How IFS can support integrating psychedelic experiences

My interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy stems from my own deeply meaningful experiences with altered states.

I have done psychedelic therapy trainings with Fluence and with two of the leading IFS therapists who work with psychedelic-assisted therapy, Bob Falconer and Bob Grant. However, I believe my own experiences in therapeutic settings with different psychedelics have given me the best experience I could wish for in this work.

With its non-pathologising approach, IFS therapy is a helpful way to do preparation and integration work. In IFS we believe that we all have an innate healing capacity, and IFS therapy and psychedelics both provide us a way to tap into it.

I work with clients who want to either prepare for a psychedelic experience, or integrate past experiences.

Note that I don’t provide psychedelic-assisted therapy itself, and I cannot connect you with or recommend any psychedelic therapy providers.

Using IFS Therapy for Psychedelic Preparation

During our preparation sessions, we will clarify your intention for the experience. We will get to know the parts of you that feel drawn to the experience and are hoping for healing or a shift.

We will also make space for the parts that have concerns or fears about the experience and address them. Together with the parts, we will address their concerns and develop strategies to ensure a safe and positive experience.

Sometimes the preparation phase may involve work with parts that are carrying pain or trauma. This can help deepen the healing that can happen during the psychedelic experience.

Using IFS Therapy for Psychedelic Integration

Using IFS therapy, we will work together to make sense and to integrate the insights and experiences gained from the psychedelic journey.

Psychedelics can bring up intense emotions and memories. We will work with parts that may hold challenging emotions or experiences either from the psychedelic journey or something from the past that has been revealed.

We will also work with parts that may experience internal conflict around making changes in your life or have concerns about what the future will look like.