Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Buy the ticket, take the ride,’ Hunter S. Thompson, 1971.
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
For anyone who has seen the film, ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,’ it is hard to imagine psychedelics being used for anything other than a crazy weekend in a town that supports complete mayhem. Yet, the use of psychedelics have been revolutionizing treatment for those suffering with mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and addiction. Sure, Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Hunter S. Thompson (epic journalist & avid drug enthusiast), definitely creates some pause when hearing that psychedelics are now a treatment modality, but it’s true. So, what is Psychedelic Assisted Therapy, and what does it really do for those who use it?
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy utilizes hallucinogenic substances that can be derived from plants such as Psilocybin (magic mushrooms), DMT, Peyote, Ayahuasca, and Ibogaine, or can be chemical compounds such as MDMA, Ketamine, and LSD. Prior to being banned by President Nixon, psychedelics were studied and found to have significant results for those struggling from PTSD, but thanks to the government, and it's pointless ‘war on drugs,’ the study of psychedelics was halted. Now, with renewed interest, psychedelics like Ketamine are being administered alongside talk therapy sessions as a way to heal what psychotropic medication could not.
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy isn’t taking an eighth of magic mushrooms in your friend's basement, and watching ‘Planet Earth’ for 9 hours. It is far more in-depth, and guided with a psychedelic that is easily controlled. Ketamine is the primary psychedelic being used due to its consistent administration & dosage. With Psilocybin (those magic mushrooms), it is much more difficult to gauge how much is needed of the substance to gain the same therapeutic effect without going off the deep end, when no therapeutic treatment can be viable. Each mushroom cap holds varying amounts of the psychedelic substance, so you are never getting a consistent dosage. While organic compounds sound more secure and feel safer to ingest, the psychedelic dosage is far too inconsistent to if you want to benefit from the assisted therapy.
Well what does the therapy even look like? For starters, anyone who is thinking about utilizing psychedelic assisted therapy must begin a process in which talk therapy sessions are conducted prior to administration sessions. This means you will be meeting with your therapist anywhere from 3-5 sessions, in order to identify what the core issues are that you want to target, and build up a therapeutic alliance. The therapeutic alliance is CRUCIAL in this process, why? Because being comfortable, and feeling safe while under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug makes the difference between a ‘bad trip,’ or a successful session. When you are anxious within the administration session due to not feeling connected and supported by your therapist, it will keep you from making progress on the core issues that need processing. Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is conducted primarily in 3 segments.
Consultation
Ingestion
Integration.
In the consultation stage, you will build that foundation with your therapist. This is also the stage in which discussing whether or not you are a good candidate to benefit from this form of treatment. Those who have psychotic disorders, such as Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform, or Delusional Disorder, are not viable for this form of treatment. Those who suffer from hypertension are also not ideal candidates, so it is important to let your therapist and assisted team know if you have any of these pre-existing conditions.
The ingestion stage is conducted in multiple sessions, and it is where the right dosage is administered. Each hallucinogenic substance has its own breakdown for minimum sessions. MDMA typically uses three sessions, Ketamine has a minimum of 12 ingestion sessions, and Psilocybin/LSD typically has two.
The integration stage is where the experience is processed, and where the patient and therapist work to identify the meaning of the experience in regards to identified treatment issues.
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is still in its infancy, thanks to the halt President Nixon put on the study of its medicinal purposes. So if you are thinking about utilizing it, do your research! Centers in Chicago such as Field Trip Health LTD, Sana Healing Collective, or the Rose Center for Integrative Health, are places in which Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is accessible, and also places in which you can get more information, as to whether Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is for you or not. It is a whole new frontier with psychedelics and its impact on bringing peace to those who struggle with mental health issues. If you have tried everything, maybe this revolutionary modality is just what you need.