What is Psychedelic Integration?
What images come to mind for you when you think of “integration”?
Let me start by noting that I cannot condone the use of psychedelic substances outside of legally sanctioned environments. And at the time of writing this, these environment include FDA approved clinical trials and research settings and protected use for specific religious and indigenous groups.
With that disclaimer, I understand that psychedelics are also used outside of the above-mentioned contexts.
Integration is integral in all contexts.
I strongly believe that it is important to integrate any personal growth that results from psychotherapy into one’s everyday life and relationships. In other words, take insights and experiences that can inform positive behavioral shifts, for example, out of the therapy “room” and into the world.
Yet at the same time, the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy has acutely embraced this notion of “integration.” So what do we mean when we speak of integration in the context of psychedelic medicine and therapy?
I like Norris and Megler’s definition
…the process by which the material accessed and insights gained in an entheogenic experience are incorporated, over time, into one’s life in a way that benefits the individual and their community; a culture that prioritizes the collective, respects the sacred and mystical, and in addition, weaves in a practical application of the transpersonal into the modern context we live in.
I also appreciate Walsh’s elaboration on integration:
The universal challenge is to transform peak experiences into plateau experiences, epiphanies into personality, states into stages, and altered states into altered traits.
Integration is not only a process that follows the taking of psychedelic medicine/ceremony, as that the greatest integration is preparation. Preparation can include the setting of expectations (i.e. psychedelics in of themselves are not a ‘magic bullet’ for healing) and intention setting.
There is significant interest in the psychedelic medicine movement currently, and I believe there is also great potential for healing and growth to result. With that being said, individuals interested in this modality are strongly advised to seek the assistance of a trained healer / clinician to guide one in not only the actual journey, but in the pre and post aspects.
Seeking the support of non-judgemental integration groups, such as those hosted by PsychedeLIA LA can be a great resource for those seeking more information.
References
Roger Walsh, “Entheogens: Ture or False,” International Journal of Transpersonal Studies 22 (2003).