Psychedelic integration coaches are trained facilitators who help people clarify optimal next steps following an experience with plant medicines. These “modern shamans” are guides and therapists who provide insights designed to help people understand and grow from their experiences, taking them on a healing journey.

If you want to explore if stepping into Psychedelic integration coaching is right for you, sign up for our Practitioner Certification Program and start your journey as a certified psychedelic integration coach.

The Importance of Psychedelic Integration Coaches

“A high dose of psilocybin mushrooms, done in a group, ceremonial format, can accelerate the path of healing and transformation…” Those are the words of Third Wave founder Paul F. Austin, and it’s a sentiment echoed by many people who have sat with psychedelics or helped others understand their experiences.

It’s also an attitude increasingly adopted by the medical community, with a greater number of psychedelic trials being conducted than ever before, as evidenced by a 2022 analysis that recorded 105 clinical trials researching the healing and curative properties of psychedelics.

However, plant medicines aren’t the only notable component of these trials. As Austin notes, the support provided by a group setting can often be just as beneficial.

It’s something that psychedelic coaches aim to replicate. 

How Does Psychedelic Therapy Work?

Psychedelic coaching usually begins with an initial discussion in which the person’s goals are discussed.

• What do they hope to achieve?
• What is their past experience with psychedelics?
• Are they a suitable fit for psychedelic therapy?

They will then undergo an experience, preferably with an experienced trip sitter, before reporting back to their psychedelic integration coach. They collaborate with their coach to discuss their experience and try to make sense of it while moving toward their goals.

What is the Purpose of Psychedelic Integration Therapy?

Everyone seeks something different from their experience with psychedelics. 

For community member Brenda Welter, the goal was to make peace with a traumatic life and embark on a healing journey that would provide relief from chronic health issues that she had lived with for many years. For Lynn Watkins, psychedelics were a solution to over 20 years of chronic pain from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), one that led her to a healing retreat and resulted in her being pain-free.

Research suggests that psychedelics could help people heal in a variety of ways:

• Psilocybin could help with the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by creating “positive changes in personality” and “an increased sense of well-being” while increasing openness and feelings of connectedness.

• LSD therapy can reduce anxiety symptoms associated with terminal illnesses. A Swiss trial gave two doses of LSD to patients with terminal illnesses and found both short-term and long-term effects, with the latter noted a year post treatment.

• Psilocybin can assist in the treatment of substance abuse disorders. In one study, this plant medicine was given to participants with a history of alcoholism and noted a significant reduction in cravings and consumption.

These studies were obviously conducted under controlled conditions, with measured doses and close monitoring. It suggests not only that psychedelics can help people to heal but that the addition of a facilitator, a safe setting, and follow-up/complementary treatment can encourage healing and enhance the effects of these plant medicines.

What Are the Benefits of Psychedelic Integration Therapy?

In addition to the potential healing benefits discovered in numerous clinical trials, psychedelic therapy may also provide a range of other benefits:

Greater Self-Awareness

People who have sat with plant medicines often talk about the intensity of these very personal journeys. Psychedelics brought them deep withim themselves, allowing them to unlock thoughts, feelings, and experiences that were previously repressed. It can be a scary experience for some, while for others, it’s a little murky. Working with a psychedelic coach can provide some clarity to these experiences and help people understand more about themselves.

Improved Relationships

The more we understand about ourselves, the more we can learn about the people around us. The deep, raw nature of a psychedelic journey often opens emotional pathways, helping to build stronger connections, with the psychedelic coach fostering healthy bonds and authentic connections.

A Strong Sense of Purpose

Psychedelic therapy sessions usually begin with clearly defined goals. It’s these goals that the coach will move toward, helping those who sit with psychedelics to realize their true calling. It creates a sense of purpose and helps them to move forward, giving them the confidence they need to progress toward loftier goals.

Increased Self-Confidence and Innovation

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in psychedelic executive coaching. Many major organizations and entrepreneurs now hire executive coaches to foster innovation and boost confidence, and with the recent rise in psychedelic use among entrepreneurs, executive coaches are incorporating psychedelic therapy.

Popular with entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Sergey Brin (the latter of which has previously bankrolled clinical trials into the medicinal effects of ibogaine), psychedelic therapy is seen as a tool that can unlock creativity and innovation.

Summary: Healing with Psychedelics

Psychedelic therapy is a personal journey, and outcomes can differ depending on a person’s experiences with psychedelics, as well as their psychology, chosen plant medicine, and dose. It can be confusing for people who are new to plant medicines, but that’s where the psychedelic integration coach comes in.

An experienced coach provides direction and purpose; they offer a much-needed sense of clarity to fully prepare the person for their experience and help them to make sense of it when it’s over.

People Also Ask

What does a psychedelic therapist do?

A psychedelic therapist guides someone through their experiences with psychedelics. Their services are typically sought following a journey with plant medicines, but they can also be consulted beforehand, in which case they will seek to prepare the person and then consult with them afterward.

What is the therapeutic potential of psychedelics?

Plant medicines are still being studied for their potential therapeutic effects. There’s a lot that we don’t know. However, research suggests that they could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. For maximum safety and efficacy, psychedelics should be experienced with a trained facilitator and understood with help from a psychedelic integration coach.

What are the negatives of psychedelic-assisted therapy?

Plant-medicines, although beneficial, need to be treated with respect. People with a history of heart problems or severe mental health issues should consult with a medical professional before using plant medicines.