A Therapist’s Notes on Ayahuasca and Psychedelic Integration

Last Updated on September 30, 2024 by It’s Complicated

Editorial note: This exploration of integration therapy and Ayahuasca provides valuable insights for anyone interested in how these practices can complement each other within a therapeutic setting.

You may have seen a claim online that an Ayahuasca experience is equivalent to ten years of therapy. While there may be some truth to this statement, it’s important to be cautious, as it could create false expectations and place undue reliance on this ancient medicine.

I will focus primarily on Ayahuasca, a psychedelic substance I have personal experience with. In the past, while working in a healing centre in the Peruvian Amazon, I witnessed the process of hundreds of people participating in the Ayahuasca ceremony. Currently, I support the integration process remotely for guests at LaWayra, a healing centre in Colombia.

What Is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew made from two plants and traditionally used by Indigenous peoples in the Amazon for spiritual and healing purposes. The brew contains the hallucinogenic compound DMT (dimethyltryptamine), which is responsible for its powerful psychoactive effects.

What Can Happen in a Ceremony

One of the typical clichés found among people who use Ayahuasca is that we get what we need. As cliché as it may sound, often, it is true. Many things may occur during a ceremony, and healing in this context isn’t necessarily related to visions.

Our personality’s protective mechanism lowers, allowing things about ourselves that we were not aware of to emerge. We might see aspects of our personality that we dislike and usually don’t want to look at. We might get in touch with repressed memories and emotions.

Modern psychology has discovered that many experiences and emotions are stored in the body. We might release these stored experiences and feelings in a ceremony through a somatic release or catharsis.

We might also realise that we are unhappy with certain aspects of our lives; we might recognise that we are in a toxic relationship or working in a job that we dislike.

Why Integration Therapy?

Ayahuasca does not stop working when the ceremony or retreat ends. Ayahuasca experiences can plant seeds that need time and nourishment to grow; it initiates a healing process deep within ourselves that unfolds over time, and we don’t know how long it will last. It depends on the lessons and insights that arise, the work you are willing to do afterwards, the nature of the experience itself, and the content that arose.

In general, integration means “bringing parts together to make a whole”. Integration therapy can help individuals make sense of their experiences, process the emerging material, and manifest the changes they want to see in life.

The integration process can vary from person to person, as each individual’s experience is unique. Some people may have a specific “theme” for their focus, such as communication, relationships, career, or health.

Traumatic Memory

There are cases where repressed memories of trauma may come to the surface, or we may come to the realisation that experiences we hadn’t considered traumatic, in reality, had a lasting impact on us. In both scenarios, we can address and comprehend how these past events influenced our personality and life decisions. Processing this memory might involve re-experiencing the emotion we tried to suppress when the events occurred.

Life Change Decisions

You may have significant insight into something that needs to change or a new direction you want to take. The related integration work around this insight would involve exploring the root cause of what is blocking you from making the change and examining the beliefs and fears holding you back.

Letting Go of Our Defences

We may feel the need to connect with others and the world differently. This can involve breaking out of our isolation and engaging more socially with others. It may require us to let go of our defences and discover new ways to interact with others, which might initially feel uncomfortable.

Growing Through Our Emotions

Using this substance can make us more aware of our emotions and feelings. This heightened awareness can sometimes be uncomfortable, as we may experience emotions and feelings that were not present before. In this case, the integration process will be about embracing and developing a different relationship with our emotions and feelings and understanding the wisdom behind them.

Integration Through Lifestyle

In the society where Ayahuasca was initially used, things were quite different from our own. People in the Amazon lived close to nature, did not have stressful jobs or situations that forced them to act inauthentically, and received social support from a community that understood and welcomed this type of experience.

It is essential to find a lifestyle and establish specific conditions which can support the process of integration:

1. Introspection and Contemplative Practice

Finding time to sit and meditate during the day can help us still the mind and develop the precious capacity to observe and process our feelings. Besides meditation, you can find any activity that helps with that, such as art or journaling.

2. Move Your Body

Finding regular physical practice is another crucial piece. It can help you discharge stress, regulate your nervous system, and make you feel good in your skin. It could be an awareness-based exercise, such as yoga or tai chi, or any other sport that helps you get out of your mind and develop a good relationship with your body. The key is finding something you can enjoy.

3. Connect with Like-minded People

As I mentioned earlier, part of the process may involve connecting with others in a way that is authentic to ourselves. Finding a community of like-minded individuals who are committed to personal growth and self-discovery can also support this process.

Conclusion

Psychedelic integration therapy is all about creating a safe and supportive space to help you process and integrate the powerful insights and emotions that come up during your psychedelic journey. It will support your personal growth and help you gain a deeper understanding of your experience.

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