Some additional considerations that are typically covered during Preparation Sessions is agreements about how the therapist(s) and client should contain the session.
During your Medicine Session, you have the option of receiving therapeutic supportive touch. Therapeutic supportive touch is used to provide an additional layer of support and connection in the sessions. Touch can help you remain resourced while also maintaining your activity level in the present moment. Your therapist can also use touch as a way to actively listen or provide comfort without the use of verbal language that could interrupt your thought process or experience (Kain, 2018).
As the participant, you have the option of whether or not you are open to receiving therapeutic supportive touch. If you are comfortable with the therapist providing a therapeutic supportive touch, consider providing your consent to receive touch and identify areas where touch should be avoided (outside of the obvious regions, like chest, genitals, and butt) which may be triggering areas for you. Even with your consent, you therapist will always check-in with you before providing therapeutic supportive touch and you may decline or withdraw your consent at any time. If you decline the option of therapeutic supportive touch prior to the administration of the medicine, then your desire not to receive touch throughout the Medicine Session will be respected, even if you change your mind during the session. Outside of the medicine session, you may change your consent and boundaries with touch at any time.
In the Fundamentals of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy course, we learned about the important role that music can play in Medicine Sessions. Your therapist will have music already curated for your session. While it is strongly advised to avoid music with lyrics (especially in a language you understand), you can request that your therapist include certain types of music in your session.
You may be doing this work with a colleague, so it is extremely important to respect and maintain confidentiality and privacy. Any of the topics discussed in the therapy room must be kept confidential due to the sensitive and vulnerable nature of participants.
In addition to everything we've covered in this module, please consider the following pre-flight instructions.
Please ensure that you read through all items before proceeding by selecting each title.
To physically prepare for your Medicine Session, please consider these tips:
To mentally prepare for your Medicine Session, please consider these tips:
To logistically prepare for your Medicine Session, please consider these tips:
Is there anything else I should be mindful of prior to participating in the Medicine Session?
With your intention in mind, you are ready to embark on your psychedelic journey. Soon after receiving the medicine, you will experience a change in sensation and perception. Lean in and surrender to whatever shows up. If you see doors, open them. If you see staircases, go up them. If you see bodies of water, go into them. Say yes to everything.
When feeling discomfort, including fear or confusion, again - meet the experience with curiosity. Avoid the urge to resist, evade, stop, or control the experience. Part of healing comes from approaching that which is uncomfortable and creating a new experience with it.
You may have a deep and transcendental experience. Your sense of self may dissolve, leading to the sensation of death and/or rebirth. You may experience a feeling that you have ceased to exist as an individual and are connected with nature, God, or the universe. Whether you feel like dying, melting, dissolving, exploding, going crazy, or just floating in outer space–go right ahead. Experience the experience.
Remember that the breath is a powerful tool. It can deepen the experience and help you move through anything that feels challenging. Ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin do not suppress respiration, but sometimes it can feel like your lungs aren’t working quite right. Take slow, deliberate breaths if you feel overwhelmed or distressed.
Kain, K. L., & Terrell, S. J. (2018). Nurturing resilience: Helping clients move forward from developmental trauma: An integrative somatic approach. North Atlantic Books.