What will your Session Look Like
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy sessions are very different to normal therapy sessions. Using psychedelics therapeutically is also very different from using psychedelics recreationally. Sessions are now legal in Australia under approved circumstances, with much conjecture concerning price and availability. Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is exactly as it says, assisted therapy.
Not a Silver Bullet
Psychedelics are not a silver bullet and it is important to recognise this, as the therapy before, during and after is what makes psychedelics so powerful. Psychedelics do open (particularly MDMA) long closed and firmly held closed doors deep in your psyche, and open them in a way that is safe, emotionally safe, even when dealing with PTSD. Once this door has been opened, even partially, therapy is essential to integrate as you move through what has arisen, in your way, in a way that will not re traumatise.
Free Preliminary Meet & Greet
Therapy by a skilled therapist is crucial, some one who has experienced psychedelic assisted therapy for themselves. Your process should look something like having an online free meet & greet, where you get to meet your team, ask questions and share a little about yourself and what you are seeking.
Preliminary
The next step is a preliminary exploration of your issue, your skills and whether psychedelics the best pathway for you. This can be online and lasting about 1 hour. This session also sets up for your medicine session, and in some cases, additional therapy may be required prior to the actual medicine session.
Medicine Session
The medicine session will take at least six hours, and requires physical presence at the sitters venue. It is important that you do not drive yourself, but have some one drop you off and pick you up. The venue will be set up specifically for this purpose, it will be quiet, comfortable and private, with no interruptions.
Once your session is complete, and your feeling integrated, which sometimes can take a while longer. you leave with your pick up person.
DO NOT DRIVE YOURSELF
Integration
Follow up integration and support is essential, and should be part of your package. With some people, the next day or so is when major shifts can happen, so it is important to have access to your therapist during this time to support your integration. This can be done online and may continue for several weeks.
An estimated base line price, including preliminary, medicine session and integration could cost @$2000 AUD. When pricing for your experience, access to quality integration and post session support is what will make all the difference in your experience.
The Sitter..
It is crucial in choosing a therapist or “sitter” very carefully. Your sitter is someone who will “sit” with you during your session, some one you feel confident with, even if you’re scared stiff, some one who intimately knows and understands psychedelic assisted therapy.
When choosing your sitter, look for some one who has experienced psychedelics in a therapeutic space, look for someone who has experienced for themselves on numerous occasions psychedelic assisted therapy.
Look for a therapist who has a space that feels safe, is private, quiet and comfortable.
While having tertiary qualifications is important, there is no comparable training equal to or as effective as self experiencing psychedelic assisted therapy.
As you enter your deep vulnerability, that space where your old and deepest wounds and hurts reside, the skill of your sitter will become apparent. While modern therapists are trained in cognitive skills, in psychedelic assisted therapy space, too many words can be re traumatising.
Learn about what you are intending to do, ask the difficult questions…
Historically, mainstream therapy has failed in dealing with PTSD and depression, so it is crucial in choosing your sitter, that you choose wisely. Don’t be afraid to interview them, too ask about their experience, number of their own personal sessions and how much experience they have had with people with your issue.
While both psychiatry and psychology are crucial medical and mental health professions, their focus is on the science of the mind and while they been essential to come this far, are limited in their understanding of the emotional vulnerability of a client under the influence of psychedelics during a session.
For this reason, ask about their hands on experience and look for someone who has had numerous sessions themselves. It can potentially be deeply re traumatising simply taking a tablet and hoping for the best. It is important that during your “pre” session, that you have a deep and intimate conversation with your sitter about what you’re seeking and how can the drug you are about to use can support you in achieving your intention.
Emotional intelligence skills
It is also important that you have sufficient emotional skills to be aware of what may happen and that your sitter can support you during this process.
Generally, people who are ready for psychedelics have hit the wall with mainstream therapy and have developed a respectable level of emotional intelligence skills.
Most people who have been battling long term PTSD and depression already possess a deep understanding of their emotionality, and these are the people who benefit from psychedelics the most.
