What Is Psychedelic Harm Reduction?
At A Time To Heal, we believe in creating confidential and supportive spaces for individuals to safely explore their choice to undergo psychedelic journeying. We embody a 2-phase harm reduction approach: our psychedelically-informed therapists can help you understand the complexity of expanded states of consciousness, minimize potential risks through adequate preparation and help integrate your experience into everyday life.
Who Is This Service For?
Psychedelic preparation and integration therapy does not involve the use of any psychedelic substances during therapy session. Our service is available for individuals intending to undergo psychedelic journeying for therapeutic reasons and personal transformation, or for those who have already explored psychedelic journeying and are seeking to integrate their insights with the help of a professional.
What Can This Service Offer?
It is important to note that accessing psychedelic states is not without risks, and should be approached with caution and guidance. Our harm reduction program has two key phases:
1) Preparation. Since psychedelic substances can bring about intense and wide range of inner experiences, preparing yourself as to how to navigate these expanded states of consciousness is critical. Adequate preparation is also the best way to increase therapeutic benefits of a psychedelic trip. Harm reduction sessions are dedicated to educate, set intention and build resources in preparation for an expanded state of consciousness journey.
2) Integration. Psychedelics when done properly and safely enable neuroplasticity in the brain. Without adequate integration, psychedelic journeys can feel like a fleeting memory that holds no long-term gains or growth. Post journey sessions are dedicated to help you make meaning of your psychedelic experience, process residual positive and negative emotions, and integrate lessons learned during your psychedelic trip into your daily life. We use somatic therapy, IFS, music, art, movement and/or mindfulness therapies to integrate these new insights. Integration is also integral for individuals who have had challenging or frightening psychedelic experiences and can help them make sense of the difficult feelings often stirred up by intensive mind-altering experiences.
What We Don’t Do!
At our clinic, we embody a harm reduction stance towards psychedelics. We are not gate keepers, nor psychedelic trip sitters. We do not provide psychedelic substances in therapy, and we do not offer information on where to access or buy controlled substances. We cannot recommend, promote or advise regarding psychedelic use. We will however provide you with research-based education and understanding on reducing harm if you choose to access non-ordinary states of consciousness through psychedelic substances, cannabis, ketamine, breathwork and intensive meditation. Our therapists will also help you cultivate ways of embodying transformations gained after your independent use of these powerful medicine.
The research indicates that when used safely, with adequate preparation and for certain mental health challenges, psychedelics can be transformative. However, we are in an era, when TV shows, social media and news articles are characterizing mind altering substances as quick fixes for anxiety, depression and trauma. This depiction is both unrealistic and irresponsible. Best-practice research indicates that the most helpful outcomes of psychedelics come from using them with guidance of informed therapists as well as safe and intentionally cured settings.
Psychedelic Research & Access!
New clinical research is showing promising results for the use of psychedelic substances in combination with psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD, anxiety, depression, addictions, and other mental health conditions. Please visit the MAPS website for the latest finding on psychedelic research. Currently, these interventions are only available in Canada through ketamine clinics, clinical research trials, or Special Access Program or Section 56 medical exemption. A Time To Heal does not provide referrals to any of these programs.
