Integration Sessions

Chapter 7 describes the role of integration sessions in psychedelic therapy, where insights from medicine sessions are incorporated into daily life. It presents the EMBARK model's flexible, participant-centric approach, focusing adaptively on six clinical domains. A three-step process for integration is outlined: listening to understand the participant's experience, setting actionable goals for new attitudes and behaviors, and enacting these changes. The chapter introduces three spheres of integration, including participating in social change as a therapeutic growth avenue, and provides guidance on handling disappointing medicine sessions, challenging events, and serious adverse outcomes.

Study at a glance

Abstract

AbstractChapter 7 underscores the pivotal role of integration sessions in psychedelic therapy, where insights from medicine sessions are woven into the fabric of daily life. It presents the EMBARK model’s flexible, participant-centric approach to integration, focusing adaptively on the clinical domains that emerged for the participant. It provides guidelines and goals for the practitioner in selecting the most relevant goals for each participant within the six clinical domains. The chapter outlines a three-step process for integration: listening to understand the participant’s experience, setting actionable goals in the form of new attitudes and behaviors, and enacting these changes. It introduces the concept of three spheres of integration, including the innovative idea of participating in social change as a therapeutic growth avenue. The chapter also provides guidance on handling disappointing medicine session experiences, responding to challenging events, and managing serious adverse outcomes.