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TLDR: Thrive Well Therapy offers psychedelic integration therapy to support your healing journey if you choose to use psychedelics for mental health. While I cannot legally condone, recommend, or provide psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, or LSD, I can assist in the integration phase of therapy. If you disclose your psychedelic use, our discussions will remain confidential, unless there is a risk to your safety or others. I stay up to date on the latest research on psychedelic-assisted therapy, ensuring informed, ethical, and legally compliant support in harm reduction and psychedelic mental health treatment.

WHAT DOES THERAPEUTIC PSYCHEDELIC
THERAPY LOOK LIKE?

Many people have shown interest in psychedelics for therapeutic use. Psychedelic therapy has shown promise in treating a variety of mental health conditions. Psychedelics can help the brain create new pathways, making it easier to break old patterns and form healthier ones. Imagine a snow globe being shook up and the snow settling over old paths - that's similar to what psychedelics do to the human brain, as they shake up your usual thought patterns, and allow new perspectives and pathways to emerge as things settle. They give us a new starting point to create new pathways and make lasting changes. Research suggests that psychedelics may help with conditions like depression, PTSD, addiction, anxiety, and OCD, especially for those who haven’t found relief with other treatments.

The use of psychedelics in a controlled therapeutic setting involves administering psychedelic substances like psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, or ayahuasca, under the guidance of trained therapists to treat various mental health conditions.

Preparation Phase:
- Assessment: Thorough screening of patients to determine suitability for psychedelic therapy. This includes evaluating mental health history, physical health, and readiness for the experience.
- Psychoeducation: Educating patients about what to expect during the session, the effects of the substance, and the importance of mindset and environment (set and setting).
- Therapeutic Rapport: Building a trusting relationship between the therapist and the patient to ensure comfort and safety during the session.

Administration Phase:
- Controlled Environment: Sessions are conducted in a safe, comfortable, and controlled setting, often designed to be calming and supportive. Your psychological mindset and and physical/social environment are referred to as set and setting and are crucial to ensure positive therapeutic outcomes.
- Guidance and Support: A therapist or guide is present throughout the session to provide support, monitor the patient’s well-being, and help navigate challenging experiences.
- Dosage Control: Precise dosing is crucial to minimize risks and optimize therapeutic outcomes. Dosages are tailored to the individual’s needs and therapeutic goals:
  - Microdosing is the practice of taking very small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics that create no perceptual effect on the individual. Microdosing can use several different protocols, with the goal of small, undiscernible doses building up over time.
  - A 'hero dose' is a high dose of a psychedelic, often taken to gain deep personal insights or have a powerful emotional experience.

Integration Therapy

The last phase is the most important. Integration means taking what you’ve learned during your psychedelic experience and applying it to your daily life. It is a critical component of psychedelic therapy, ensuring that the therapeutic benefits are sustained and effectively incorporated into the individual's life. Here's what integration typically involves:

Integration Phase:
- Cultural Sensitivity: Integration practices need to be culturally sensitive and tailored to the individual's background and personal beliefs.
- Post-Session Debriefing: After the session, we’ll talk about your experience to help you make sense of it and begin applying what you’ve learned.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques: Using therapy techniques to help shift negative thoughts and habits that may have come up during your psychedelic experience.
- Holistic Support: Incorporating practices to aid in the integration process.
  - Writing: Encouraging patients to keep a journal of their experiences, thoughts, and feelings post-session. This can help in making sense of the psychedelic journey and tracking progress over time.
  - Art and Creativity: Some individuals might find drawing, painting, or other forms of creative expression useful for processing their experiences.
  - Mindfulness Practices: Techniques such as meditation and mindfulness can help individuals stay grounded and focused on the present moment, aiding in the assimilation of new perspectives gained during the psychedelic session.
  - Body Awareness: Practices like yoga or body scanning can help individuals connect with their physical sensations and emotions, promoting holistic integration.
  - Healthy Habits: Encouraging the adoption of healthier lifestyles, such as improved diet, exercise, and sleep patterns, which can support mental and emotional well-being.
  - Avoiding Triggers: Identifying and avoiding situations, environments, or behaviors that could trigger negative patterns associated with substance abuse or mental health issues.
  - Follow-up Therapy: Ongoing, regular therapy sessions to help patients integrate insights and experiences from the psychedelic session into their everyday lives. Commonly called integration therapy, helps process and integrate experiences from psychedelic sessions. This can include discussing emotions, thoughts, and any changes in behavior or perspectives.

Integration is a multifaceted process involving therapeutic support, self-reflection, community involvement, and lifestyle adjustments. It is essential for maximizing the benefits of psychedelic therapy and ensuring that the insights gained during the psychedelic experience are effectively incorporated into the individual's daily life. By addressing both the psychological and practical aspects of integration, individuals can achieve lasting positive changes in their mental health and overall well-being.

There are still challenges in rolling out psychedelic treatment in Nevada. Consuming psychedelics is not legal on the Federal or State level, however, many therapists recognize their potential in therapeutic settings. Magic mushrooms have been making a come back and many people are asking what psilocybin (the active compound found in magic mushrooms) can do for them.

Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal under U.S. federal drug laws, meaning it is considered to have no accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and is illegal to have, sell, or produce at the national level. Other psychedelics in this category include LSD, MDMA, DMT, and mescaline. However, some states, like Oregon and Colorado, have passed laws allowing for legalized supervised use in therapy under specific state programs. While these state initiatives provide a way for people to access psychedelic therapy legally in those states, federal law still prohibits psilocybin outside these regulated programs. Therapists cannot legally provide psilocybin to clients under federal law, but many are engaging in harm reduction approaches, offering support and integration therapy to individuals who choose to use psychedelics on their own.

The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes providing the best care possible while ensuring client safety and well-being and Therapists are bound by confidentiality rules and do not need to report drug use unless it poses an immediate risk to the client or others. This means Therapists may adopt a harm reduction approach, providing support and guidance to clients who use psychedelics without condoning illegal drug use. Harm reduction focuses on keeping people safe and minimizing risks, rather than requiring complete abstinence. When considering an individual grappling with mental health concerns, psilocybin may be a valuable harm reduction technique to reduce the harm of those mental health deficits.

Are Psychedelics Legal for Therapeutic Use? Understanding the Current Laws:

Psychedelic Integration & Harm Reduction Therapy: Safe, Confidential Support for Your Healing Journey

Thrive Well Therapy takes the stance of harm reduction and follows all Federal and State laws regarding the use of psychedelics. I do not provide substances to clients; instead, I educate clients on the dangers of using substances and maintain strict confidentiality. I use a whole-person approach to help you stay safe, process your experiences, and support your healing. Any therapist you work with should educate themselves on the effects of psychedelics, potential therapeutic benefits, and risks to provide informed care. This is a core value and concern at Thrive Well Therapy given my diverse clientele.

Thrive Well Therapy can help you on your healing journey. I follow legal and ethical guidelines and cannot legally provide or recommend psilocybin. However, I can legally treat and support clients who disclose their use of psychedelics, focusing on harm reduction and safety within the bounds of professional and ethical guidelines(Las Vegas Weekly).

LEGAL STUFF

In Nevada, the legal landscape for psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, is evolving. While full legalization has not been achieved, some steps towards decriminalization and medical research have been taken. Here are the key legal aspects and permissible activities related to psychedelics in Nevada:

Working Group for Research and Recommendations: In 2023, a bill was passed to establish a working group to study the medicinal uses of psychedelics like psilocybin. This group includes politicians, advocates, scientists, and psychiatrists. In December 2024, the working group approved a report recommending the establishment of a state-regulated program for psychedelic-assisted therapy. The report suggests that the Nevada Legislature consider rescheduling psilocybin and other psychedelics granted breakthrough therapy status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Additionally, it proposes reducing legal penalties for entheogenic plants and fungi. (OWOSSO Independent).
Educational and Advocacy Efforts: Organizations such as Decriminalize Nature Nevada are actively involved in promoting awareness and providing educational resources about the potential benefits of psychedelic therapy. These efforts include advocating for increased access to psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, especially for veterans and other individuals who might benefit from such treatments (The Nevada Independent).
Research and Development: Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) are engaged in cutting-edge research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. For instance, scientists Dustin and Rochelle Hines are developing synthetic versions of psychedelics, aiming to create compounds that can be used safely and effectively for treating specific mental health disorders. These efforts are part of broader pharmaceutical development initiatives aimed at innovating mental health treatments (Las Vegas Weekly).
Legal Status and Penalties: Despite these advancements, the possession, use, and cultivation of psilocybin remain illegal under Nevada law. Penalties for possession can include up to four years in prison or fines up to $5,000, depending on the amount and circumstances. However, the focus is shifting towards understanding and potentially reforming these laws in light of new research and advocacy (The Nevada Independent) (Las Vegas Weekly).

COMMON TERMS

Tripping: The experience of being under the influence of psychedelics.
Hallucinogens: A category of drugs that cause perceptual changes.
Psychedelic Experience: The subjective experience while using psychedelics.
Ego Death: A feeling of losing one's sense of self, often reported during psychedelic experiences.
Spiritual Journey: Many users describe their experiences in spiritual or existential terms.
Shamanism: Some users are interested in traditional, ritualistic use of psychedelics.
Visionary Plants: Refers to natural substances like psilocybin that induce altered states of consciousness.
Consciousness Expansion: Describes the perceived broadening of consciousness during a psychedelic trip.
Entheogen: A term meaning "generating the divine within," used to describe substances used in spiritual contexts.
Psychonaut: A person who explores altered states of consciousness, often through the use of psychedelics.
Flashbacks: The re-experiencing of psychedelic effects after the drug has worn off.
Set and Setting: This concept is important not only in therapy but also for recreational users.
Macrodosing: Taking large, hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics.
Bad Trip: An unpleasant or challenging psychedelic experience.

The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Thrive Well Therapy does not condone or promote the use of illegal substances. We are committed to providing support and education within the bounds of federal and state laws. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or the use of substances.

Reconnect with the parts of yourself that feel disconnected.