"What is psychedelic integration, and why does it matter?"​

 

After a peak experiences with psychedelics (or any peak experience for that matter), anyone with a modest degree of curiosity will take pause and ask, "What just happened?" Or, perhaps even more importantly, "What am I supposed to do with this?"

 

Sometimes journeying into the great mystery leaves us with more questions than we started with, and this is where psychedelic integration is so essential.  It's now widely understood that medicines such as ayahuasca, psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, ketamine and others hold tremendous potential for treating the root causes of trauma, anxiety, addiction, PTSD, and other increasingly common challenges, but the true benefits of the psychedelic experience is often only realized through thoughtful and dedicated psychedelic integration.

 

Our unwavering mission at Sacred Counsel is to be your primary support system through the process of your life's most authentic unfolding. We are committed to guiding you in integrating these profound experiences, ensuring that the wisdom gained serves as a foundation for personal growth and lasting transformation. Together, we will navigate the complexities of your journey, celebrating your progress and helping you cultivate a life of purpose and connection.

 

Neuroplasticity & The Science of Psychedelic Integration

 

The days and weeks after a psychedelic experience is when neuroplasticity is at it's highest, meaning this is optimal time for creating new neuropathways in the brain.  New neuropathways translate to new ways of thinking, new perspectives, and a chance to re-examine long-held beliefs about ourselves and others.  In other words, psychedelic integration therapy helps you rewire your automatic, default behaviors and emotional reactions that don't always serve us well in life. 

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Psychedelics like ayahuasca, psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and others have shown remarkable effects on neuroplasticity.  Recent studies suggest that these substances can promote the growth of new neurons and synapses, particularly in areas linked to mood regulation and emotional processing, like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Research published in Nature in 2021 demonstrated that psilocybin increases the expression of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is crucial for neuron growth and survival. Another study in Cell Reports in 2022 found that psychedelics can enhance the connectivity between brain regions, leading to more flexible thinking and improved problem-solving abilities. These findings indicate that psychedelics may not only provide therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions like depression and PTSD but also encourage a more adaptable and resilient brain over time.

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The psychedelic integration process is unique to each individual and can take many forms. It may involve capture insights, creative expression through art or music, meditation to foster mindfulness, or engaging in discussions with trained professionals who understand the nuances of psychedelic experiences. Scientific literature highlights the role of therapeutic integration in enhancing emotional regulation and facilitating personal insights (Nutt et al., 2019). Our experienced team at Sacred Counsel provides a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your feelings and thoughts related to your journey. Through open dialogue and compassionate guidance, we help you navigate the complexities of your experiences, empowering you to find meaning and direction. This process often includes setting goals for personal growth and developing tools for managing challenges, ensuring you feel equipped to move forward with confidence.

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The Research

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• The neural basis of psychedelic action (Nature Neuroscience)

• The effects of psilocybin and MDMA on between-network resting state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience)

• Increased low-frequency brain responses to music after psilocybin therapy for depression (Journal of Affective Disorders)

• Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression (Frontiers in Pharmacology)

• Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal (Cell Reports Medicine)

• Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for dosing and administration (Frontiers in Psychiatry)

• Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo (Neuron)

• Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics (Frontiers in Psychiatry)

• Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression (The New England Journal of Medicine)

• Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder (JAMA Psychiatry)

• The costs and benefits of psychedelics on cognition and mood (Neuron)

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