The Psychotherapy Advantage: Enhancing Psychedelic Treatment Outcomes
What Is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a form of treatment that helps people manage and overcome emotional, behavioural, and mental health challenges. It’s what might come to mind when you think of therapy: it involves talking with a trained therapist to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, with the goal of improving well-being and coping skills. It’s used to treat all sorts of mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD.
The Science Behind Psychedelic Therapy
Psychedelics work by temporarily changing how the brain processes information. For up to a month after a psychedelic experience, the brain is able to reorganize and form new connections. This property of the brain is called neuroplasticity. Psychedelics increase neuroplasticity, meaning individuals are able to gain new perspectives and uncover deep emotions that they may not normally have access to. The transformative nature of psychedelics is why it is so effective for mental health conditions like depression and PTSD. It is also incredibly fast-acting: individuals can experience relief from depression and PTSD symptoms as soon as hours after psychedelic treatment.
The Benefits of Combining Psychotherapy with Psychedelic Treatment
Psychedelic treatment alone can pose risks. Worsening of mental health conditions, psychological distress, or physical harm are all possibilities when psychedelics are not paired with psychotherapy. Think of your therapist as a guide leading you through the psychedelic process from beginning to end. You and your therapist will work closely to navigate the insights and perspectives gained during psychedelic experiences and apply them to your daily life. There are so many benefits associated with psychotherapy; here are a few:
Deepens Emotional Processing
The emotions that arise during psychedelic experiences can be complex and overwhelming. Psychotherapy helps individuals process those deep emotions, ensuring they are addressed constructively.
Promotes Long-Term Healing and Integration
While you might come out of a psychedelic experience with profound insights and emotional breakthroughs, they may fade or remain abstract without psychotherapy. Structured integration therapy solidifies behavioural and mindset shifts to help you work towards long-term change.
Ensures a Safe and Guided Experience
Psychotherapy is necessary throughout the entire psychedelic treatment process. Before dosing sessions begin, psychotherapy prepares individuals for potential challenges that might come up during sessions. From the beginning of the psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy process, therapists offer psychological support, coping strategies, and a structured framework.
The Psychotherapy Approaches That Work Best with Psychedelic Therapy
Some psychotherapy approaches pair particularly well with psychedelic treatment, and can be hugely beneficial for mental health treatment. On their own, IFS, EMDR, and ACT have tremendous effects on mental health. Those effects only increase when paired with psychedelics. It’s as though psychedelics make the mind moldable, and IFS, EMDR, and ACT are strategies to shape and structure it in new, healthier ways.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a unique approach that views the mind as different “parts,” each with its own feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. While some parts protect you, others may hold painful memories or emotions. The goal of IFS is to help you connect with your core Self, promoting lasting change and healing.
Psychedelics can accelerate the work of IFS therapy by encouraging self-compassion and deeper inner exploration. It creates a safe, supported space for exploring deep emotional experiences that may otherwise be difficult to reach.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic method designed to help individuals process difficult life experiences. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (side-to-side eye movement, tapping, or rhythmic sound) to mimic what the body does during the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep, allowing individuals to reinterpret and reprocess difficult or traumatic events.
EMDR is useful after a psychedelic experience because it allows individuals to reprocess traumatic memories that might have emerged during a dosing session. When EMDR and psychedelics are paired, individuals may feel more open to emotions, and have an easier time reprocessing memories.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals recognize and normalize difficult emotions and pain rather than suppress those feelings. Instead of trying to cope or avoid, ACT focuses on developing the skills required to face psychological pain with confidence and strength.
ACT supports psychedelic integration by fostering psychological flexibility and clarifying core values. This means individuals are able to align psychedelic experiences with meaningful life actions.
Overcoming Challenges: Addressing Concerns About Psychotherapy in Psychedelic Treatment
There’s a misconception that psychotherapy dilutes the impact of psychedelic experiences. In reality, the structure, emotional support and integration strategies provided by psychotherapy enhances your psychedelic experience. We view psychedelics as a kind of medicine; it’s an aid that enhances the benefits of psychotherapy. It supports, rather than restricts, the profound benefits of psychedelics.
Unlock the Full Potential of Psychedelic Therapy with Psychotherapy
Combining psychotherapy with psychedelic treatment offers a powerful pathway for long-term transformation. With the help of our therapists, individuals will be able to translate new insights and perspectives into meaningful, lasting change. Your healing and personal growth are top of mind for us at Reunion. We’ll work together to determine what treatment will work best for you. Book a consultation with us to get started.