Beyond Access: The SIGNAL Model of Internal Guidance in Psychedelic Preparation and Integration
Psychedelics July 1, 2026 Stacy Rush
Psychedelic-assisted interventions yield variable outcomes, partly because existing preparation and integration models overlook the role of internal guidance. This paper introduces the SIGNAL Model, which treats emotions as adaptive physiological signals that convey information about unmet needs, threats, values, and identity. The model proposes that psychological distress arises when these emotional signals are suppressed or misinterpreted, and that therapeutic gains depend on an individual's capacity to engage with these signals as organizing influences. Five testable hypotheses are offered to guide empirical research, and clinical implications include assessing emotional awareness before psychedelic work and structuring integration around skills for recognizing and responding to emotions.