Psilocybin-Assisted Group Therapy
“If other people hurt me, why would I ever do group therapy?... Let alone psychedelic-assisted group therapy?!”
The presence of other people has a way of triggering our defenses. We create carefully constructed masks to hide our secret shame, insecurity, and fear. We walk into a group of people with these masks securely fastened.
We apologize for existing, deny the truth of our feelings, and make ourselves small. Fawning and accommodating while something deep inside withers. We long to be really seen, but the mask is so “normal”... It’s almost more familiar than the face underneath.
Wounds of relationship heal in relationship.
When a group of people gathers around the principles of safety and mutual support, we begin to notice how the masks no longer fit. We can have experiences that correct the old pain.
We made the masks in the first place because our history tells us to anticipate the worst.
Those of us with challenges in our past will implicitly expect to be attacked with judgement, criticism, condemnation… maybe even emotional or physical violence.
If instead we are met with acceptance, understanding, patience, and compassion… then the old stories can be rewritten with new evidence. The masks can come off.
What would it be like to reveal yourself and still be held in acceptance?
In group therapy, the social norm is openness, acceptance, and support. The container is held intentionally in order to create emotional safety. We invite your authenticity, celebrate your boundaries, and hold space for your expression.
Psychedelics reveal us, to ourselves. The medicine unmasks. For the duration of its effects we are directly in touch with the full force of our emotional and psychological experience. It is a real, deeply human, and naturally vulnerable state.
Group therapy is an ideal setting for the psychedelic experience, but it might not be what you think…
During the beginning phases, we do the kind of group work that you may be familiar with. We speak and we listen. But in the medicine administration session, participants are asked not to talk with one another while under the full effects of Psilocybin. Each person has their own area and is asked to keep attention on their own process. This increases the likelihood of a fruitful and therapeutic journey.
What to expect in the program.
Our Group Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) program is an expertly-guided journey designed from the ground up around the Psilocybin experience. Each group consists of no more than 4 participants, offering a unique blend of individualized attention and shared experience.
There are three stages to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.
Preparation: Here we survey your inner landscape, build supportive connections, and equip you with tools that will be helpful for the journey ahead.
The Medicine Journey: This is where you'll take Psilocybin with your small group in a comfortable setting designed to support inner work. Music specially selected for journey work will be played and I will be fully present as your facilitator for the duration.
Integration: In these sessions we make meaning of your experiences, identify pathways forward, and create practices that help embody the lessons revealed. Here we work to transform powerful insights into lasting positive changes in your daily life.
The Psilocybin-Assisted Group Therapy program includes:
Individual Preparation Session: 1 hour
Group Preparation Session: 1.5 hour
Medicine/Dosing Session: 1 × 8 hour session
Group Integration: 2 × 1.5 hour group sessions
This structured approach ensures a supportive environment for self-discovery and therapeutic breakthroughs. By combining the transformative potential of psilocybin, the power of small group dynamics, and clinical facilitation, our program offers a unique path to healing that is both deeply personal and communally supported.
Why Choose Group PAT?
Connection & Community: Group sessions often create a deep sense of connection and shared experience among participants. This communal aspect can enhance feelings of belonging and create a template for deeper connections in the future. Clients often develop deep compassion and understanding of each other, creating a supportive environment that extends beyond what a therapist alone can offer.
Accessibility: Offering this work in a small group format allows significant cost reductions when compared to individual psilocybin sessions.
Expanded Perspectives and Learning: Participants in group sessions have the opportunity to learn from others' experiences and insights, potentially broadening their own perspectives and understanding. This collective insight can enrich the overall therapeutic process.
Reduced Isolation: Group sessions can help combat feelings of isolation that individuals might experience during individual therapy, especially when dealing with conditions like depression or anxiety.
Historical Context: Psychedelic work throughout the world has most commonly been done in group formats.
Inspiration, Motivation, Accountability: Group members often find themselves called into a greater state of presence by each other. Being a part of a larger container invites us to really do our work.
Ready to step into a new story? You’re invited!
