ptsd, suicidality, complicated grief and substance abuse experience long term symptom reduction with the potential of experiencing remission of their mental health symptoms and diagnosis.

Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy has also been shown to assist individuals undergoing "end of life" care or experiencing chronic illnesses by reducing and/or eliminating their fear of death and dying and strengthening their connection to love, belonging, trust & acceptance.

My goal as a psychedelic assisted psychotherapist is to help guide individuals to their own compass of inner knowing through preparation, education, ceremony and integration.

How does it help?

Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapies can help individuals experience their conscious selves without fear and with a reflective empathy for themselves and others.

Why is this important?

When individuals are able to experience their conscious selves without fear, it gives them an opportunity to resolve their "unfinished business" with empathy, understanding, forgiveness & love.

What is "Unfinished Business"?

"unfinished business" is a term used by Fritz Perls, one of the founders of Gestalt Therapy, which is a therapeutic method designed to improve one's connection with community and their environment as a whole.

Perls believed "unfinished business" were things within our awareness that are incomplete, as a result of, unexpressed emotions or unfulfilled needs. Perls also believed that "unfinished business" significantly drains one's energy and blocks their future development. Through Gestalt Therapy, Perls, hoped to help individuals "become who they truly are".

Why do you incorporate Somatic Therapies?

After individuals have an opportunity to resolve their "unfinished business" consciously, Somatic Therapies help individuals release that "unfinished business" or trauma by addressing & processing the dysregulations that has been stored in their body due to traumatic life experiences and/or events.

What is Preparation & Education?

Preparation & Education is the initial phase of the psychedelic assisted psychotherapy process. During this phase the client and therapist complete a comprehensive assessment of the client's mental health history, family history and trauma history through conversation and clinical assessments. The purpose of preparation and education is to:

establish a clinical rapport and determine if there are any clinical factors that would hinder the client from being an appropriate fit for this therapeutic treatment.
help the client identify their intention for treatment.
help the client increase their self-regulation skills for treatment.
refer client to PAP Physician to complete medical intake and exam.
review ceremony/journey recommendations & requirements for harm reduction, while in treatment.

What is Ceremony?

The ceremony or experiential journey session is the medicine induced therapeutic session, which can last up to 3 to 4 hours depending on the psychedelic medication being used. Currently, via FDA approval, we are able to provide Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy.

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a physician prescribed anesthetic that helps to induce non ordinary states of consciousness. Ketamine has been shown to help loosen the ego and ego attachment to enhance therapeutic interactions. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy has also been shown to help individuals experiencing treatment resistant depression, ptsd, suicidality and bipolar depression in bipolar I. Individuals, who undergo KAP, have reported experiencing a positive effect as soon as 24hrs to 72hrs after treatment.

How many KAP ceremony sessions are recommended to see results?

It is recommended that individuals prepare to experience 4 to 6 KAP ceremony sessions to see long term benefits and results. However, there are some individuals who have experienced 2 to 3 KAP ceremony sessions and are currently experiencing long term benefits, reduced symptoms and/or remission. Each individual is different with a different mental health history, family history and trauma history. We encourage individuals to navigate integration after each KAP ceremony session to determine what plan is right for them.

What happens during ceremony?

During ceremony, clients will review their intention for the therapeutic session through journaling prompts, mindfulness, meditation and breathwork exercises. My role as a clinician and guide is to maintain safety, observation and support.

Why is it called ceremony?

Some clinicians and psychedelic integration specialists call this session an "experiential journey session" and some call this session "ceremony". I choose to call this session ceremony to honor the roots of the indigenous healing practices in which this therapeutic method was derived.

What happens when ceremony is over?

Once the ceremony session is complete, the client will begin to prepare for integration.

What is Integration?

Integration is the period after the client's ceremony or experiential journey session, where the client works to make sense and create meaning around their recent experience. The client and therapist will work through their integration period utilizing a variety of methods from talk therapy, experiential exploration, somatic therapy and expressive arts. Our goal is to help the client connect to their inner knowing, complete their "unfinished business" and integrate their new understanding and perspectives into their everyday lives.

What is Harm Reduction?

Harm Reduction is the ethical duty to reduce the risk of harm among clients who are interested in exploring psychedelics and a general duty to attempt to maximize the benefits of therapy.

A harm reduction approach helps clients understand the potential risks and benefits of psychedelic use, discuss alternative methods to reach desired goals, develop realistic expectations, and create intentions that help maximize the therapeutic benefit of psychedelic use.

Our current KAP Harm Reduction Plan requires clients interested in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy to complete a medical exam with a KAP Physician, who helps the client determine if KAP treatment is right for them at this time or at all.
The KAP Physician will review the client's medical history to identify any medical issues or conditions that may cause or create any adverse effects and identify recommended dosage.
Once the client is deemed eligible for KAP treatment via medical exam, clients will prepare for their ceremony/experiential journey.

Are there any dietary restrictions before KAP ceremony/journey?

Clients are asked not to eat or drink any food or liquids at least two hours prior to their ceremony/journey session. This helps to minimize frequent urination or potential upset stomach during the session. However, it is not abnormal, if an client does need to use the restroom or experience any nausea during the session. To minimize experiences of nausea the KAP Physician will typically prescribe an anti-nausea medication to be taken about 15minutes before the ceremony/journey session begins.

Can I drive home after the ceremony/journey session?

Due to the potential of the medicine still being in the clients body, clients are not allowed to drive themselves home after the ceremony/journey session. Clients are asked to identify a designated driver and emergency management plan.

Are there any dietary restrictions after the ceremony/journey session ends?

No, currently there are not any dietary restrictions after the ceremony/journey session ends. However, it is recommended that you eat vegetable based and/or raw foods versus fried foods and/or red meats. Heavy foods may not agree with your digestive system directly after a KAP session. It is also recommend that you drink plenty of water and refrain from sodas and sugary liquids/drinks.

Is there anything else that clients should be aware of?

Typically, after a KAP session, clients are encouraged to refrain from social media, television and certain forms of music. Clients are encouraged to utilized the time after their KAP session to engage in self-reflection, mindfulness, meditation and rest in order to prepare for their integration process.