Psychedelic Integration Therapy

Psychedelic therapy: we’re almost there!

Substances like MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, mescaline, and DMT are being researched for their healing potential, and many are showing promise in treating trauma, depression, addiction, and existential distress. Yet most remain classified as Schedule I substances, meaning they are currently illegal to use or provide in most therapeutic settings.

I do not offer guided psychedelic therapy sessions, nor do I promote illegal substance use. All psychedelic experiences—legal or not—carry risk, even in controlled environments. My work lies in what comes before or after.

What Is Psychedelic Integration Therapy?

Psychedelic integration therapy is different than psychedelic therapy where there is a therapist or guide present during the actual psychedelic experience. In contrast, psychedelic integration therapy is the process of making sense of and reducing any harm associated with a previous psychedelic experience within the context of an ongoing therapeutic relationship. 

As a spiritual depth psychotherapist and integrationist in Oakland, I offer a safe, non-judgmental space to help you make meaning of your experiences with psychedelics such as MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, DMT, ayahuasca, cannabis, and ketamine.

Whether your journey brought clarity or confusion, awe or overwhelm, I’m here to help you understand what it stirred—and how it might support your healing.

When Psychedelics Disrupt Before They Heal

Psychedelics are inherently dis-integrating. They can loosen the structures of the self, dismantle old narratives, and open us to vast, uncharted territory. This can be beautiful… and destabilizing. You may have lost your usual sense of reality. You may feel raw, overstimulated, more open than you know how to be—or like something essential came apart, and you’re struggling to come back together.

These experiences often defy language. You may have glimpsed something mystical. Or encountered something terrifying. Maybe you’re unsure what happened at all. This is why integration is so essential.

In therapy, we work slowly and gently to:

• Reflect on the meaning of your experience

• Ground back into your body and daily life

• Recognize lingering after-effects (positive or challenging)

• Attend to any spiritual, emotional, or energetic shifts

• Explore any new insights, dreams, or sensitivities that have emerged

Your process may continue unfolding for weeks, months, or even years. You don’t need to rush it—or do it alone.

Difficult Psychedelic Experiences (“Bad Trips”) and Psychedelic Trauma

“I had a bad trip. Will I ever feel normal again?”

Psychedelic experiences can leave people feeling disoriented, fragmented, or traumatized—especially when they occur without adequate preparation, support, or safety. These substances can expose us to overwhelming emotions, traumatic memories, or otherworldly imagery that is hard to process alone.

Some people experience:

• Flashbacks or panic attacks

• Feelings of derealization or depersonalization

• Ongoing fear, insomnia, or paranoia

• Emotional overwhelm or existential dread

• Persistent difficulty reintegrating into daily life

If this is you, I want you to know: it’s not your fault. Psychedelic trauma is real. And you’re not broken.

Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Long-Term Recovery

I can support you in processing difficult psychedelic experiences, and in creating meaning from what feels chaotic, frightening, or disorienting. This includes:

• Identifying what went wrong

• Validating the impact it had on you

• Supporting the long, layered healing process

• Practicing nervous system regulation and grounding

• Honoring what may have been opened or revealed

Please note: I am not a crisis provider. If you are in an acute state of psychological distress or feel unsafe, medical stabilization or hospitalization may be necessary. Once there is a sustained period of stability (typically 6+ months), I can support you in processing the experience and beginning deeper trauma recovery work.

A Word on Psychedelic Healing

Healing, in this context, is about making the self whole again. Psychedelic integration therapy can be a space to put the pieces back together—not to go back to who you were, but to become someone more fully connected to your truth.

If psychedelics have been part of your healing—or if they’ve left you feeling unmoored—I welcome you. Together, we can explore the terrain they opened and gently discover how to carry what you found back into your life.

Reach out to begin integration therapy in Oakland or online across California. I’d love to hear from you.

Please note: Consultations are strictly for people interested in psychotherapy with a therapist who has expertise in psychedelic experiences that take place independently of our therapy together. I will not respond to inquiries about where to find guides, ceremonies, or any other ways of possibly accessing illegal substances. There is always risk of harm or adverse effects with psychedelic use even in legal, research, or controlled settings. If you are coming for therapy, please do not attend under the influence of any consciousness-altering substance unless prescribed by a physician.

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