This post explores what psychedelic-assisted therapy is, the benefits it can have, and its potential side effects and warnings. 

While therapy has become a mostly accepted topic in 2022, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding psychedelic-assisted therapy. Although native communities have long since mixed psychedelics with therapeutic settings, the usage of hallucinogens to achieve therapeutic goals appears outlandish to some people in the modern age. Others have fears about bad trips completely unraveling any mental health progress they have made. However, psychedelic-assisted therapy is on the rise in liberal areas such as parts of California. While the practice can help some people when done safely, it certainly isn’t intended for everyone. However, it likely isn’t as extreme or damaging as some people fear.

The “therapy” referred to in psychedelic-assisted therapy refers to the intended therapeutic effects of the practice. However, people do often combine the practice with traditional talk therapy. People who partake in psychedelic-assisted therapy ingest carefully administered amounts of mind-altering substances to change the cognitive processes of their brain. The goal is to transform how they think and perceive the world to challenge their beliefs and perceptions. People consume drugs such as psilocybin, a hallucinogenic fungus, as well as other plant-derived drugs like DMT, peyote, ibogaine, or ayahuasca. Other users ingest chemical compounds such as MDMA, ketamine, and LSD. Using small amounts of these drugs is believed to help people open their minds and be more responsive to making changes and accepting truths.

People who benefit from psychedelic-assisted therapy believe it is a restorative process that can help treat various mental health issues, as well as physical problems. People who practice this therapy seek a process known as psychedelic integration, which aims to reunite the fractured parts of the self to form a more integrated being. Psychedelic-assisted therapy advocates believe that the therapeutic effect of using a controlled amount of drug in a safe setting can help an individual overcome forms of trauma and make progress with their mental health treatments. This practice is favored among people who have tried traditional treatments and don’t feel like they are advancing. However, people need to proceed with caution when it comes to this therapy.

There is both a right and wrong way to go about psychedelic-assisted therapy. There are specific clinics where this treatment can be administered or performed in a safe setting, though there are only select cities where it is legal to provide substances to clients. Other clinics simply monitor the process to ensure that the person is safe, while some people choose to have talk therapy under the influence of a substance. However, a consultation is needed to determine if the patient is a good candidate for this treatment. Details such as patient history, medical history, and desired goals need to be discussed and evaluated to determine if psychedelic-assisted therapy is a good course of action. Once the substance is ingested, the client works with the doctor to achieve their therapeutic goals.

Many people desire to be whole and struggle with what feels like fractured parts. Psychedelic-assisted therapy nonetheless sounds too good to be true for some people given the number of drug horror stories gone wrong. Moderate risks are associated with psychedelic-assisted therapy, which makes it essential that clients are thoroughly vetted and consulted about the process. While self-medication is almost always risky, Healthline reports that psychedelic substances are deemed low-risk when used in a clinical setting. Psychedelic-assisted therapy appears to be a far safer practice than many people would think.

At the same time, psychedelic-assisted therapy isn’t the best treatment choice for everyone. Individuals with psychotic disorders or a predisposition to them are at an increased risk for psychosis when they take psychedelics. There are also mild to moderate physical and mental health concerns, though it does not appear to be overly risky to consume a small amount of a substance in a clinical setting. However, that doesn’t mean that psychedelic-assisted therapy is a good option for everyone. Numerous clinics are opening up and promising psychedelic integration, though they do not all boast the same enthusiastic reviews.

Overall, there is an increasing amount of medical evidence that low doses of psychedelic-assisted therapy can have benefits when it comes to treating depression and other disorders. It also is becoming more likely that certain substances will be approved for use in clinics. However, the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy could be short-lived. Like all therapies, recovery and progress are gradual processes. There is still a lot of research underway to evaluate the effectiveness of the practice and the best way to administer treatment. However, psychedelic-assisted therapy shouldn’t be considered a taboo process.