In recent years, there’s been a growing interest in the use of psychedelics in the treatment of trauma.
And in all the excitement over the latest findings, some clients may be eager to experiment.
The problem is, they may not always be aware of the risks involved – especially when it comes to taking that experimentation outside of a clinical session and into their own hands.
So to help your client avoid a potentially harmful situation, we put together the infographic below to break down the process of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
It helps illustrate how psychedelics, when administered knowledgably and cautiously, may help facilitate or accelerate the therapeutic process that clients were already engaging in.
It also highlights some of the risks of failing to follow the steps in this process.
Have a look.
Click the image to enlarge
Generally, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy follows this basic framework. The exact process can vary depending on several factors, including the number of therapists, the number of sessions during the preparation, medicine, and integration stages, and the psychedelic substance that’s being used.Preparation Sessions
The therapists develop the therapeutic relationship and prep the client on the psychedelic substance. The client is resourced with skills to mindfully navigate the psychedelic experience.Medicine Sessions
The psychedelic is administered under medical supervision with the therapists present. The therapists provide a safe environment to help the client process the experience. Several sessions may be required.Integration Sessions
After each medicine session, the therapists help the client process what they experienced. This often involves approaches that would normally be used to help process trauma. Several integration sessions are usually required.
Risks of Not Following This Process
Some clients may be tempted to try psychedelics on their own or at a facility that administers the medicine without psychotherapy sessions (like many ketamine clinics). But there are risks involved, such as:
– Dysregulation
– Retraumatization
– Psychotic breaks
– Ingesting substances with contaminants
– Doses that are too high/low
– Increased vulnerability to harm
– Increased feelings of isolation
– Disappointment in a lack of breakthroughs
– Increased conflict among parts of self
It’s important to remember that the promising outcomes we’ve seen with psychedelics in the treatment of trauma occur in the context of psychotherapy. Psychedelic substances do not have inherent healing properties – but they may help facilitate or accelerate the therapeutic process for some clients.
(If you’re sharing this infographic, please be sure to include the copyright information. We put a lot of work into creating these resources for you. Thanks!)
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If you’d like to hear more about the clinical implications of the latest findings on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, check out Mastering the Treatment of Trauma.
You’ll hear from Bessel van der Kolk, MD; Rachel Yehuda, PhD; Dick Schwartz, PhD; Michael Mithoefer, MD; Gita Vaid, MD; Rick Doblin, PhD; Janis Phelps, PhD; and more top experts. Sign up here.
Now we’d like to hear your takeaways from this infographic. You can leave a comment below to let us know.
I am aware that some people with complex trauma are microdosing psychedelics. Do you have any information or guidance about the risks involved with this or how this might/could be done safely?
Hi Carla, thanks for reaching out with your comment. Please know we are updating the language used on preparation sessions. Thanks again for your feedback!
Hello, I am very interested in learning about Spravato, the nasal spray for ketamine. It has been FDA approved, for Major Depression Disorder. For patients with a diagnosis of MDD, I’ve heard some insurance plans cover it.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this product?
It is daunting and involved to have to ‘rescue’ the knowledge, healing and wisdom of the first nations, in order to share it universally. Seems somewhat absurd. Yet it is valuable to do so. As a mind, body, energy therapist, born in South America, living in Europe and that feels belongs everywhere and nowhere, I feel it is a worthy path, not always an easy one. I guess it is a path of self-education and kindness so that we can share with others. So that we can give back what belongs to humanity. We have to content with the beliefs and systems as they are. What a path this is.
Regarding psychodelic assisted therapy:
This is interesting but my clients are not usually interested in these substances and prefer a more conservative treatment. However, I can now explain what is referred to. This seems very distant from my clients
and the way I practice in the U.K.
Christine Paske
Chartered Psychologist BPS
All well and good.
But many clients live in restricted locales where it is illegal for even psychaitrists to prescribe these treatments.
Further. These treatments end up being VERY expensive. Many sessions of prep work, two professionals supervising a multi-hour session, followup.
I know your first commandment is “do no harm”
But you are guilty of neglect. Because of your rules you are not doing what the patient needs.
Your patient needs to be educated. Give him the right book. You may have to write it.
Your patient needs the prep work. Teach him how to prep himself.
Your patient needs a supervisor he trusts during the experience. Teach him how to find that person. And have a session that includes that person so they will know what to watch for.
I can’t afford the extra $10,000 for this sort of thing, especially for something that for many people doesn’t help.
(I have protectors that get really riled up when I’m on shrooms. I am on edge, can’t concentrate, my adhd gets far worse, can’t sleep, feel like I’m overdosed with caffeine.)
We have an epidemic of trauma.
I told my T. one day: “If you had a magic pill that had a 50/50 chance of making me well, or killing me, I would take the pill.”
People are dying — suicide, overdose, substance abuse, unable to make a living — people are dying, fast and slow because you, as a group, cannot, will not make help available.
G. K. Chesterton commented, “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly”
If you can create a system that harms 10% and helps 50% and leaves 40% no better or worse off, you are guilty of criminal neglect.
Get off your fat asses and help all the people not just the rich ones.
If you do your research…YOU can find a resource that is affordable. I did. Actually many and I’m in a state where it is NOT LEGAL. Forgive me if I misspeak, but it seems to me that you are playing the “victim” and telling others (others from a reputable organization trying to make a difference) that they should do a better job 🤷♀️ Excuse me? We ALL need to be our own advocates. Read the info, whatever it is. If you feel it’s useful for YOU to empower YOURSELF then go for it. If you do not feel it is appropriate for you, move on. I personally, take any-and-all info that I can find, do some synthesis of the info and use it to my advantage. This organization offers FREE info and an OPTION to pay for additional. The best part…YOU decide. It’s not an easy journey, but it will also NOT be a successful journey until ALL of the fingers are pointed to YOU. In other words, and like you said, get off your fat arse and take positive steps toward recovery. The negativity will get you nowhere, and quite frankly your hot air is a waste of space. Figure it out….now vs later.
Yes. This.
Always spot on, kind and very informative help to both practitioners and clients!
Thank you 🙏