Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

A Thoughtful Approach to Psychedelic Work

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has received growing attention in recent years. While these experiences can be powerful, they are most beneficial when approached with care, preparation, and thoughtful integration.

My intention is to provide a therapeutic setting where these experiences can be approached with curiosity, respect, and psychological depth, allowing insights to unfold within a supportive therapeutic relationship.

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for individuals seeking new ways to work with depression, trauma, anxiety, and other psychological challenges. When used within a thoughtful therapeutic framework, psychedelic medicine can create opportunities for expanded emotional awareness, new perspectives, and meaningful psychological insight.

My work with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy focuses on helping individuals prepare for and integrate these experiences in a safe, reflective, and therapeutically grounded way. The intention is not simply to have a powerful experience, but to support lasting psychological change through careful preparation, therapeutic support, and ongoing integration.

My Approach

My work with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is grounded in depth-oriented psychoanalytic psychotherapy and informed by more than 25 years of clinical experience.

I hold a certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and have completed specialized training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). This training informs my approach to working thoughtfully with altered states of consciousness within a therapeutic framework.

Rather than focusing only on the psychedelic experience itself, we explore how the material that emerges connects to deeper emotional patterns, relationships, and life experiences.

In addition to psychodynamic work, I integrate trauma-informed approaches and mind–body awareness practices when helpful. My aim is to provide a reflective and supportive therapeutic space where psychedelic experiences can be understood within the broader context of a person’s life and psychological development.

Collaborative Care with Journey Clinical

I partner with Journey Clinical, a medical and psychiatric service that supports licensed therapists in providing Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) within a structured medical framework.

Within this collaborative model:

• Journey Clinical provides medical evaluation and prescribing when appropriate
• A licensed medical provider determines eligibility and monitors medication
• I provide the psychotherapy component, including preparation sessions, therapeutic support, and integration work

This partnership allows psychedelic-assisted therapy to occur within a safe, medically supervised, and ethically responsible framework.

Preparation

Preparation is an essential part of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

During preparation sessions we explore your history, goals, and intentions for this work. We also discuss what to expect during the experience and develop strategies to help you approach the process with greater safety and emotional grounding.

Preparation sessions often focus on:

• clarifying therapeutic intentions
• understanding the psychological process involved
• building trust and therapeutic rapport
• developing grounding and self-regulation skills

This stage lays the foundation for a meaningful and supportive experience.

The Therapeutic Experience

If ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is medically appropriate and you choose to proceed, dosing sessions take place within the collaborative framework with Journey Clinical.

Ketamine can temporarily shift perception and emotional processing, which may allow individuals to access experiences, memories, or perspectives that are often difficult to reach in ordinary states of consciousness.

The role of psychotherapy during this process is to provide support, containment, and thoughtful attention to what emerges.

Integration

Integration is often where the most meaningful therapeutic work unfolds.

Following a psychedelic experience, integration sessions provide space to reflect on insights, emotions, and imagery that arose during the session. These conversations help translate the experience into psychological understanding and lasting change.

Integration may involve:

• exploring insights or emotional themes from the experience
• connecting the experience to personal history and relationships
• processing difficult emotions that may arise afterward
• identifying ways to incorporate new understanding into daily life

Integration helps ensure that psychedelic experiences become part of an ongoing therapeutic process rather than isolated events.

My Approach

My work with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is grounded in depth-oriented psychoanalytic psychotherapy and informed by more than 25 years of clinical experience.

Rather than focusing only on the psychedelic experience itself, we explore how the material that emerges connects to the deeper emotional patterns, relationships, and life experiences that shape your inner world.

In addition to psychodynamic work, I integrate trauma-informed approaches and mind-body awareness practices when helpful. My aim is to provide a reflective and supportive therapeutic space where psychedelic experiences can be understood within the broader context of a person’s life and psychological development.

Who Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy May Not Be Appropriate For

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is not the right approach for everyone. Medical eligibility and safety considerations are carefully evaluated through screening with the medical providers at Journey Clinical before treatment can begin.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy may not be appropriate for individuals with certain medical or psychiatric conditions, including uncontrolled hypertension, active psychosis, or other conditions that may increase medical risk.

Additionally, some individuals may benefit from establishing greater emotional stability or therapeutic support before beginning psychedelic work. In these cases, traditional psychotherapy can provide an important foundation before considering this approach.

The goal of screening and preparation is to ensure that any psychedelic-assisted treatment occurs within a safe, supportive, and clinically appropriate framework.

Consultation

If you are interested in learning more about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) or psychedelic integration work, I welcome you to reach out to schedule a consultation.