Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is a form of therapy that, in addition to classic therapy, also makes use of psychedelics, a class of psychoactive substances whose main effect is that they enable new or unusual experiences of consciousness, including through psychological, visual and auditory effects. Psychedelic substances such as psilocybin (‘magic mushrooms’) are not addictive and can help people struggling with dependency issues.
Psychedelics or psychedelic drugs are substances that can temporarily and strongly influence your consciousness and your perception of reality. Psychedelic mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca, peyote... all belong to this category. Although these substances are less harmful than cocaine or alcohol, for example, they are not without danger. Without proper preparation, in the wrong environment and for (emotionally) less stable people, they can give rise to feelings of paranoia, anxiety and (temporary) psychotic episodes.
In Belgium, psychedelics are still illegal. However, In the Netherlands, the use of psychedelic truffles is not illegal. However, be careful where you end up and who you end up with, because unfortunately there is no quality control of the suppliers! I advise you not to try this on your own. In the context of harm reduction, I do want to provide objective information to people who would like to do this on their own initiative.
It is important to prepare well for a psychedelic experience. Just like a long, adventurous journey, there are risks and it is important to know exactly where you are going and why. What is your intention behind the trip? Why do you want to undertake such a potentially life-changing trip? It is also good to know where your vulnerabilities lie (fears, traumas, etc.) and how best to deal with them. Good preparation can include meditation, bodywork, writing, resting, nature walks, healthy eating, etc. This can also be done through conversations with an experienced coach.
I gave a lecture on the importance of meditation with psychedelics for 30NOW. You can find the link to the video here. (in Dutch)
Peak experiences can be among the most beautiful and most profound experiences in your life, but they can also be destabilising and leave you feeling confused. After such an experience, you may feel very enthusiastic and want to get started right away, perhaps even change your life. But how do you put fascinating insights into practice? How do you link spirituality to reality? And what do you do with feelings that ‘stick’ (anxiety, sadness, fear ...)? Or voices that keep haunting your mind? It is not always easy to talk to outsiders about what you have seen, felt and experienced. Would you like to organise everything or better integrate your experiences into your life?
Several rigorous scientific studies have shown that psychedelic drugs can have a strong positive impact on mental health, especially for people suffering from trauma (PTSD), depression, anxiety and addictive behaviour. More scientific research can be found on the website of Psychedelic Society Belgium. Then I would like to coach you there.
‘Fantastic Fungi’ and “How to Change Your Mind” are two fascinating documentaries on this subject. You can find them on Netflix. ‘How to expand your mind’ by Michael Pollen is also an interesting book. Twenty years ago, I had to make do with ‘The doors of perception’ by Aldous Huxley.
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