Psychedelic Support

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is an emerging modality within the mental health field. Humans have been using various forms of mind-altering substances for millenia, and there is evidence of this in nearly every indigenous culture across the world. Today, there are a variety of legal, underground, self-guided, communal, ceremonial, and/or recreational contexts in which people choose to engage with these substances.

There is a wide range of potential benefits - and risks - associated with these substances. I encourage anyone who is considering engaging with them in any context to first learn about the risks, contraindications, and best practices. Generally speaking, approaching these medicines with humility, respect, and intentionality is advisable.

Stanislav and Christina Grof coined the term holotropic, which means moving towards wholeness. They used this word to describe the states of consciousness that psychedelics can produce. They also developed holotropic breathwork: a specific breathing technique used to achieve similar states. I believe that life itself is holotropic, in that our bodies and minds are always in a process of moving towards wholeness. Psychotherapy, psychedelic experiences, and breathwork are a few techniques that can engage this holotropic process more fully and intentionally, and I bring this view into my work with clients.

I do not currently offer psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to my clients, due to the legal status of most of these substances and the current regulatory uncertainty surrounding providing these services in a remote private practice in Ontario. I do, however, offer remote breathwork sessions as a compliment to psychotherapy. Learn more about my breathwork offering here.

I also provide support for individuals who have chosen to engage with psychedelic substances and who would like support in processing these experiences. Whether it is recreational, ceremonial, therapeutic, or any other context, psychedelic experiences can offer rich material to be processed in therapy.

I cannot offer referrals to underground psychedelic therapists, nor can I provide sources for psychoactive substances of any kind.