🍄💊💡 Brah, You Like Try Psychedelic Therapy?
Ho, bruddahs and sistahs, check dis out. Da kine psychedelic therapy stay becoming one big kahuna in da mental health care world. Right on 2020 and 2022, Oregon and Colorado peeps wen vote fo’ legalize da use of psilocybin, da thing inside hallucinogenic mushrooms dat make you trip, and da Food and Drug Administration stay looking fo’ approve dat and MDMA, or Ecstasy, fo’ treat depression and post-traumatic stress disorder by 2024. 🍄🔬🧠
Stay get plenny evidence dat psychedelics could give us new kine treatments fo’ mental illness dat stay hard fo’ treat, but also get stories about abuse or trauma, which stay mo’ about da therapists than da drugs. 🤔
Get some cases dat stay clear kine sexual assault. Others times, da therapist maybe had good intentions but wen cause mo’ pilikia than healing. In one recent clinical trial, where they wen find dat psilocybin could help with treatment-resistant depression, three participants wen have thoughts about suicide and wen hurt demselves in da weeks afta da therapy. 😔💔
Twenty years of research wen standardize da dosage of da drugs used in clinical trials, but da therapy part no get da same kine attention. Instead, therapists’ work often stay based on tradition rather than scientific proof, said Dr. Charles Raison, da big boss of clinical and translational research at da Usona Institute in Wisconsin and one professor of psychiatry at da University of Wisconsin. 🏥📚🧪
Da lack of scientific kine best practices wen make researchers, clinicians, and former patients call fo’ more critical look at da therapeutic part of psychedelic therapy. 🕵️♂️👨🔬👩⚕️
“Cause people stay so emotionally vulnerable when they’re on psychedelics, stay get more risk for psychological injury, especially by inept or inexperienced practitioners. “It could be easy fo’ make somebody worse,” said Janis Phelps, director of da Center fo’ Psychedelic Therapies and Research at da California Institute of Integral Studies, which give degrees in psychology and counseling. 😨💊👩⚕️
So, here’s da scoop on wat usually happen in many psychedelic therapy sessions, and wea da red flags might pop up. 🚩💡🕵️♀️
Choosing a Therapist Fo’ most part in da country, da only way fo’ try legal kine psychedelic therapy using psilocybin or MDMA is fo’ enroll in one clinical trial. (Ketamine can be given in clinics or even sent to your hale, but da experts say for real kine you gotta use it only with therapy.) 💊🏡📋
Da practitioner you work with gotta be one mental health professional, ideally specializing in your condition, and certified in psychedelic therapy, fo’ which now get plenny training programs. Amy Lehrner, da clinical director of da Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research at da Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, say people should assess one potential psychedelic therapist like they would any other mental health provider: Ask about da person’s training, professional certifications and expertise. 👩⚕️📜🔍
Underground options been around for decades too, some given by professional therapists, others by amateurs. Experts say no go with these providers cause get even less oversight. Double-checking da practitioner is super important if you looking for psychedelic therapy outside one clinical trial. 🕳️👨⚕️⚠️
In any situation, super important dat you feel safe and comfortable with da therapist, which is one reason why preparatory sessions stay so important fo’ building trust and rapport. 🛋️🗣️💓
Preparatory sessions Befo’ you take da drug, da clinician should meet with you fo’ several hours over few days fo’ explain wat da treatment gonna be like, especially about da drug’s physical and psychological effects. Da therapist gotta ask about your history and symptoms, plus your goals and intentions fo’ da treatment. 💊📅🤝
Da therapist might tell you fo’ adopt one certain state of mind during da session or teach you breathing or meditation techniques fo’ use if you face one uncomfortable feeling or physical sensation while on da drug. 💡💨🧘♀️
“A critical purpose of these sessions is to get informed consent for wat might happen during da drug session, especially about touch. Cause it is not normally part of talk therapy, da role of touch in psychedelic therapy stay contentious. Some experts say dat it can be good for someone on a psychedelic trip to get one reassuring touch. Others say it could make opportunity for boundaries to be crossed. Most agree dat da touch should stay limited to holding hands or one hand on da shoulder; anything involving full-body contact, including one hug, could be seen as sexual. 👐🚫💥
Drug Session For most of a drug session with MDMA or psilocybin, da patient is usually lying down, eyes closed, listening to music. Da experience generally not involve much talking and is more internal for da patient. 🎶🛏️💊
If da patient starts to feel anxious or is encountering a traumatic memory or vision, da therapist might offer reassurance or guide through a breathing exercise. In those times, da goal is not for da patient to avoid or be distracted from da experience. “Da therapist role here is to try to help people stay with it,” Dr. Raison said. “If you fight da experience, you tend to have bad outcomes.” Therapists should neva push one certain experience on a patient; they are there to follow da patient’s direction, not to lead, Dr. Lehrner said. “It is never about intruding or directing by pushing somebody” past their limits. 🧠💭⏳
