Psilocybin Assisted Therapy

Healing Center in Durango, CO.

Innate Wisdom and Wellness is a new Healing Center for Psilocybin Assisted Therapy, opening later this year in Durango, Colorado, once all state licensure has been obtained. My intention is to offer support and guidance for those who have independently sought out plant medicines for personal growth and deep healing. In order for psychedelic experiences to reach their utmost emotional, spiritual, and psychological benefit, it is essential to have the experienced and informed support of a licensed therapist. These medicines are often the catalyst for immense change, but as with any immense change, maintaining momentum and commitment to those changes is imperative for long term positive outcomes. This is why I strongly recommend more time and energy are spent on integration after a profound psychedelic experience.

More information on the therapeutic process and science behind this breakthrough therapy can be read below.

Ceremony and Administration

The administration session will be held in a comfortable, private, and calm environment. The setting is designed to minimize distractions and create a sense of safety, with soft lighting, calming music, and comforting furnishings. This space is in a cabin near the woods, with lots of windows to allow light and nature to enter into the space. We will discuss your prepared intentions and there will be an offering to bring a talisman to keep near you in case grounding is needed during the session. If ceremony is desired, there will be an altar available to place your talisman on. You will be given a measured dose of psilocybin, with a choice of capsules, tea, or whole mushrooms with chocolate. The dose is tailored to the participant’s needs and experience level. I will remain present throughout the session to provide emotional support and guidance. I may sit quietly or offer verbal reassurance if necessary, but I will generally allow you to process the experience on your own. After ingesting the psilocybin, it typically begins to take effect within 20 to 40 minutes. You will lay on the provided mat with mindfold over your eyes, and comfortable pillows and blankets available as needed. The experience can involve deep emotional exploration, visual or sensory alterations, and changes in perception of self and reality. This experience can range from introspective and therapeutic to challenging. I will be there to offer grounding techniques and emotional support if you experience anxiety or difficult emotions. During the peak of the experience (which may last 3-6 hours), you might engage in inner exploration, gaining new perspectives, processing trauma, or working through personal insights. I may offer guidance or help you reflect on insights that arise, but generally I will respect the autonomy of the experience. As the effects of psilocybin wear off, you will be gently helped to return to a grounded state. This is often facilitated by relaxing music, soothing words, or simple breathing exercises. When you arise, I will offer food and water to help your body feel nourished after your journey.

How Psilocybin Can Rewire Your Brain

During Administration, Psilocybin binds to the 5-HT2A receptor, a subtype of serotonin receptor. The 5-HT2A receptor is densely located in regions such as the prefrontal cortex, which plays a key role in decision-making and higher cognitive functions. By modulating this receptor, psychedelics can increase neuroplasticity, enhancing the brain’s ability to form new neural connections and potentially promoting emotional processing and therapeutic breakthroughs. The Default Mode Network is a network of brain regions that are active when the mind is at rest, often linked to self-referential thoughts, the “ego,” and rumination. In psychedelic states, the DMN activity decreases, leading to reduced ego boundaries and a sense of interconnectedness. This dissociation from the self can facilitate psychological insights and help reduce rigid thinking patterns associated with conditions like depression, anxiety and PTSD. The decreased DMN activity is thought to be a key mechanism by which psychedelics can induce ego dissolution and promote transformative experiences. During a psychedelic experience, there is a reorganization of brain networks, with increased connectivity between brain regions that don’t typically communicate with each other. This phenomenon is thought to be enabled by the 5-HT2A receptor activation and is associated with a more flexible, integrated brain state. Regions such as the prefrontal cortex (responsible for executive function) and the posterior cingulate cortex (linked to the DMN) show increased connectivity, allowing for a more holistic and unified experience of consciousness. This altered connectivity might help individuals gain new perspectives, challenge maladaptive cognitive patterns, and support the therapeutic process by fostering a sense of mental clarity and emotional release. Overall, psychedelic therapy may lead to enhanced emotional processing, reduced psychological distress, and the restructuring of maladaptive neural pathways, which can contribute to long-lasting therapeutic benefits.

Integration Sessions

Common themes in psychedelic integration include deepening sense of Self, translation of spiritual/mystical messaging into daily practices, organization around previously chaotic traumatic memories, shifting out of painful perspectives through meaning making, embodiment and ongoing somatic integration, how to maintain momentum on your path towards real change, and utilization of breath work, meditation, journaling, and other personal rituals to connect back to the wisdom of your journey. I will provide a minimum of three integrations sessions after each medicine session with psilocybin.