Many people, clients and providers alike, are grappling with the psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP) renaissance. While many clinical research trials have been completed and initiated, there is still a lot about this field we are learning.
For context, I’m trained in three different models of PAP— Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP), Ketamine Enhanced IFS (K-IFS), and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). PSIP can be used in conjunction with Cannabis and/or Ketamine. It’s important to point out that Cannabis and Ketamine are not traditional psychedelics, but depending on strains, dosing and model, they can manifest an experience similar to traditional psychedelics.
As a result of the current research, lack of research, and my training in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, I find that people approach me with their questions. Please note that this list is not an end all be all, but merely a start to help you feel out whether or not psychedelic assisted psychotherapy continues to resonate with you. You’ll notice I don’t mention physical contraindications here— I’m leaving those for the MD’s of the world.
1) PAP is hard (and beautiful) work
I find that people gravitate towards psychedelic work because they’ve hit a plateau on their healing journey. If this speaks to you, I’d recommend considering “why” you’ve hit this plateau.
Is it maybe because you’ve been working with the same therapist for a long time, and the relationship may have run it’s course?
Or, is it possible there are other psychotherapy assessments and/or techniques would be worth trying first, such as neuropsychological testing, Somatic Experiencing or IFS?
While, in general I feel that the self-exploration journey is hard and beautiful, PAP takes on a different form all it’s own— sessions are longer, generally it’s more expensive, scheduling sessions into your week can be tricky, being in the throws of an altered state of consciousness can bring about years of unconscious data, and there can be hours of “down time” recovering from that altered state of consciousness. PAP is deep rich work that we need to be prepared for in time, financials, and internal resources.
2) If number 1 didn’t deter you, consider the strength of your internal resources
At the end of my answer to number 1, I mentioned internal resources. So what exactly do I mean by that?
Internal resources are the tools you’ve learned to use consciously or unconsciously that support you when things feel tough or unwieldy. For example, knowing and trusting that a specific affirmation you repeat to yourself is very calming or that a specific breathing technique will slow panic symptoms.
Because PAP can be hard work, it’s important to have a solid grasp on your internal resources.
Have you worked on strengthening your internal resources via therapy, mind/body based practices, etc?
Can you make a list of all the tools you could use during a PAP session if it became “too intense”?
If not, I’d suggest working on these skills. We are human, and by no means can anyone “perfect” their internal resources, but strengthening them is important and will serve you outside of PAP sessions as well.
3) Consider your external resources
Most facilitators/providers cannot be on call 24/7. Therefore, it’s important to consider your external resources.
Who/what in the outside world is supportive for you when you’re having a tough time?
Is there a friend or family member you feel comfortable sharing your journey’s with that can be present and witness you if you reach out?
Is there a favorite activity or place that’s soothing and/or uplifting for you? For example, walking in the woods, cuddling with your fur baby, going dancing or to see a show of some sort.
If you can make a list of external resources, great! If not, you may want to take some time to strengthen these resources as well.
And, here’s a great external resource to add to your list: Fireside Project Hotline is a peer support hotline for psychedelic experiences.
4) Strongly consider the rapport and comfort level you feel with your PAP provider
Listen, I get that sometimes we are called to take the plunge, go to Peru and sit before a medicine person/people and a group of strangers and partake in a wildly vulnerable experience. There’s a time and place for everything. And, then there are those of us that want someone we can work with long-term.
I want to be VERY clear that I believe training comes in many shapes and forms. Some training comes from the wisdom of lineage medicine holders, group initiation(s) and years of sitting with self and other without “formal” western higher education. Some training comes in the form of college lectures, internships, and formal western higher education. Both valid.
I ask you to consider looking/feeling into the person behind the experience and certificates— do I feel at ease when I think of this person, are they asking me important questions, taking time to be with me, do they have an understanding of at least some of my medical/mental health history, are they taking time to answer my questions and helping ease my concerns?
A great questions to ask a facilitator/provider may be: What are the values you hold when it comes to this work? Then ask yourself: Do I share those same values and do they help me feel brave and held as I make this decision?
5) Are you ready to face potentially life changing experiences?
Life changing experiences can be hard and beautiful (back to number 1!). Sometimes we need to see things clearly and face them head on, or sit in the murky muck for a period of time before we’re able to make life changing decisions. PAP can provide both— a clear understanding of what’s happening or present you with the strangest phenomenon you’ll be trying to understand the rest of your life.
The questions here are:
Can you be okay with that?
Can you be brave with that?
Are you resourced enough to be ready for a career change, moving to a different town, repressed memories potentially surfacing, watching yourself or parts of yourself die?
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If you’ve made it this far, you may be reading this and wondering WHY IN THE WORLD I used the word “beautiful" when most of what I mentioned above is HARD or even scary.
Because while watching ourselves or parts of ourselves die is hard, being reborn is exquisitely beautiful.
Because while a psychedelic experience may initiate a break up, the spaciousness and new love on the other side is beyond beautifully exciting.
Because while facing the confusion of repressed memories is hard AF AF, the clarity and healing that can come forth from that has the potential to be beautiful.
Because as a PAP provider, it is hard to witness the pain people experience on this earthly plane AND it is breathtakingly beautiful to witness their resiliency and internal healing capabilities.
Life is hard and beautiful and PAP is simply a mirror of life. Psychedelics illuminate our inner mirror. In PAP that mirror is held in brave sacred unconditionally loving space by the facilitator. This is why PAP is so different than using psychedelics by yourself or with a group you don’t feel the safest or bravest with.