Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a is a therapeutic approach that utilizes psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin (found in "magic" mushrooms), MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), or ketamine, in a controlled and supervised setting to facilitate psychological healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. 

 

Psychedelics induce altered states of consciousness, leading to profound shifts in perception, emotions, and thoughts. These altered states often create an opportunity for individuals to explore deep-seated emotions, memories, and perceptions in ways that may not be accessible in ordinary states of consciousness.

 

Psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown promise in treating various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), addiction, and existential distress. Research suggests that these substances, when used in therapeutic settings, may promote neuroplasticity and facilitate emotional processing, leading to long-lasting positive changes in mood, behavior, and perception. 

​

PAT incorporates three important stages:
1. Preparation
2. Dosing Session

3. Integration
 

During the psychedelic experience, therapists or facilitators provide guidance and support to help clients navigate their inner experiences. This may involve introspection, emotional processing, and gaining insights into past experiences or trauma. Clients may have heightened introspection and emotional awareness, allowing for breakthroughs and self-discovery. 

 

Following the psychedelic experience integration sessions are conducted to help people make sense of and integrate the insights gained during the experience into their daily lives. During the post-psychedelic period of neuroplasticity, integration focuses on processing the experience, discussing insights, addressing any emotional responses, and developing strategies for continued personal growth and healing.
 

Without proper integration, the insights and experiences gained from a psychedelic experience may be lost or fade away, the potential benefits of the experience may not be fully realized, or some people may experience adverse responses including the worsening of symptoms. The integration process is essential for making lasting changes and deriving long-term benefits from a psychedelic experience.
 

Psychedelics In Australia

This is a groundbreaking time in mental health and healing with Australia leading the world in the legalization of psychedelics for the treatment trauma and depression. From July 2023, the Australian TGA rescheduled Psilocybin and MDMA for therapeutic use by specifically authorised psychiatrists for treatment resistant depression and PTSD respectively. The roll-out of these new therapies are still in their infancy and, as it currently stands, there are few clinics ready to provide full treatment services.

 

As a trained and certified psychedelic therapist I will be offering full psychedelic assisted therapy in conjunction with a psychiatrist in the near future. Please join my waitlist to be informed when these services will be available in Northern NSW. 

 

In the meantime, research indicates that Australians are already and increasingly using psychedelics as a DIY mental health treatment, however only half of those accessing underground psychedelic support are provided preparation or integration sessions. I am currently accepting referrals and providing integration support for those personally journeying with psychedelics and plant medicines either therapeutically or recreationally.

 

For further information please see the Australian Psychological Society’s Position Statement on Psychedelic-assisted Therapy.

​

Integration

While psychedelics can open us to what is important in life, and steer our course to healing, such experiences alone cannot keep us on track. In short: psychedelics are not enough. Integration is essential to maximise treatment effects, maintain gains and minimise harm. 

 

To deepen the insights gained during a psychedelic journey into a new way of life, we must address what is blocking us from experiencing our full freedom, wholeness and potential. We do so by attending to the various dimensions of our human experience: the relationship with ourselves, with others, with the natural world and the mystery of life. This process is known as “integration”.

 

Psychedelic integration is aimed at helping people ground their exciting, intra-psychic, interpersonal, or transcendental insights into the less glamorous and more mundane dimensions of ordinary life. Skillful integration supports the transition from the psychedelic experience to deep, long-term and sustainable change. 

 

As a certified psychedelic therapist, I offer psychedelic integration therapy to those people who have made the choice to engage in the personal use of psychedelics for recreational or therapeutic purposes. See “Integration Therapy” for further information.  

 

Education, Preparation and Harm Reduction 

It is important to develop realistic expectations about potential outcomes and risks before participating in a psychedelic experience. It is also important to contemplate alternative therapeutic methods to achieve your goals. I offer harm reduction sessions (usually completed over two or three sessions) to explore if psychedelics are the right choice for you and ensure you can manage risks, reduce harm and make a fully informed autonomous decision.  As a therapist I can not decide for you. Any decisions made are made by you, autonomously and independently of advice received by a therapist during a harm reduction consultation.  

 

Risks and Considerations
Psychedelic therapy is not a panacea, and it is not for everyone. It is one tool, albeit a very powerful one, but one of many that we can use to explore and heal the conscious and as yet, not-so-conscious aspects of ourselves. I use multiple modalities including EMDR, somatic practices and mindfulness.

 

While research has shown promising results in the use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, it is important to understand that these substances can also have unpredictable effects on the mind and body. 

 

High-risk individuals – such as patients with personal or family history of psychosis, or those with a personal history of mania, suicidality and other physical and mental conditions – should be carefully screened and supported in creating an appropriate and individualised plan for their recovery and healing. 

 

Disclaimer

I do not provide psychoactive, illegal or illicit substances. 

I do not conduct or promote psychedelic psychotherapy outside of approved clinical trials or treatment providers and I do not provide referrals “underground” (illegal) psychedelic services.

 

I do provide safe, skilled, compassionate and confidential support for those who choose to journey with psychedelics.