However, Ms. McNamee, who has been part of psychedelic clinical trials, said dat just pushing patients to go through da pain could cause more harm than good. In psychedelic therapy, therapists often push people “to confront da distress,” she said, when sometimes “it might be a good idea to turn away from distress, to soothe, to regulate, to distract.” It’s not about whether a practice is good or bad, she added, but figuring out in what situations it can be helpful or harmful. 😔🙅♀️🔄
Integration Sessions Da integration sessions, when da patient processes da experience in da days and weeks afta da trip, look da most like traditional therapy. Da exact number of sessions varies, but four hours spread over two or three weeks is typical, though some experts say dat isn’t long enough. ⏳💭💡
Da therapist helps da patient try to understand da feelings, insights, and memories dat came up while on da psychedelic. Da most common tactic, Dr. Raison said, is to ask open-ended questions and let da patient guide da conversation. Fo’ example, a therapist might ask: How did da experience shift your relationship with yourself? Da goal is to take those lessons and incorporate them into da patient’s life, da philosophy being that “da patient has their own wisdom, da psychedelic experience has its own wisdom,” he said. 🗣️🔄🤔
Some researchers starting to experiment with alternative therapeutic approaches, like cognitive behavioral therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy, dat encourage patients to re-look at beliefs about themselves, potentially helped by insights made during da psychedelic session. 👀💡🔄
To Dr. Lehrner, what researchers should be working to standardize now are general therapeutic principles while they continue testing whether da treatment as a whole is safe and effective. “Afterwards,” she said, “people may investigate: ‘Well, what if we tweak it like this? What if we change it like that?’” 🔬💭🛠️
Ms. McNamee disagreed. “I worry about how the field might be moving too quickly,” without enough research into what is safe and ethical practice, she said. “That we may standardize things that are problematic, I think, is something that’s worth thinking about.” ⏳🔎🚦
So there you go, bruddahs and sistahs, dat’s da lowdown on psychedelic therapy. Remember, always take care, ask questions, and make sure you feel safe. Good luck and aloha! 🤙🌺💖
NOW IN ENGLISH
🍄💊💡 Brother, would you like to try psychedelic therapy?
Hey, brothers and sisters, check this out. Psychedelic therapy has become a significant player in the field of mental health care. In 2020 and 2022, the residents of Oregon and Colorado voted to legalize the use of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component in magic mushrooms that induces trips. The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering approving psilocybin and MDMA (Ecstasy) for the treatment of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder by 2024. 🍄🔬🧠
There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that psychedelics could provide new treatments for mental illnesses that are otherwise difficult to address. However, there are also stories of abuse or trauma, which are often more related to the therapists rather than the drugs themselves. 🤔
Some cases involve clear instances of sexual assault, while in other situations, well-intentioned therapists have caused more harm than healing. In a recent clinical trial exploring the potential of psilocybin in treating depression resistant to other therapies, three participants experienced suicidal thoughts and self-harm in the weeks following the therapy. 😔💔
While research has standardized the dosage of drugs used in clinical trials over the past two decades, the therapeutic aspect of psychedelic therapy has not received the same level of attention. Instead, therapists often rely on tradition rather than scientific evidence in their practices. Dr. Charles Raison, the head of clinical and translational research at the Usona Institute and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, highlighted this lack of scientific best practices. 🏥📚🧪
The absence of established guidelines for therapists has led researchers, clinicians, and former patients to call for a more critical examination of the therapeutic component of psychedelic therapy. 🕵️♂️👨🔬👩⚕️
“Because people are emotionally vulnerable when under the influence of psychedelics, there is a higher risk of psychological harm, particularly when dealing with inept or inexperienced practitioners. It could easily make someone worse,” explained Janis Phelps, director of the Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies. This institution grants degrees in psychology and counseling. 😨💊👩⚕️
So, here’s the breakdown of what usually happens in many psychedelic therapy sessions and where warning signs may arise. 🚩💡🕵️♀️
Choosing a Therapist In most parts of the country, the only way to try legal psychedelic therapy with psilocybin or MDMA is to participate in a clinical trial. (Ketamine can be administered in clinics or even at home, but experts recommend using it only with therapy.) 💊🏡📋
