- As interest in ketamine and psilocybin grows, so does the demand for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) counselors.
- Unlike “travel sitters,” PAT counselors typically have degrees in counseling and are trained by training institutions that specialize in psychedelics.
- Examples of PAT counselor techniques include pushing on someone’s feet to mimic literal ground or holding a client’s hand if they are re-experiencing trauma.
the first time On my ketamine trip, I found myself in a void, curiously following the boulevards overhead, flashing with bold neon lights in pink, green, blue, and orange. But the sound of water dripping into the bowl drowned out the dreamy music in my ears and I couldn’t go.
With all my might, I reached out to the human world and shouted, “Please turn off the water.” I immediately heard my therapist’s voice. It was a tangible clarity that didn’t exist for me right now: “Oh, I’m sorry.” The water stopped, music filled my ears, and I flew along the neon lights.
The rest of that journey helped me process and understand the complex trauma of losing my mother to ALS in 2017 and the severe injury that left her paralyzed two years later.
The sound of water in my therapist’s office may be helpful for some clients. However, the fact that I found them distracting and my therapist’s quick response demonstrate the value of working with a properly trained counselor when using psychedelics to resolve psychological distress.
It’s true that psychedelics have helped people like me who live with all kinds of deeply internalized trauma. Studies have shown that these drugs can help overcome PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, addiction, and other serious mental health issues. Ketamine is a well-studied and generally safe drug, making it a fairly common psychedelic treatment. And as states legalize psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, more practitioners are receiving training to help their clients use the treatment. (Other hallucinogens are also used, although their legality varies.)
While research and support for psychedelic-assisted therapy increases, counselors are meeting the needs of their clients in entirely new ways.
What is a Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Counselor?
It is different from so-called “travel”. A “sitter” usually has no special training but agrees to protect the physical safety of a person on a dissociative journey, and psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) practitioners are formally qualified.
PAT counselors typically have a degree in counseling (usually a master’s degree in counseling, a doctorate in psychology, or a master’s degree in social work), have a valid license in their state, and have received specialized training from a psychedelic-specific training organization such as PRATI, the Mind Foundation, or the California Integrative Institute. Depending on the state, counselors may also hold additional certifications in psychedelic facilitation.
Therefore, if you want to reap the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy, you should seek out a counselor who practices PAT, rather than just traveling with a travel sitter. because…
What is the role of a psychedelic assisted therapist?
Pat Counselor will prepare We support our clients during their journey and, just as importantly, we work with them to integrate insights from that journey in the days that follow.
The first step is to help clients benefit from dissociative journeys as well, says Gina Grazza, a certified marriage and family therapist based in Portland, Oregon, who facilitates journeys with ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin. If the therapist believes the treatment will be effective, the PAT counselor will help the client prepare.
“Psychedelics can act as a revelation rather than the ultimate healer,” Grazza says. “It shows us what we need to work on while we’re awake, and then the integration begins.” Building trust with clients is also important. If any part of the process feels uncertain or unsafe for clients, they’re more likely to face challenges along the way, she says.
External factors are also important, says Betty Worden, a licensed clinical social worker who practices psychedelic facilitation in Bend, Oregon. “It’s important to create an environment for people, especially if you’re in an urban area and there may be sirens, cars passing by, or other distractions,” Worden said. “We’re not doing this ceremonially in the jungle. We have to help manage it.”
The Warden tells the client that she will remain in the physical environment and that if the client has any problems along the journey, they can bring them to her attention. “I’m not going to let them hit their head on the floor, but they can scream and scream and writhe in pain if that’s what they need to do.” Done right, Worden says, a psychedelic journey is a lot like helping move something you thought wouldn’t move.
In some cases, “trying to figure out what someone needs can be a travesty,” Worden said. “I once had a client who was wearing three layers of clothing without me noticing and was under a thick blanket. He was clearly uncomfortable and started fanning himself with his hands before I realized he was on fire.” (She and the client laughed afterwards, but the director now encourages light clothing and uses blankets to regulate temperature.)
Worden says facilitating a psychedelic trip can be intense, especially if the client is re-experiencing trauma. Helping clients get through their most difficult moments can be physical. PAT techniques include literally pushing on someone’s feet to mimic the ground, and holding hands to physically be together during a traumatic experience.
Zappy Zaporin, who calls himself a “psychedelic concierge,” has worked with high-profile clients such as retired Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom and actor Michelle Rodriguez. Zaporin helps clients prepare for scary moments (psychedelic facilitators are allergic to the term “bad trip” because even “bad,” “scary,” or “intense” experiences can have great benefits; the preferred term is “challenging journey”) by reminding clients that no matter what they see or experience, it will end and they are in a safe place.
Grazza said helping someone who encounters something scary while traveling may include saying words or phrases that affirm that they are safe or are not alone. “Having a photo of a loved one, something meaningful, or a special cozy item like a blanket or stuffed animal may be calming,” she says.
What’s next for psychedelic-assisted therapists?
Despite everything Although the benefits of psychedelics are well-documented, the use of the drugs in therapy faces cultural bias, Worden says.
The average person is probably more likely to associate psychedelics with Ari Gold getting lost in Joshua Tree or Ehrlich Bachmann smearing poop on a bathroom wall than with Ted Lasso going on a trip that saved AFC Richmond’s season.
“My hope as a facilitator was to tell a different kind of story to think about psychedelics in a mainstream way,” says Worden. “I want to reduce the stigma and help people understand what it means to use psilocybin for healing.”
If you’re interested in trying PAT, you can search the Psychology Today database using filters for your region and the type of treatment you’d like to receive. Psychable maintains a list of PAT counselors, including psilocybin promoters in states where PAT is legal.
Practitioners of psychedelic-assisted therapy are usually trained to work with specific drugs. Gratza has been trained using both ketamine and MDMA. Directors are trained in administering ketamine. Both are licensed psilocybin facilitators in the state of Oregon. Zaporin is one of many psychedelic facilitators who rely on acquired experience rather than formal training and has created his own certification program.
Please know that your personal drive is also important in getting the results you want from psychedelics. “This is how the mind works,” Zaporin says. “Medicines can help, but it’s up to the individual to change their lifestyle, change their mind, and expand their consciousness to live in the real world. You have to learn how to apply the lessons you’ve learned and continue to name and defend those lessons when what’s going on in the world and when your family is throwing things at you.”
Andrew “Bernie” Bernstein is the former editor of bicycle magazine Gear and bicycle marketing manager. During his time at Bicycling, he promoted the Bicycling Fall Classic and the famous 5th Street Cross Thursday Night Training Series. Bernie was an elite track and road racer from 2010 to 2019. In 2019, he was nearly killed by a driver near his home in Boulder, Colorado, leaving him partially paralyzed. He considers himself very lucky to still be able to hike and ride bikes with the help of an electric gravel bike. He has written about paracyclists’ experiences as disabled athletes for Men’s Health, Bicycling, and Outside Magazine. You can follow his adventures on Instagram.
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