Good Questions That Deserve Gentle Answers

For many, the idea of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy stirs both hope and hesitation.

What actually happens in a session? Is it safe? Will I be alone?

These are not just logistical questions—they’re questions of trust. Of one’s nervous system scanning for safety. Of wanting to heal, but needing to know: Will I be cared for?

In this guide, I’ll walk you through what to expect—step by step—through the lens of my own clinical practice. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is improvised. Each phase is part of a carefully held therapeutic arc designed to support transformation from the inside out.

1. Medical Referral and Screening

Safety is where we begin—and it’s where we return again and again.

Before any medicine is ever introduced, the process begins with assessment. Not as a barrier, but as a way of ensuring your body, mind, and circumstances are ready to enter this kind of deep work.

You’ll start with:

• A medical referral from a GP, psychologist, or case worker
• A nursing intake to explore your health history
• A 90-minute psychiatric evaluation to check for contraindications or risks

“Safety is job one. If someone doesn’t qualify, they don’t proceed. But if they do—they’re deeply supported at every step.” — Dr. Dan McKinnon

This early phase lays the groundwork—not just for medical safety, but for emotional trust. You’re not stepping into the unknown. You’re being welcomed into something carefully prepared by professionals with you at the center.

2. The Preparation Phase

The medicine is not the beginning— the relationship is.

Before any session, we take time to build the therapeutic foundation. This includes preparation meetings focused on:

• Naming your intentions
• Exploring any fears or hesitations
• Building emotional safety
• Establishing a relational rhythm with your therapist

Imagine saying to your therapist, “There’s something in me that feels unreachable,” and knowing it will be met without urgency or pressure.

This phase ensures that when the session comes, you’re not entering alone—but held by a thread of connection that’s already begun to form.

3. The Medicine Session

The heart of the process—and the place where something deeper begins to speak.

The session itself unfolds in a calming, clinic-style environment—quiet, soft, emotionally steady.

A medical professional—such as a nurse or paramedic—is present throughout, and your therapist remains attuned, nearby, or directly involved depending on what’s needed.

Session durations vary by medicine:

• Ketamine: 90 minutes to 2 hours
• MDMA: 3 to 4 hours
• Psilocybin: 5 to 8 hours

You may choose to wear eye shades and headphones, turning inward. Or you might remain in dialogue throughout—a gentler, psycholytic approach.

“It’s not about sending someone into an altered state alone—it’s about creating a safe relational space for transformation.” — Dr. Dan McKinnon

This is not a solo journey. It’s a co-held experience, structured for safety, and infused with compassion.

For a deeper look at how the full therapy process unfolds, see → Your Psychedelic Therapy Journey.

4. Integration Therapy

The insight matters. But what we do with it—that’s where the healing deepens.

Within 24 to 48 hours of your session, you return for integration. This is where we begin to metabolize the experience.

• What surfaced during the session?
• What does it mean in the context of your life?
• What shifts—however small—want to unfold next?

“The journey opens the door, but integration is where we learn to live differently.” — Dr. Dan McKinnon

For example, you may touch a core wound—abandonment, shame, fear—and begin to see how it shaped your adult relationships. In integration, we begin to untangle it. With compassion. With care.

To understand the importance of the therapeutic relationship in this process, read → Therapist-Client Relationship in Psychedelic Healing.

5. Ongoing Support and Follow-Up

Healing is a process, not an event.

Most clients move through a 2–4 session arc, with preparation, medicine, and integration repeated over time. The work unfolds slowly, building on itself.

Between sessions, you may be invited to:

• Journal emerging insights
• Practice embodied mindfulness
• Track emotional triggers with curiosity, not criticism

And all the while, the therapeutic relationship remains steady—your support team is available, your healing is held.

Common Questions—Answered Gently

Will I lose control?
No. Even in deep sessions, you remain conscious, aware, and in choice.

Do I have to stop my medications?
Not always. Ketamine, for instance, can often be used alongside antidepressants. Each case is evaluated individually.

Can one session make a difference?
It can. Some clients experience profound movement in a single session. Others benefit from a multi-session arc. There’s no single timeline—only the one that’s right for you.

A Safe, Guided Path Toward Healing

This work isn’t about chasing visions or achieving altered states. It’s about creating the conditions—internally and relationally—where healing becomes possible.

You are not left to figure it out alone.
You are guided. Supported. Met with care at every step.

“It’s structured. It’s safe. And when done well—it’s transformative.” — Dr. Dan McKinnon

🌿 Ready to Learn More?

If you’re curious about what this kind of therapy might look like for you, I invite you to reach out.

Learn more about our approach and our services, or contact us today to begin the conversation.

Healing doesn’t begin with the medicine. It begins with safety. With presence. With a first conversation held in care.
You don’t have to take this step alone.