The goal of a psychedelic integration coach is to guide someone through their psychedelic experiences, helping them to learn more about themselves, derive useful insights, and turn positive experiences into life-changing ones. Usually conducted in a one-on-one setting, it’s a personal, supportive experience that leans on decades of clinical trials supporting the benefits of psychedelic medicines and psychedelic therapy.
Psychedelic Integration: A Rundown
“LSD shows you that there’s another side to the coin, and you can’t remember it when it wears off, but you know it.”
Those are the words of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and they echo the sentiments of many people who have taken a psychedelic journey. These experiences have the potential to be life-changing, but that potential isn’t always realized.
So, how do you change that?
For many, the answer is psychedelic integration coaching, a form of therapy whereby a psychedelic integration coach guides someone through their previous experiences with psychedelics and helps them to understand them.
Used in everything from executive coaching to personal therapy, a psychedelic integration specialist can help with any experience (ketamine, LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, mescaline), whether it was several years, months, or days ago.
Outcomes of Psychedelic Integration
As with the psychedelic journey itself, everyone’s experience of psychedelic coaching is different. According to Third Wave member and coach Gabrielle Pelicci, Ph.D., some people took an inward approach and worked on their minds; others were able to take a step back, isolate their emotions, and deal with whatever underlying issues they were struggling with.
For some, the insights are subtle; for others, they are substantial and life-changing. There is no single, guaranteed outcome, as everyone is dealing with different things in their lives, and psychedelics produce unique, intensely personal outcomes.
As an example, in a Third Wave post about psychedelic experiences, Elizabeth Gooderham reported that she saw her child self and realized “how much love she desperately needed” from her adult self. Michael Babin found refuge from a life-long battle with anxiety while Gregory Lamm’s ego took what he described as a relieving hit that allowed him to “pay more attention to the world and people”.
At the same time, however, there are reports of large doses of psychedelics causing unwanted effects, such as with Libby Lamour, who admitted in the same thread to being “naïve” when she “took 1,000 mcg of LSD” and went on a journey she described as a “mixture of light and dark”.
What Does the Science Say?
Researchers and medical experts are increasingly unlocking the potential benefits of psychedelic medicines and considering them for the management and treatment of a variety of conditions. For instance, in July 2023, Australian physicians were authorized to prescribe MDMA and psilocybin for the treatment of medication-resistant mental illnesses, making it the first country to recognize these compounds as medicines. (1)
In certain Canadian provinces, healthcare professionals can request an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that permits them to work with psychedelics (mainly psilocybin) to treat high-risk patients who don’t respond to anything else. (2)(3).
We’re also seeing similar advances in the United States. Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin back in 2020, and many other regions (mostly cities; Colorado is the only other state to decriminalize it entirely) have since followed suit.(4)(5)
Researchers, medical experts, and lawmakers are buoyed by studies that highlight the potential benefits of psychedelic medicines administered in a controlled, supportive setting, including:
- A 2016 study in The Lancet gave 2 doses of psilocybin (a week apart) to 7 participants presenting with treatment-resistant major depression. The medicines were taken in a supportive setting, and the researchers noted that the treatment significantly reduced depressive symptoms.(6)
- Another study, also conducted in 2016, used more rigid controls. This time, the participants didn’t know what they were taking, and results were compared to a placebo group. However, the outcome was very similar, with the researchers concluding that psilocybin caused “immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression”. (7)
Who Can Benefit from Psychedelic Integration Coaching?
Anyone with previous experiences with psychedelics can benefit from coaching, in particular those who had significant and impactful experiences that they want to understand on a deeper level.
As psychedelic use becomes more common, we’re also seeing it being used as a form of executive coaching, pushing professionals to overcome issues in the workplace.
How Do You Become a Psychedelic Integration Specialist?
Psychedelic integration training is available to anyone seeking a career in this rapidly growing profession. You can study for psychedelic integration certification or psychedelics executive coaching certification from a number of schools, including the Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
Summary: Psychedelic Integration Coaching
If psychedelics are the “why”, then psychedelic integration coaching could be the “how”. It is a type of supportive therapy that helps people unlock their experiences and learn more about themselves in the process.
Psychedelics are not for everyone, and experiences differ, but having a trained professional on your side to discuss your experiences and clarify uncertainties could make a big difference whether the psychedelic journey was positive or negative.
People Also Ask
What is psychedelic therapy used for?
In a professional setting, psychedelic therapy is used to treat a range of mental health issues, especially those where individuals have not responded to traditional medications and therapies.
What does psychedelic integration training include?
Psychedelic integration coaching certification programs cover a wide range of topics related to psychedelic use, as well as traditional and alternative therapies. They are extensive, but they will prepare you for a rewarding career.
Can I benefit from psychedelic integration coaching if my experience was years ago?
Yes. It may be easier and more effective if your experience was recent and fresh, but if you’ve had an experience you want to learn more about, you could benefit from this form of psychedelic therapy.
References
- Shepherd, T. (February 3, 2023). Australia to allow prescription of MDMA and psilocybin for treatment-resistant mental illnesses. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/03/australia-to-allow-prescription-of-mdma-and-psilocybin-for-treatment-resistant-mental-illnesses
- Government of Canada. Subsection 56(1) class exemption to possess small amounts of certain illegal substances in the province of British Columbia – health care clinics, shelters and private residences. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-concerns/controlled-substances-precursor-chemicals/policy-regulations/policy-documents/subsection-56-1-class-exemption-health-care-clinics-shelters-private-residences.html
- Submission to Health Canada. (January 4, 2022). Request for exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to allow for the possession of drugs for personal use in Toronto. Retrieved from https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/943b-TPH-Exemption-Request-Jan-4-2022-FNLAODA.pdf
- Feuer, W. (November 4, 2020). Oregon becomes first state to legalize magic mushrooms as more states ease drug laws in ‘psychedelic renaissance’. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/04/oregon-becomes-first-state-to-legalize-magic-mushrooms-as-more-states-ease-drug-laws.html
- Dr Robin L Carhart-Harris, PhD, et al. (May 17, 2016). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(16)30065-7/fulltext
- Stephen Ross, Anthony Bossis, et al. (December 30, 2016). Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367551/