Psychedelic Integration Therapy

Psychedelic medicines such as psilocybin (from mushrooms), ketamine, ayahuasca, and MDMA are in various stages of being decriminalized or made legal for therapeutic use.

In Ontario, ketamine is the only legal medicine currently available for use in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Under special access granted by Health Canada, psilocybin can be used in some research and certain clinical settings.

Psychedelics can facilitate breakthroughs and insight in psychotherapy. These medicines show significant promise for individuals with treatment-resistant mental health issues. This can include unmet treatment needs such as longstanding depression, some eating disorders, addiction, and PTSD, among others. Psychedelic medicines may also be valuable for people who don’t identify as having mental health struggles. They might instead seek these medicines to create a deeper connection with themselves, others, the natural world, or a higher power.

Although psychedelic therapy is experiencing a resurgence in Western mental health treatment, Indigenous communities have used certain medicines in therapeutic and spiritual practice for centuries.

What Is Psychedelic Integration Therapy?

Psychedelic Integration Therapy is a form of talk therapy that complements the use of psychedelic medicine.

If you engage in this form of psychotherapy, you can anticipate that:

• Your experiences of non-ordinary consciousness induced by psychedelics will be paired with structured therapy sessions
• Prior to your experience, you will set intentions and goals collaboratively with your therapist
• Following your psychedelic experience, your integration sessions will be used to deepen your understanding and integration of that experience

Integration therapy can enhance the transformational effects of non-ordinary experiences of consciousness.

Psychedelic Integration Therapy refers to specific therapy techniques used before and after an experience. The therapist does not directly supply or administer psychedelic medicine to you.

How Do I Access Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?

Psychedelic experiences are available in a variety of legal and non-legal settings. Drug legislation and distribution settings are changing rapidly. You may wish to consult with a therapist trained in Psychedelic Integration Therapy or conduct an internet search of your area to find out which centres or physicians provide legal psychedelic medicines.

A TPG-listed psychotherapist cannot directly provide you with psychedelics. However, those trained in Psychedelic Integration Psychotherapy can offer you a nonjudgmental space to work with what has emerged for you in non-ordinary states of consciousness.

What Are Psychedelics and Psychedelic Integration Therapy Used For?

Psychedelic experiences can be powerful. Working with a trained therapist can complement the effects of experiencing non-ordinary consciousness. This might include contacting and reorganizing core experiences, processing powerful feelings and memories, or generating novel understandings of yourself. This work can amplify and consolidate your personal breakthroughs.

Psychedelics and Psychedelic Integration Therapy have been used to positive effect in addressing, among other concerns:

• Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (including complex trauma and the effects of childhood adverse events)
• Treatment-resistant depression and anxiety
• Addiction
• Effects of living with chronic illness and terminal disease

Because a psychedelic journey can invoke a range of both positive and challenging effects, Integration Therapy is strongly advised.