Integration Group

A psychedelic integration group is a community or therapeutic setting that focuses on providing support, guidance, and resources to individuals who have experienced psychedelic substances. These groups are designed to help participants integrate their psychedelic experiences into their daily lives and navigate the psychological, emotional, and spiritual insights that may arise from such experiences.

The term "integration" refers to the process of making sense of and incorporating the lessons, emotions, and perceptions gained during a psychedelic journey into one's overall life. Psychedelic integration groups often involve discussions, group therapy, or individual sessions where participants can share their experiences, receive feedback, and work on understanding and applying the insights gained from their psychedelic journeys. These groups may be facilitated by mental health professionals, experienced guides, or individuals knowledgeable about the therapeutic aspects of psychedelics. The goal is to promote personal growth, healing, and positive life changes through the integration of psychedelic experiences.

Structure

Psychedelic Integration groups vary in how they are conducted, but a shared consensus underscores the importance of three fundamental elements:

1. Confidentiality: Upholding a commitment to privacy within the group setting, creating a safe space where participants can openly share their experiences without fear of disclosure.
2. Non-Judgmental Attitudes: Fostering an environment devoid of criticism or bias, where individuals can express their thoughts and emotions without apprehension, promoting a culture of acceptance and understanding.
3. Empathy: Cultivating a compassionate atmosphere where participants and facilitators alike demonstrate empathy, recognizing and resonating with the emotional experiences shared by individuals undergoing psychedelic journeys.

These three pillars collectively contribute to a supportive and constructive framework for the integration process.

Schedule

Below is a suggested timeline of an typical integration session:

00:00 – Arrival (10 mins)

• Everyone switch off their phone - ensures confidentiality.
• Name tags - phonetically written, first name basis.
• House keeping - fire exists, water, toilets etc.

00:10 - Self Introduction (5 mins)

• Introduce the moderator(s), describe their experience and disclose any conflicts of interest.

00:15 - What are we doing here? (10 mins)

• A short definition of integration: When taking a psychoactive - at the time it’s hard to understand what is going on, however, overtime, one can get a better perspective as the experience becomes relative to other things in your life.
• A long definition of integration: In the reviewed scientific literature, there are 24 distinct definitions of psychedelic integration. In the great majority of definitions, we encountered the idea of the participant implementing and incorporating the key insights and awareness gained in the psychedelic experience into their life. “Psychedelic integration is a process in which the patient integrates the insights of their experience into their life”. Most of the definitions also emphasized the need to revisit, work through, and make sense of the material and content of psychedelic experiences. “The term…[refers] to different aspects of a process that includes making sense out of the experience, filtering the content, assimilating and accommodating the experience psychologically, and implementing insights into lasting changes”. Most authors did not describe the content in their definitions, beyond referring to it as “experience,” though the ones who did elaborate used a range of descriptors, such as “unconscious” or “psychospiritual” content. There was an acknowledgment that content that emerged from psychedelic experiences could be directly beneficial, not obviously relevant, or initially challenging, though none of the definitions pathologized the emergence of difficult or confusing content. “[Santo Daime members] are quite proficient in reinterpreting entheogenic experiences so that difficult, excruciating experiences are reframed as healing, revealing and ultimately positive in the grander scheme of things”. Some acknowledged that inadequate social/psychological support may lead to an inability to gain insight or work through less obvious or more challenging content. Nearly all the definitions we reviewed described or implied that integration is a process, one that may take significant time and effort, and without which, insights gained are likely to fade without actualizing meaningful change. Some of the definitions focused on the near-term dimension and necessity of post-session support, sometimes referred to as aftercare, while others focused on the longer-term process of internalizing change, prolonging and maximizing benefits, and moving toward greater balance and wholeness internally and with the world. Finally, many of the definitions implied or stated that one needed to implement, make use of, bring forward, or otherwise engage in practices to integrate their psychedelic experiences into their lives. “Integration is the process of bringing separate elements together into a whole…and anchoring them into our lives”.

00:25 - Group introduction (10-15 mins)

• Opt-out anonymity clause: Silent presence for solidarity + support with community
• Principles: Confidentiality, non-judgement, Safe space / Trust circle
• Go around the group, say what brought you here, intention and what you hope to get out of it.

00:40 - So just before we begin... Common References (15 mins)

We are all on our own journeys, there is no authority of your experience in the room apart from yourself. This is because the psychedelic experience is often very subjective, however there are some commonalities:

• Ego, ego death, oneness
• Neuroplasticity
• Priming and framing
• Apophenia
• Cognitive bias
• Ineffable - not everything can be explained in words.

01:00 - Open floor for discussion (25 mins+)

• Open with personal experiences
• Share your relationship with psychedelics to-date
• What has worked for you and what hasn’t.
• What would you like to learn more on/share and connect with others on?

20:25 - Closing Statements (5mins)

• How useful was this meetup?
• Any suggestions to create a better experience for next meetup?

Prompts for Integrative Conversations

• Introspection - Emotional? Do you work through things in your mind? Do you get lost in your thoughts? Do you get momentary relief? Whats going on for YOU?
• What is going on w/ entheogens? —> Opening up something in side of me, exploring different perspective/s - outside of the materialistic grind —> ecocentrism common.
• Cognitive bias, explain authority bias in context of shamans / doctors.
• Does anyone know what a Time knife is?

References