Psychedelics produce expanded states of being, or non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC), which are vital components within the psychedelic-assisted therapy experience. NOSCs appear to be the result of a lowering of activity in a region of the brain called the default mode network (DMN). The DMN is the brain region that maintains the uninterrupted activity of cognition. This means that the daydreaming, inner talk, or random thinking that each human experiences during unfocused moments is managed by the DMN. When the DMN is quieted or repressed, the individual is able to experience conscious moments that are not interrupted by the unhelpful and often inaccurate running monologue/narratives of the human experience. Psychology has often referred to these inner conversations as “ego” and it is the ego that prevents humans from seeing things as they actually exist—free from disruptive projection, labeling, and evaluating. The result is the experience of the mind without critical, ruminating, and complicated thoughts.

 

Eastern thought and philosophy have provided the world with many exercises that train the brain to be presently focused, and thus essentially tame the ego’s “itty bitty shitty committee.” Meditation, or mindfulness (etc.), are concepts birthed from the goal of seeking solace from all that internal chatter. Unfortunately, meditation practices, although incredibly effective— require a commitment to daily practice. Just like doing sets and reps at the gym to build strength, meditation requires sets and reps of practice to build strength in concentration to inhibit the DMN. Although meditation is an incredibly effective tool for depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns— it is not (initially) accessible to everyone. Psychedelic medicines provide alternative opportunities to temporarily decrease DMN activity, thus providing the individual with an understanding and appreciation of these expanded states of existence without committing thousands of hours of practice before reaping this reward. With an appreciation of perspective garnered from a quieter brain, access to experiences of meditation becomes richer, more robust, and purposefully understood.

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Medicine for healing: It is important to state that psychedelic experiences are not for everyone. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is a process that is structured around non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC). As a PAP therapist, it is vital that knowledge, education, and personal experience with NOSC are firmly rooted within the framework of the psychedelic therapeutic relationship. Both partners of M+M+M have personal and professional backgrounds in the Eastern concepts of yoga and mindfulness/meditation and are formally trained in the assessment, handling, and use of psychedelic substances for psychotherapy. 

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KETAMINE

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Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a legal psychedelic treatment model combining the use of the prescription drug ketamine with psychotherapy. Unlike conventional psychopharmacological treatments that often take many weeks to reveal their effects, ketamine is used to catalyze the therapy process providing immediate relief from psychological and physical suffering. In fact, ketamine has changed the way scientists view depression symptoms due to how it works as a fast-acting antidepressant. A single low dose can produce antidepressant effects within four hours and for some patients, those effects can last for several weeks. 

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In addition, ketamine is classified as a dissociative anesthetic, which means it facilitates a sense of disconnection from one’s ordinary reality and the usual sense of self. At dosages prescribed for therapy, one will most likely experience mild anesthetic, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, and potentially psychedelic effects. People often report an experience of relaxation from typical concerns, while maintaining conscious awareness of their flow and ebb of mind. This purposeful disruption of old patterns of thought tends to provide relief from negative mind states and obsessional preoccupations. Ketamine’s tendency to quiet sensory information from the body can also support trauma-informed healing and some people report it quiets chronic pain responses. Under the careful guidance and attention of a trained facilitator, this synergistic model of medicine and therapy supports the healing of nervous system wounds from the past, and possibly the exploration of expanded states of being.