Despite it’s continued illegality, the case for the use of psychedelics to heal deep emotional wounds borne of either formative or more recent trauma, is highly proven and has been since the early 1950’s. While the UK’s and many other countries’ aged legal positions persist, many are seeking their own paths towards the usage of psychedelics to treat themselves. This is a journey that should not be started without a good understanding of what you are getting yourself into and what will give you the best results.

As a professional therapist I cannot condone the breaking of the law, but anticipating a change in the law at some point I have recently passed my ‘Post Graduate Certificate in Psychedelics, Mind, Medicine and Culture’, at the University of Essex. This is the first legitimate University based Psychedelics qualification in Europe, possibly the world. I am also a member of the Institute for Psychedelic Therapy.

Psychedelic Therapy usually takes place in three phases.

First is intention setting (legal in the UK), which might be a one or more sessions where the client can get a little depth on the thing they wish to work on. Typically this will be anxieties that present themselves as addiction, compulsive behaviours or any number of conditions, typically presented as ‘nervous disorders’. Also in this group is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

The second part (illegal in the UK) is the dosage session where the client will typically take a large dose of psilocybin or perhaps ayahuasca or another psychedelic (it varies) and follow specific protocols to ensure that they are safe and emotionally held but also are enabled to do the deep emotional dive into the source of their anxiety or stress (the thing that makes us addicted, or traumatised). In optimal circumstances two therapist would be present with the client during this process which might take as long as 8 hours. However as mentioned previously, we are currently far from optimal circumstances. Many will procure their own psychedelics or find a territory where they are decriminalised, possibly in countries such as Portugal or The Netherlands and do that part there.

The third phase (legal in the UK) are the integration sessions. These are for as long as the client feels they want them but are used to make sense of the journey undertaken during the second part.

Legally I cannot advocate this journey and my professional body the BACP are largely in denial about it’s presence in the market meaning they have done no specific work around their codes of ethics. Additonally the second phase sits a little outside the purview of UK Public Liability Insurance but for those undertaking the journey independently I can provide the support either side of the dosing session.

Book a free assessment session with me to discuss this using the links to the right.