Despite changing public and regulatory opinions on psychedelics, LSD will likely be the last psychedelic to be legalized, as discussed in a previous community post. However, it’s also one of the most promising, and while stigma from the golden age of psychedelics may hold back public support, this miraculous substance has been shown to impact everything from depression to addiction, and it has even received breakthrough therapy status from the FDA. (1) (2)

Working with LSD can be a life-changing experience, but as with all psychedelics, the best experiences come after careful preparation. As a psychedelic practitioner, you must adopt a systematic approach to the LSD experience, one that includes the 6 S’s and a careful client assessment, as discussed below. (3)

How to Prepare a Client for an LSD Journey

Proper preparation ensures that the client is ready for the journey and is actually a suitable candidate:

• Check for Health Issues: The risk of adverse reactions and difficult experiences is greater if there is a history of mental health. Caution is also advised in the presence of physical conditions such as high blood pressure, and psychedelics may not be suitable for clients with a history of heart problems.
• Ask About Medications: Certain medications can cause contraindications, including SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants, which may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome and other adverse reactions. (4) (5)
• Ask About Pregnancy: If the client is pregnant, an LSD journey is not recommended. We still don’t fully understand how psychedelic medicines interact with a fetus, but there have been reports of birth defects, and LSD can accumulate in the placenta. (6)
• Inquire About Their Expectations: The practitioner should inquire into what the client wants out of an LSD journey. What are their goals and expectations? What changes, if any, do they want to make in their life? A practitioner can use this information to shape the experience and guide the client on the right path.

How to Guide the Journey

The right “set and setting” can make all the difference in an LSD journey. The term relates to the client’s mindset and environment, but the 6 S’s expand on this idea and can ensure perfect preparation:

• Set: Encourage a relaxed mindset free of anxiety by asking the client to spend a day relaxing before their experience.
• Setting: There is no single “ideal” setting, as it all depends on what is familiar and what makes them comfortable. It should be a safe space, though, whether that means an uncluttered indoor environment or a calming outdoor setting.
• Substance: LSD doses are measured in micrograms (μg), and even the smallest oversight can lead to a substantial overdose. There are many stories of people taking more than planned, including one woman who took a dose 550x greater than normal. Serious overdoses are rare and require doses far above the normal range, but the greater risk of adverse reactions necessitates care when measuring the dose. (7) (8)
• Sitter: A sitter is essential for ensuring a safe experience. If the practitioner can’t sit with their client, they should recommend someone who can, even if the sitter is a friend of the client with no psychedelic experience.
• Session: The session itself includes an initial onset, an opening-up phase, a plateau, and an afterglow. Support should be available throughout to ensure a smooth experience.
• Situation: Once the journey is over, the integration stage (discussed below) begins.

How to Integrate an LSD Experience

The integration process will vary depending on the practitioner’s preferred approach, but it usually encompasses elements of reflection (considering the insights gained during the experience) and application (applying those learnings in a practical and productive way).

Methods include:

• Journaling: The client is encouraged to write down their thoughts during the experience and then reflect on them during the integration process. The journal can provide guidance during the ongoing integration process, with the individual reflecting on their journey and progression.
• Connecting with Others: Community support is a big part of psychedelic integration, as it helps to bounce ideas off like-minded individuals (in addition to the practitioner). They can provide advice based on their own experiences or simply serve as a sounding board. The Third Wave community is a great place to discuss experiences, but a practitioner can also advise.
• Somatic Practices: Somatic experiences relate to the body, and psychedelic integration practitioners may recommend practices aimed at connecting the body and mind. They include any movement-based practice and anything that focuses on the body, including deep-breathing exercises and yoga.
• Mindfulness: Meditation is a great synergistic tool for incorporating lessons learning during a psychedelic experience. It can improve self-awareness and reflection and may also help to reduce stress, improve cognition, and make the individual more receptive to certain changes. (9)
• Exploring Nature: Whether it’s a prolonged trip in nature, a nature-based ritual, or a simple stroll in the woods, being in nature during the afterglow of a psychedelic experience can increase positive feelings and encourage integration.
• Self-Expression: From journaling to creative pursuits (painting, singing, dancing) that unlock their creativity, self-expression should always be encouraged during the integration process.

What is the Purpose of Psychedelic Integration Therapy?

The role of a psychedelic practitioner is to prepare a client for the experience and support them throughout. Proper psychedelic integration can provide several benefits:

• Improved Results: An intense LSD experience can trigger a rush of emotions, a cascade of thoughts, and a desire to make various changes, all preceded by a positive afterglow. It’s a lot to digest, and it can be hard for the client to make sense of it and find direction. The practitioner, through a trusting relationship built with the client, helps them cut through the noise, find greater clarity, and identify the most meaningful insights to carry forward.
• Reduced Harm: Psychedelics like LSD can amplify thoughts, emotions, and other patterns, including depression and anxiety. Adequate preparation can reduce their impact and create a stable foundation for the LSD experience, but the practitioner can also support and guide the client throughout, helping to keep them safe and turn challenging experiences into positive lessons and growth.
• Ongoing Support: For individuals who seek to sit with psychedelics regularly, whether in high doses or microdoses, a psychedelic practitioner can be vital for providing ongoing support and assistance. They offer therapeutic solutions and continued support, but they also have experience working with psychedelics and can give more personalized solutions and more psychedelic-specific support than a traditional counselor.
• Make Sense of Previous Experiences: Psychedelic integration practitioners don’t just help those who are about to sit with LSD or have recently finished a session. They can also help individuals to make sense of intense experiences that happened many weeks or months ago.

Conclusion: Learning About LSD Experiences and Psychedelic Coaching

If you’re ready to deepen your understanding of LSD experiences and psychedelic integration, explore the Psychedelic Coaching Institute’s world-class training programs.

We equip forward-thinking coaches and practitioners with the tools, wisdom, and confidence to guide transformational journeys and help clients unlock new dimensions of growth, clarity, and purpose.