Good Integration Begins With Preparation

The stage for effective psychedelic integration is set even before the psychedelic experience, in the preparation phase, where intention is clarified, the body and the imagination are primed, set and setting are addressed and optimized, and education is provided about the physiological and psychological effects of the medicine and the healing potential of non-ordinary states of consciousness. It is my experience, both clinically and personally, that when proper attention and care is put on preparing for the psychedelic journey, the integration process often unfolds naturally, intuitively, and spontaneously, guided by the participant's inner healing intelligence. It is the responsibility of the psychedelic therapist or facilitator to anticipate and explicitly address these aspects of the participant's process and thereby pave the way for smooth and effective integration.