Psychedelic-assisted therapy: Preparation

At the start of this year, I had my initial experience with psychedelic-assisted therapy.

The idea originated when I attended the Psychedelics as Medicine conference in Harpa in January last year. At that event, I became aware of my limited knowledge of the subject and discovered I held biased views against the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a viable treatment.

During the conference, a few speakers presented scientific research in this area, detailing the mechanisms of action of the substances and their potential benefits in treating trauma, depression, and anxiety. This motivated me to contemplate experimenting with psychedelic therapy personally.

Due to my preference for careful consideration, I attended my initial session a year after initially considering it. During this time, I delved deeper into psychedelic-assisted therapy through reading, watching documentaries, and speaking with individuals who had already undergone the treatment and were able to provide insights based on their experiences.

I chose to seek guidance from a counsellor specializing in psychology, who supported me during the process. As part of this agreement, I participated in a therapy session about two months prior and the day after to explore my feelings and mental well-being.

There are varying viewpoints on psychedelic-assisted therapy, and it comes with specific risks. This underscores the necessity of thorough preparation and seeking guidance from a professional who can assist individuals throughout the procedure and its aftermath.

Studies indicate the significance of integrating talk therapy into psychedelic-assisted therapy, as the experience can unearth content from the subconscious, memories, and emotions that require further processing. The actual therapeutic process often commences once the psychedelic journey concludes.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is not a standalone magical solution but rather a tool for trauma processing. This underscores the importance of ongoing collaboration with a counsellor to facilitate the processing.

Seeing my counsellor afterwards was beneficial because the personalized nature of this treatment makes it challenging to anticipate all outcomes in advance.

After leaving, I was thankful for the opportunity to reach out to the counsellor I had seen. I contacted her through email and phone for approximately a week as I processed and accepted my experience.

For instance, I hadn't anticipated the session would kickstart a lengthy process for me to resolve. Fortunately, I could draw parallels between my experience and acquaintances who had embarked on similar journeys; ultimately, I strongly desired to discuss my process.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy may not be suitable for those who are simply curious or those who are currently content with their lives. Instead, it is intended for individuals who have endured persistent physical or mental discomfort for many years, having exhausted numerous available options without experiencing significant improvement. In such cases, I believe a compelling rationale exists to consider this treatment.

Exploring this option has been a valuable experience, as it has provided me with a new way to address the distress, anxiety, and stress that I am currently dealing with without any feelings of regret.