The therapist you work with should be a mental health professional, preferably specialized in your condition, and certified in psychedelic therapy. There are currently several training programs available. Amy Lehrner, the clinical director of the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, suggests evaluating a potential psychedelic therapist just as you would any other mental health provider. Ask about their training, certifications, and areas of expertise. 👩⚕️📜🔍
Underground options have existed for decades, provided by both professional therapists and amateurs. However, experts advise against choosing these providers due to the lack of oversight. If you are seeking psychedelic therapy outside of a clinical trial, it is crucial to verify the credentials of the therapist. 🕳️👨⚕️⚠️
Regardless of the setting, it is essential that you feel safe and comfortable with your therapist. This is one reason why preparatory sessions are crucial for building trust and rapport. 🛋️🗣️💓
Preparatory Sessions Before taking the drug, the clinician should spend several hours over a few days explaining what the treatment will be like, particularly focusing on the physical and psychological effects of the drug. The therapist should inquire about your history, symptoms, goals, and intentions for the treatment. 💊📅🤝
The therapist may suggest adopting a specific state of mind during the session or teach you breathing or meditation techniques to use if you encounter discomfort or physical sensations while under the influence of the drug. 💡💨🧘♀️
“A critical purpose of these sessions is to obtain informed consent regarding what might occur during the drug session, especially concerning physical touch. Touch is not typically part of traditional talk therapy, and its role in psychedelic therapy is a subject of debate. Some experts argue that reassuring touch can be beneficial for someone on a psychedelic journey, while others believe it may create opportunities for boundaries to be crossed. Most agree that touch should be limited to holding hands or placing a hand on the shoulder. Any form of full-body contact, including hugging, could be perceived as sexual.” 👐🚫💥
Drug Session During most drug sessions involving MDMA or psilocybin, the patient usually lies down with their eyes closed and listens to music. The experience typically involves minimal conversation and is primarily internal for the patient. 🎶🛏️💊
If the patient starts to feel anxious or encounters a traumatic memory or vision, the therapist may offer reassurance or guide them through a breathing exercise. In these moments, the goal is not for the patient to avoid or distract themselves from the experience. “The therapist’s role here is to help people stay present,” said Dr. Raison. “Resisting the experience tends to lead to negative outcomes.” Therapists should never impose a specific experience on a patient; they are there to follow the patient’s direction rather than lead. According to Dr. Lehrner, “It is never about intruding or directing by pushing somebody” beyond their limits. 🧠💭⏳
However, Ms. McNamee, who has participated in psychedelic clinical trials, argues that pushing patients to confront pain can sometimes cause more harm than good. She suggests that therapists often push people “to confront distress” when it may be beneficial to turn away from it, soothe, regulate, or distract. She emphasizes that it’s not about labeling practices as good or bad but understanding when they can be helpful or harmful. 😔🙅♀️🔄
Integration Sessions Integration sessions, which occur in the days and weeks following the psychedelic experience, resemble traditional therapy the most. The number of sessions can vary, but typically four hours spread over two or three weeks is the norm, although some experts argue it might not be sufficient. ⏳💭💡
During these sessions, the therapist assists the patient in processing the experiences, emotions, insights, and memories that emerged during the psychedelic session. The most common approach, according to Dr. Raison, is to ask open-ended questions and let the patient guide the conversation. For example, a therapist might ask how the experience affected the patient’s relationship with themselves. The goal is to incorporate the lessons learned into the patient’s life, recognizing that “the patient has their own wisdom, and the psychedelic experience has its own wisdom,” as Dr. Raison explains. 🗣️🔄🤔
Some researchers are beginning to explore alternative therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy, which encourage patients to reexamine their beliefs about themselves, potentially aided by insights gained during the psychedelic session. 👀💡🔄
According to Dr. Lehrner, while continuing to test the safety and effectiveness of psychedelic therapy as a whole, researchers should focus on standardizing general therapeutic principles. She believes that after this stage, further investigation can explore potential modifications and improvements. 🔬💭🛠️
Ms. McNamee disagrees and expresses concerns that the field might be progressing too quickly without sufficient research into safe and ethical practices. She believes it is worth considering the possibility of standardizing practices that may pose problems. ⏳🔎🚦
So, there you have it, brothers and sisters. That’s the lowdown on psychedelic therapy. Remember, always take care, ask questions, and ensure your safety. Good luck and aloha! 🤙🌺💖
