12 Jul Integration Methods
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has published a psychedelic therapy model of a nine-month course of psychotherapy interspersed with three psychedelic sessions, usually MDMA or psilocybin. This model (Mitthoefer et al., 2014) allows the therapist to assess firstly for the stability of the client to make sure they are a good candidate for transpersonal experiences, and then provide psychotherapy to help process their material. This is one effective example of an integration method with proven results.
Or course everyone who experiences a transpersonal experience is not in therapy or wants or needs to be. Palmer & Hastings (2015) write about the role of disclosure in healing, that the disclosure of traumatic and or awe-filled experiences are associated with improvements in health and well-being. Repeated disclosure seems to help even more. Writing about the experience and telling one’s story are also clinically effective. Davis & Cantu (2015) suggest the healing potential of direct contact with the natural world.
Daniels (2021, p. 58) writes that “the transpersonal therapist is interested in the extent to which the person may be led to a wider or deeper, less personal and more transcendent view of life.” This certainly is the aim of integration of transpersonal experiences.
Walsh and Grob (2015) recommend that the therapist or facilitator take a noninterfering approach. As a clinician working with people experiencing transpersonal experiences, I would recommend a more eclectic approach, tailoring the integration efforts to the needs of the client.
© 2023 Catherine Auman
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