

What is Integration?
Psychedelic experiences can be intense, profound, insightful and overwhelming in the depth and breadth of new emotions, knowledge and thoughts that surface.
This is why integration is an absolutely integral part of the psychedelic assisted therapy journey. Without a concrete plan to make sense of, and use, your new found insights in the best way for you; your body and mind will use its muscle memory to go back to exactly the way things were before you underwent psychedelic assisted therapy.
The fundamental process of integration involves making sense of and incorporating the insights, emotions, and changes that may arise during a psychedelic journey into your everyday life. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to integration as each individual's experience is unique. But the one commonality is you absolutely need an accountability partner. Someone who won't pander to you (lovers, friends) but will be honest in their approaches to helping you work towards your best life.
Integration is an intentional and ongoing process for understanding your psychedelic experiences and bringing those lessons into your daily life to ensure personal growth. The integration process usually unfolds over an extended period of time.
Psychedelic experiences are believed to lead to a period of increased neuroplasticity that lasts for up to a month or so. Integrating during this time allows you to explore and process the immediate insights and emotions while they are still fresh while taking advantage of this period of receptivity to change. Integration is not a one-time event but an ongoing process, aided by incorporating integration practices into your daily life. It takes 30 days to create a habit, so we are aiming to create new habits for you that benefit your ultimate transformation.
“Integration is a process in which a person revisits and actively engages in making sense of, working through, translating, and processing the content of their psychedelic experience. Through intentional effort and supportive practices, this process allows one to gradually capture and incorporate the emergent lessons and insights into their lives, thus moving toward greater balance and wholeness, both internally (mind, body, and spirit) and externally (lifestyle, social relations, and the natural world).”
Synthesized definition of integration from Bathje, Majeski, & Kudowor, 2022
Non-ordinary states of consciousness can both support and challenge you. One needs to be thoughtful and considerate as you make sense of your experiences and incorporate them into your life. Integration shares a linguistic root with integrity as it relates to the idea of being complete, intact, and whole. Using psychedelics with integrity asks you not to stop with the experience itself, but to do the work to incorporate those experiences into your life.
Regularly examining your thoughts and feelings over time allows you to celebrate your progress, growth, and changes. This can be a powerful motivator and provide a sense of accomplishment as you see how your perspectives and behaviors evolve. Additionally, integration allows you to practice new patterns and ways of being that reinforce the insights gained from your psychedelic experience, increasing the possibility for sustainable change and growth.
“…integration requires active effort to revisit and work with psychedelic experiences and content that emerges from them. Without such active effort, valuable lessons tend to fade”
Bathje, Majeski, & Kodowor (2022)
The 6 Domains of Integration
Integration allows us to weave the tapestry of our psychedelic insights into the fabric of our existence, fostering personal growth, healing, and a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us. ‘Why Integrate?’ is not just a question—it’s the key to unlocking the full potential of your psychedelic journey, ensuring that each step towards self-discovery translates into meaningful and sustainable life changes.