Psychedelic Integration: Psychotherapy for non-ordinary states of consciousness
Journal of Psychedelic Studies November 16, 2023 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2023.00306 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Book review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Keywords | Consciousness Psychotherapist Psychoanalysis |
| Citations | 48 |
| Key findings | The review highlights Aixalà's core principles for therapists to support clients integrating psychedelic experiences when the therapist was not present. |
Abstract
Recent years have seen a global explosion in the field of psychedelic research, popularizing of use of non-ordinary states of consciousness to aid in PTSD, anxiety and depression, end of life and a growing sense that the use of substances like MDMA, psilocybin and others may become mainstream approaches to treating persistent challenges in these marginalized populations.As we destigmatize these treatments, as we see more demand, we will also witness a need for more trained professionals who can support these experiences, capable of holding these spaces 1 and an emergence of programs designed to safely facilitate experiences of non-ordinary states of consciousness.Marc B. Aixalà is an engineer, psychologist and psychotherapist.His collaborative work with the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service (ICEERS) spans a decade of supporting psychedelic experiences, ensuring the relative safety and efficacy of client experiences, through practicing integration therapy.His training includes Holotropic Breathwork facilitator, MAPS certified MDMA assisted psychotherapy for PTSD and the therapeutic use of Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness.Involved in the first medical trials utilizing psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, he continues to be involved in clinical trials researching psychedelic substances and works as a psychologist in his private practice in Spain.This book review will focus on interpreting the core principles of Aixalà's exploration of the ways in which therapists might support clients undertaking psychedelic experiences, often when they themselves have not been present for the client's experience.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. | 2020 | Review | |
| Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness. | 2005 | Review | |
| Intrinsic Brain Activity in Altered States of Consciousness | 2008 | Review | |
| Dynamic functional connectivity and brain metastability during altered states of consciousness | 2017 | Review | |
| A default mode of brain function in altered states of consciousness. | 2013 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 37
- Psychedelic integration challenges: Participant experiences after a psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands Journal of Psychedelic Studies January 16, 2023
- Rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of vaporized N,N-dimethyltryptamine: a phase 2a clinical trial in treatment-resistant depression. Neuropsychopharmacology May 1, 2025
- Navigating groundlessness: An interview study on dealing with ontological shock and existential distress following psychedelic experiences. PLoS One 2025
- Safety and tolerability of inhaled N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (BMND01 candidate): A phase I clinical trial. European Neuropsychopharmacology March 1, 2024
- Coming back together: a qualitative survey study of coping and support strategies used by people to cope with extended difficulties after the use of psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Psychology May 28, 2024
and 32 more in the library