Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT) uses psychedelic substances like Ketamine, LSD, Psilocybin (mushrooms) methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), or DMT (ayahuasca) in a controlled and therapeutic environment to treat mental health conditions. People have been exploring the benefits of psychedelics for decades, but in recent years scientists have started to study their therapeutic potential.

Psychedelics are one of the oldest pharmacological tools, as well as one of the most powerful medical treatments in the world. In addition to their relevance to spiritual practices and indigenous cultures throughout history, psychedelics have been used in modern medicine as antidepressants, analgesics, appetite stimulants and neuroprotectives. Today they are once again gaining scientific popularity for their promise as therapeutic agents for depression, anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse disorders, and more.

Studies have shown that combining therapy with psychedelic drugs can significantly reduce symptoms and prolong remission for depressed patients who are unresponsive to traditional antidepressant medications.

Studies indicate that certain psychedelics may help manage or treat common mental health conditions, like:

• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD): MDMATrusted Source, ketamine, and psilocybin may help reduce symptoms of PTSD and C-PTSD from trauma seen in veterans and survivors of domestic abuse

• anxiety: psilocybinTrusted Source, ketamine, and MDMA might help relieve anxiety, including stress and anxiety related to end of life

• depression: psilocybin may be effective for treating depression, especially treatment-resistant types

• substance use disorders: IbogaineTrusted Source and ketamine can be used for treating substance use disorders

• suicidal ideation: ketamine may be helpful for people with suicidal ideation

Psychedelic therapy can offer other lasting positive effects, as well. A 2021 study indicates that people who have taken psychedelics report experiencing improved:

• optimism

• self-esteem

• mood

• resilience

• mindfulness

• psychological flexibility

“The Johns Hopkins research investigating psilocybin therapy suggested that participants still reported a positive change in their personality up to 14 months after their psychedelic experience,” adds Kyle Buller, MS, cofounder and director of training and clinical education at Psychedelics Today.

Although research and anecdotal evidence on the benefits of psychedelic assisted therapy seems promising, it’s important to beware of the potential risks.

“Psychedelics are relatively safe on the physiological level, so most of the risk is in the psychological and emotional domain,” adds Buller. He also notes that some clients may experience an intensified sense of anxiety or depression after sessions. He further adds that certain contraindications may even pose health or safety issues, such as:

• some medications

• cardiovascular issues

• a family history of mental health disorders like psychosis or schizophrenia

Difficult experiences, which are sometimes called “bad trips,” can also a potential risk. Negative or uncomfortable experiences can be reduced by focusing on “set and setting,” and by working with your therapist.

“Psychedelic therapy isn’t going to be for everyone, and not everyone is going to respond well,” Buller adds. “I’ve worked with some integration clients in the past that have been traumatized by their psychedelic experience, which has caused significant stress and anxiety in their daily lives. Some of this can be mitigated, but this is why it’s important to do a detailed risk-benefit analysis before engaging in this type of work.”

While there are several research studies related to PAT using these substances underway, currently, Ketamine is the only legal Psychedelic medicine available for use in Texas. No physician or mental health professional may prescribe any other psychedelic to treat a physical or mental health condition until research first garners approval from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). A psychedelic medicine must also complete large-scale clinical trials and be tested and approved by the FDA for use in humans to be considered legal.

Psychedelic Integration Therapy

Integration is the synthesis of the mind and body following the experience of a non-ordinary state of consciousness prompted by the ingestion of psychedelics. It is the process of exploring and sharing challenges and insights that arise during psychedelic experiences. Any feelings, sensations, and ideas that are brought about during your ketamine or other psychedelic experience can be meaningful for the process of healing. Integration is about creating the space to “make meaning” of those feelings, sensations, and ideas so that they can inform daily functioning. In this way, integration therapy increases the potential for personal transformation that psychedelics offer.

Non-ordinary states of consciousness have the potential to bring up lots of such big ideas, sensations, and feelings! Sometimes it can be enticing to ignore them or push them away, or we may simply forget what comes up, like forgetting a dream if we don’t write it down right away upon waking. But healing requires that we engage with these ideas, and that’s what integration is all about. Professional support can make the difference between successfully integrating our new insights into our lives in meaningful ways or stopping short of lasting growth and healing.

Engaging in integration during and after your psychedelic experience minimizes the possibility that the healing benefits of the medicine will be buried or “lost” as ordinary consciousness returns. Because we do not supervise or condone the use of illegal substances at MMT&C, integration support during or immediately following your experience with a psychedelic other than ketamine is not something we can provide. Instead, our integration therapy sessions can offer guidance for self-guided preparation and integration ahead of a psychedelic experience or professional integration support for a past psychedelic experience.

Any integration work is better than none. So, if you’re reading this because you’re struggling with a challenging trip you’ve already had, it’s not too late to make meaning from what arose in the process and integrate those insights into healthier, happier daily functioning.

Mindful Monarch Therapy & Consulting does not provide psychoactive or controlled substances. We do not conduct “underground” (illegal) psychedelic services. Please use your discretion to ensure our services meet your needs . There are significant legal and medical risks associated with casual use of psychedelics. These risks are amplified for people who are already experiencing mental health difficulties. However, we acknowledge that people do sometimes choose to take risks of all sorts that are not medically advised or condoned. Our integration services offer a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential space to process non-ordinary states and their potential for personal transformation. Our professionals have specialized training and experience with the non-ordinary states of consciousness that these experiences bring about, so whether you feel you’ve had a bad trip and aren’t sure how to cope with it or are otherwise seeking resources to unpack a psychedelic experience, we can help.