Psychedelic Integration Therapy

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What is Psychedelic Integration Therapy?

Integration the process of integrating. Or for a more formal definition – the practice of “forming, coordinating, or blending into a functioning or unified whole.” In the context of psychedelics, this describes how we can bring insights from a psychedelic experience into our lives at large.

Since their very early use, psychotherapists and clinicians have recognised the ability of psychedelic drugs to evoke new ways of thinking and to bring to the surface repressed memories, thoughts and feelings. It’s these qualities that led psychiatrist Humphrey Osmond to coin the term “psychedelic” from the Greek roots meaning “mind-manifesting.

If you have travelled to Europe or further overseas, you may have been to a Psychedelic retreat that offered Psychedelics. Some of these retreats are unsafe and dont offer any Integration therapy to help you process your thoughts and feelings when you arrive home. You may feel very alone and out on a limb as no one really understands your experience. You can now book Psychedelic Integration Therapy from our drop down menu, helping you process your experience helping you integrate the changes you want to make in your daily life with one of our qualified and experienced Psychedelic Integration Therapists.

Currently in the UK most clinicians are unaware of these types of interventions, along with being suspicious with the stigma attached to the word “psychedelic” but Psychedelics are being widely used in a controlled setting overseas by Psychiatrists and Psychotherapists proving very successful for the treatment of substance addictions, anxiety, chronic PTSD, OCD, depression, among other potential applications. We receive many referrals from patients, wishing to process their experiences living in the UK or overseas with a Qualified Psychedelic Therapist via the PROTherapy Zoom link. Soon we hope to see not just the FDA approve these treatments but also MHRA Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

 

 

Marc Bruxelle/ShutterstockIt’s important to remember that ALL Psychedelic drugs are still illegal in the UK and any reference this page makes with ragards to treatment options are only available in Europe or the USA. Its also important to remember if seeking out these types of treatments overseas, the importance of checking not only the credentials of the clinicians or facilatators but also ensuring the retreat or medical provider is safe and approved

Types of Psychedelic Therapies

Micro dosing refers to the ingestion of a very small doses of certain psychoactive drugs, most often psilocybin. Micro doses are known as “sub-perceptual” and are typically one-tenth or even one-twentieth of a normal dose. The aim of microdosing is to trigger a drug’s therapeutic benefits, such as increased creativity or improved mood without the potentially disruptive effects seen at higher doses, such as hallucinations or dissociation. In recent years, microdosing has gained popularity, fueled in part by its use among Silicon Valley tech workers, many of whom anecdotally report microdosing to increase productivity.

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Below are some of the most common substances and their general effects and properties, as well as potential harms and therapeutic uses. From the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

General effects and properties: 

Psilocybin

  • General effects and properties: 
    5-HT2A (serotonin) agonist of pyramidal neurons
    Dizziness, weakness, tremors, paresthesia
    Altered consciousness (visions, auditory distortions, ideations)
    Altered mood (happy, sad, fearful, irritable)
    Distorted sense of space, time
  • Potential harms:
    Psychosis
    Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder
  • Potential therapeutic uses:
    Addiction (tobacco, alcohol)
    Anxiety, Depression, PTSD
  • Ayahuasca
  • General effects and properties: 
  • 5-HT2A (serotonin) agonist of pyramidal neurons
    Dizziness, weakness, tremors, paresthesia
    Nausea, emesis
    Altered consciousness (visions, auditory distortions, ideations)
    Altered mood (happy, sad, fearful, irritable)
    Distorted sense of space, time
  • Potential harms:
    Psychosis, if diagnosed with bi polar disorder or borderline personality.
    Serotonin syndrome and other dangers from medication interactions due to monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity
  • Potential therapeutic uses:
    Addiction (alcohol, cocaine, tobacco)
    Depression, anxiety, PTSD
  • Mescaline
  • General effects and properties: 
  • 5-HT2A (serotonin) agonist of pyramidal neurons
    Dizziness, weakness, tremors, paresthesia
    Altered consciousness (visions, auditory distortions, ideations)
    Altered mood (happy, sad, fearful, irritable)
    Distorted sense of space, time
  • Potential harms:
    Psychosis
  • Potential therapeutic uses:
    Addiction (alcohol, cocaine, tobacco)
    Depression, anxiety, PTSD
  • MDMA
  • General effects and properties:
    Serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline agonist
    Euphoria
    Arousal
    Perceptual alteration
    Enhanced empathy and sociability
  • Potential harms:
    Potential neurocognitive deficits (memory impairment)
    Sleep disruption
    Short-term depression
  • Potential therapeutic uses:
    PTSD, depression, anxiety and addictions.