Mental health treatment, no matter the format or approach you take, is a journey. It takes time, preparation and conscientious effort to follow through to make progress. While emerging psychedelic therapy methods may be somewhat novel to you at this stage in your journey, there’s a thoughtful and well-designed process behind their implementation at Intero.

 

This psychedelic therapy approach was crafted with the dual goals of ensuring safety and supporting positive outcomes for all clients. The phases of the psychedelic therapy process at Intero are:

 

●     Initial assessments

●     Preparation

●     Medicine session(s)

●     Integration

 

In this article we’ll take a closer look at what you can expect during each phase of psychedelic therapy assessment and treatment. Keep in mind that while these phases are presented in a linear, step-by-step fashion, there is no clear cut “finish line” when it comes to mental health treatments. Some may choose to follow up with additional medicine sessions (and the preparation that comes with that), others may decide to stick to more traditional psychotherapy formats after settling into the integration phase of therapy.

Phases of psychedelic therapy: What to expect

If you’re new to psychedelic therapy, you undoubtedly have some questions about what the experience entails and what you can expect along the way. Let’s start with a foundational step–the initial assessments.

1.  Initial assessments

A key component to any safe and effective psychedelic therapy experience is to first undergo some critical mental health and medical assessments. The first of these is the mental health assessment, where trained clinicians get to know more about you, your history and the mental health issues you’re looking to treat.

 

“Our number one priority with these assessments is safety–both physical and psychological,” says Kyle Ross, MA,LPCC and Senior Director of Clinical Operations at Intero Psychedelic Therapy.

 

While every individual situation is different, it’s important to understand psychedelic therapy may not end up being suitable for you. Certain mental health issues, particularly those involving psychosis, are not an ideal fit for this treatment method. Additionally, if you’re new to mental health treatment you may be encouraged to first explore more“traditional” psychotherapy options first–it’s a bit like learning to walk before you can run.

 

If ketamine-assisted psychedelic therapy does appear to be a viable option for you, the next step is to undergo a full medical assessment. There are a couple of reasons for this visit. One is to ensure you’re in good physical health and are not at risk of experiencing complications. Another is for you to build a rapport and comfort level with the medical provider, as they will be by your side during the medicine session aspart of your care team.

2.  Preparation

Once given the go-ahead to proceed with a psychedelic therapy session, you’ll next proceed to the preparation phase. This process typically entails an average of three to seven one-hour sessions with a therapist that focus on preparing you both for the medication session.

 

““You’re going into an extraordinarily vulnerable situation, so we first need to build that trust with you,” Ross says.

 

During this preparation time you’ll likely be introduced to core concepts related to the psychedelic therapy session, like the feeling of ineffability (being unable to describe a sensation in words) or having a “beginner’s mind” where you embrace a childlike curiosity and are open to the experience, no matter what comes up. You’ll also discuss your intentions and how to frame your thought process going into a session.

 

“In a psychedelic therapy session, you may set out with intentions like, ‘I want to relate to my PTSD differently,’ or ‘I want to find more self-compassion.’” explains Ross.

 

While that may sound like setting goals, Ross says these intentions are more like planting the seeds of thought you hope to water during a session.

 

“You don’t get to predict where your mind takes you or how you experience the medicine,” Ross explains. “If you go in with a lot of pressure on yourself to achieve a goal, that can lead to a difficult or disappointing experience.”

 

During this phase, you’ll also learn more about the practical details for you medicine session, like who’ll be there, what to expect in the room, and how you’ll feel immediately after. Ultimately, the goal is to have you as comfortable and prepared as possible for a profound psychedelic experience.

3.  Medicine sessions

The next phase of the psychedelic therapy experience is the medicine session itself. This session will take a little advanced planning.

 

On average these sessions last between two to two and a half hours. You’ll be able to walk out of the clinic, but you’ll also need a friend or family member to bring you home as you won’t be able to drive for 4 hours after the session. It’s important to be thoughtful with your time immediately after the session as well–you should not be heading back to work or another potentially stressful setting.

 

“During prep we advise clients to do something very peaceful, be around supportive people and do nurturing things for themselves immediately after a session,” Ross says.

 

At the clinic, you’ll first get checked in and settled into a cozy environment. The goal is to make the space as comforting as possible for you, so expect to kick off your shoes, put on some headphones/eyeshades and sit back in a comfortable chair with blankets during the session.Music is an important element, and Ross says he likes to provide a curated playlist with instrumental songs that roughly match the natural flow of a ketamine experience.

 

The dosage of ketamine you receive in a session is determined by factors like your weight and experience with psychedelics. It is administered by a clinician via a small intramuscular injection that allows for rapid absorption and onset of effects. The initial dosage used errs on the side of caution, but a second smaller supplementary dose may be administered if needed.

 

Ross says these sessions can go in a variety of directions–some experiences are full of active conversation; others are quiet and deeply introspective. Your therapist will be there to monitor and guide you as needed. Sometimes intense thoughts and emotions can take hold during a session–and that’s often a good thing. But also know that there’s a caring and trained professional who can help calm and comfort you if they sense you’re “stuck” in an unproductive negative headspace.

4.  Integration

After completing a medicine session, next comes the critical process of integration. During the integration phase, you can expect to meet with a therapist for three to five integration sessions where you’ll have an opportunity to discuss what you learned or discovered about yourself during the medicine session, how you apply it in your life, and what you’re doing to keep nourishing that line of thinking.

 

Ross describes it as “watering the seeds” of the intentions you’ve planted during the preparation phase.

 

“Integration is the most important step, it’s what makes this experience more of a catalyst for lasting, meaningful change,”Ross says.

 

While the structure of these sessions will vary, typically during integration sessions, you may be asked to do things like look back and reflect on your intentions, listen to the medicine session playlist and recall thoughts and feelings from the experience, or explore if you experienced yourself in a different way–and what you make of the feeling.  

Is psychedelic-assisted therapy right for you?

At Intero the physical and psychological health of our clients is the top priority. There’s a thoughtful process guiding how we integrate psychedelics into mental health treatment. We believe these methods, when paired with expert guidance, can be an agent for profound change.

 

If you’re ready to explore potential treatment options at Intero, visit the Get Started page to connect with a therapist.