Preparing for the Journey, Returning with Wisdom: Integration Therapy
Some thoughts on psychedelics, non-ordinary states, and what it means to integrate
There’s something wild and powerful that happens when we enter a non-ordinary state of consciousness. It doesn’t have to be through psychedelics—though that’s a big part of what I work with—it could be breathwork, being out in nature, deep somatic work, dance, prayer, grief, beauty. These are all portals. They shake something loose. They remind us that we’re so much more than just our thinking minds.
These experiences can be life-changing. They can be confusing. Beautiful. Terrifying. Clarifying. Overwhelming. All at once, sometimes. They can show us things we’ve been avoiding for years, or reconnect us with something sacred we forgot we even believed in. But what really matters—what makes the difference—is how we prepare for them, and how we make meaning out of them after.
Because healing doesn’t just happen inside the ceremony. Or the ketamine session. Or the breath work. It happens in the days and weeks, and months that follow. It happens in the way we relate to ourselves, to others, to our bodies, and the Earth. This is where integration comes in.
What does preparation actually mean?
It’s not just “do this breathing technique” or “set an intention.” I mean sure, that stuff matters. But real preparation is deeper. It’s about making space in your system and your life to be able to meet whatever’s going to show up. Because you don’t really get to control that part.
It might mean:
Tending to your nervous system and body beforehand
Clarifying why you’re doing this at all
Resourcing yourself—emotionally, logistically, relationally
Knowing who’s holding the space with you and feeling safe with them
Getting curious about the fears and expectations already bubbling up
For me, the therapeutic relationship is part of the medicine. If you don’t feel safe, connected, and met by the person guiding you… it’s going to be hard to go deep. And going deep is kind of the point.
Preparation is where the idea of set and setting comes in—something often repeated in psychedelic spaces, but not always fully understood. Yes, it’s about mindset (set) and the physical and relational environment (setting) during the experience. But it’s also about the larger cultural and historical container. The collective “setting” we all carry with us—shaped by trauma, systems of oppression, and disconnection from land and spirit.
We can’t talk about this work without also naming the political piece. These states can crack us open personally, but they also bring up the ways our culture has tried to separate us from ourselves and each other. So much of what we carry isn’t just ours. We’re living in a world shaped by colonization, capitalism, white supremacy, trauma, and ableism. And the very fact that these medicines are being re-legitimized now (mostly by white-led institutions) is a result of deep inequities. We can’t pretend that’s not part of it.
Also, none of this is new.
Indigenous peoples have been in a relationship with these medicines and states for thousands of years. Long before Western psychology caught on. Long before there were protocols or clinical trials. This work has always been sacred. Communal. Grounded in reverence and reciprocity with the Earth. We’re not the first ones to figure this out—we’re just remembering something ancient. And it’s important that we honor that.
Integration is where it lands
This is the part most people forget about. Or rush through. But this is where the real work happens.
Integration means letting the experience work on you. Not just intellectually, but in your body, your life, your relationships, your habits. It’s about staying in connection with what you touched—and learning how to live from that place.
Sometimes it’s really clear: “Oh wow, I need to set a boundary with my mom.”
Sometimes it’s like… “I don’t know what just happened, but something in me shifted, and I need to listen now.”
Integration might look like journaling, resting, crying, dancing, therapy, making art, slowing way down, shifting a relationship, getting back into your body, saying no to something that’s not aligned anymore.
But it’s not just about what we do alone—healing happens in relationship. If you’re doing this work on your own, it can feel lonely, especially if the people around you don’t understand what you’re going through. That’s why we’ve created a monthly integration circle. It’s a space for people to gather, share their experiences, and build relationships that support healing. It’s about community, connection, and real-time support. When we come together, share our stories, and listen deeply to one another, the healing process deepens.
And maybe most importantly—it’s about wholeness.
So much of our pain comes from fragmentation. From being told we have to cut off parts of ourselves to survive. Be less sensitive. Be more productive. Fit in. Don’t feel too much. Don’t be too much. So we exile these parts. We forget. We perform.
Integration is a call to bring those parts back. To remember who we are underneath all the conditioning. Not to fix or improve—but to return. And that’s a lifelong practice. It’s not a one-and-done.
I’m still learning
I don’t have it all figured out. Not even close.
There’s still so much I’m learning—about the medicines, about my own healing, about how to do this work in a way that’s trauma-informed, soul-aligned, decolonized, and ethical. I don’t ever want to pretend I’ve got all the answers. But I do try to stay in relationship with the questions. I listen. I let the work shape me, too. I’m a student of this path, always.
Ways to work with me
If this resonates—if you’re navigating a big experience, or feeling the call toward this kind of work—I offer a few different ways to support the process:
🌿 1:1 Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
We go slow. We build trust. I bring in somatic work, nervous system support, and parts work before, during, and after the medicine journey.
🌿 Group Ketamine Series
There’s something so powerful about healing in community. These small groups include preparation and integration sessions, ceremony, and shared reflection.
🌿 1:1 Integration Sessions
For folks working with other medicines or altered states (on their own, in ceremony, or elsewhere) who want a place to land and process.
🌿 Monthly Integration Circle
Open to anyone exploring psychedelic or non-ordinary state experiences. We meet once a month for 90 minutes of somatic practice, sharing, reflection, and resourcing. You don’t have to do this alone.
This work is sacred. And messy. And not always comfortable. But it’s real. It’s a way home. And I’d be honored to walk with you.
Start KetaMIne-Assisted Therapy in Los Angeles, CA & More
If this speaks to you, or if you’re curious about exploring this path together, I’d love to hear from you. You can book a free consultation, or reach out to our team at Flourish Mindset Therapy to learn more.
With gratitude,
Other Services Offered with Flourish Mindset Therapy
Ketamine THERAPY isn’t the only service offered at Flourish Mindset. We are happy to offer a variety of services in support of your mental wellbeing. These mental health services include in-person therapy options in Los Angeles and ONLINE THERAPY options across California. Other services offered include DEPRESSION THERAPY, COUPLES THERAPY, and CHILD AND TEEN THERAPY. We also offer ANXIETY THERAPY, Trauma THERAPY, and THERAPY FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA.