Caution, do your homework…
Seeking out psychedelic assisted therapy may be challenging because of historical laws, prejudices and general ignorance. As of July 1st, 2023, psychedelic assisted therapy will become easier because the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Association) in Australia have rescheduled MDMA and Psilocybin so they can be legally prescribed by psychiatrists. While this is a world first, there is still along way to go and why I urge caution in seeking out psychedelic assisted therapy. Psychedelic assisted therapy has been operating underground globally since the 1950’s and there exist highly skilled and competent practitioners. Most of these practitioners have come from a failed mental health system and sought out alternatives that, when used with understanding and care, have been proven to be highly effective.
Get clear on your intention..
Once you have your intention, which may be something like, “I really want to do this, as I am over my issue’s taking over my life, I am ready to create change”, the next step is finding your therapist. If you are already seeing a therapist, they will be able to support you in this process as well. Also, ask your GP about it and if you’re on any medication that potentially may interfere with your process.
Some medications may be required to stop for @ 2 weeks before your session, such as any anti depressants or sedatives, as they can create unwanted side effects, others for just 24hrs. Ask your GP and your chemist.
Psychedelic assisted therapy is about unlocking those long held blocks, most often created by trauma that your psyche has locked away. Your intention should include your desire to do this, to safely penetrate your walls and release that deeply held trauma. This is where your sitter will be worth their weight in gold… and where going through that door is your intention and your decision.
Set and setting are the next steps with set being further expansion and focusing your intention. Your sitter, who may also be another therapist will support you in refining your intention, defining a perspective that will support your psychedelic journey.
The Setting…
The setting is the space where you will have your session. The room will be quiet, comfortable, at a suitable temperature, with either a couch or mattress where you can lie down, with empathetic music playing in the background.
You will be in this space, feeling exposed and vulnerable in a way that may be scary.
This will be a space where you will be supported to move through your fear to feeling safe and held.
You will be in this space for 6-8 hours, until you feel clear of the medicine.
It is crucial that you are not driving yourself afterwards.
Wearing an eye mask will also support your journey inward. When you arrive at your venue, be aware that fasting is important and not to have anything to eat on the day of your session.
Drinking plenty of water is important, as some of the psychedelics can cause slight dehydration, bring your own water bottle.
On arrival, your sitter will bring you into the space and talk about what your session may look and feel like. They will be able to explain to you what the medication feels like and about how long it may take.
Your sitter will advise you on what is the best approach from hearing about your issue/desires and generally feeling into where you are at.
Always have some one drive you or catch a cab and they come back at the end of the session to pick you up.
Depending on what your issues are determines which medicine or mix is used. If it is your first psychedelic assisted therapy journey, and there is any history or possibility of trauma, usually MDMA is administered for the first session.
A moderate dose is administered at the beginning then your sitter will ask you in about an hour to see how you’re going and how your feeling and can you feel the medicine working.
A pre discussed and agreed to second dose, or top up, may be administered at this stage.
A psychedelic session will usually last @ 6 – 8 hours, sometimes longer. During your session, you will approach and maybe enter into your deep psyche, which is a very vulnerable experience. This is why it is crucial to have someone with you that has been there in themselves and has the knowledge and skill to support your journey into your own unique vulnerability from a place of respectful knowing.
MDMA can usually be felt after about 30 minutes, but if the client has deep resistance (otherwise known as protection, which is there for good reason), this may take a little longer. This is ok and is important to be patient, encouraging focusing on breathing and relax into their body.
Some people with deeply held trauma may require more than one session to relax and really develop trust in the setting with the psychedelic.
It is not unusual that deep shifts and movement in deeply held blocks occur the next day, or during days following. If you can, choose to have time off for at least 2 days after your session so you can continue to keep your focus inward. Having access to your therapist during this time is supportive.
Choosing your sitter and post session integration(s) is vitally important and can determine the ultimate level of success from your session.
As has been said, taking the psychedelic substance is only @ 30% of this process. Success with the majority of this therapy comes with your therapy provider, and supporters, incorporating quality and easily accessible set up and integration.
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is ineffective if you believe you can simply use the substance anytime without adequate support and still expect results. The human psyche will avoid buried trauma if it doesn’t feel safe and increasing the dose can throw you into uncontrolled terror around your buried ‘stuff’, which is mostly what a bad trip is.
More Info on MDMA:
