Are you considering a Plant Medicine experience to assist with your healing journey, but want to feel supported in doing so? Perhaps you feel a bit judged by friends, family, or even other licensed professionals… but your soul feels the call. Perhaps you need assistance with preparation and integration, or even just figuring out altogether if plant medicine is even right for you.
Many people may think of hippies, raves, and relics of the 70’s when they think about plant medicine or psychedelics, but plant medicine assisted treatments are currently showing promising outcomes in research that includes depression, anxiety, addiction, PTSD, and more. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4592297/
It has been clinically shown that the therapeutic clinician-patient relationship is a critical element for facilitating healing experiences and realizing positive outcomes for psychedelic use.
(Yensen R, Di Leo FB, Rhead JC, et al. MDA-assisted psychotherapy with neurotic outpatients: A pilot study. J Nerv Ment Dis 201-719-5919. [PubMed] [Google Scholar])
“Combined with psychotherapy, some psychedelic drugs like MDMA, psilocybin, and ayahuasca may improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Cristina L. Magalhaes, PhD, of Alliant International University Los Angeles, and co-chair of a symposium on psychedelics and psychotherapy.
The Plant Medicine journey can often be a lonely one… and without the right guidance, care, and team on one’s side, an individual may end up feeling more dysregulated afterward. It’s very important to have support in integrating the insights gained during the plant medicine ceremony because, in many ways, the real work begins AFTER the ceremony – when we are translating what we have learned into our real lives. A licensed therapist can help with the process of digesting and embodying these new insights.
Many clients who reach out to us describe feeling called to explore ancient compounds such as psilocybin and ayahuasca. Clinicians on our team are well-versed in non-judgmentally supporting individuals in their preparation and intention setting for such experiences, working through any initial anxiety that may be present, and or simply processing ambivalence for those who are just curious about whether or not these plants may be right for them at all in the first place. Equally if not more importantly, members of our Quantum team are also experienced in supporting the processing and post-ceremony integration of these often profound experiences on both psychological and spiritually-based levels.
Quantum Therapy Group is one of the few Psychotherapy groups that offers services that assist clients in both preparing for a psychedelic journey and supporting the post-integration process. While Quantum explicitly DOES NOT OFFER OR EXPLICITLY ENCOURAGE the use of these compounds, we recognize that there is sometimes an intersection between interest in the more holistic healing psychotherapeutic and spiritually-based modalities.
Reasons it may be helpful to work with a Quantum Psychotherapy licensed therapist in conjunction with your Plant Medicine path:
Our therapists are trauma informed.
It is not uncommon for old trauma to resurface during a psychedelic experience. We may access old memories, or parts of ourselves that have long been buried or hidden, and become more dysregulated as a result. The average person may not have the tools to fully process what has been revealed and what has come up. Our therapists can help with this process of resolving any residual trauma imprints that have arisen.
Preparation
Many people may not know exactly what to do to prepare for a plant medicine ceremony. It can be helpful to have a licensed professional on your team to help you get clear about your intentions, and what you want to work on, address any fears and anxieties, and ultimately get clear on what you want this journey to mean for you.
Integration of the experience
People often experience a deep opening or expansion during a plant medicine experience, which requires integration. A licensed therapist can help you process your experience, gain clarity, and make the most of the insights by guiding you with different processes that bring you back home to yourself more whole and clear, and ready to embody this newfound insight into the world.
Non-judgment
If you have been shamed by family or friends or even licensed professionals, you can rest assured that our team is here to hold non-judgmental space around your Plant Medicine Journey.
If you are exploring the use of plant medicines in conjunction with your healing journey, and want support from a licensed professional, please contact us at 201-540-6328.
Quantum Psychotherapy Group offers therapy for adults, adolescents, and couples therapy/marriage counseling. We have multiple therapists on our team who specialize in working with anxiety and depression, trauma healing and EMDR, plant medicine preparation and integration, addiction, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and more.
Written by: Erica Tait, LCSW, LCADC