Psychedelic-assisted therapy

I bring IFS and my relational approach to preparation, journey support and integration. We make room for what you hope for, what worries you, and the support your whole system needs. Work during a psychedelic journey takes place only in countries and settings where it is legally permitted, within the requirements of that setting.

You can also come to me after an experience that left you frightened, overwhelmed, confused or feeling that you were not adequately prepared or supported. You do not need to be planning another journey.

Preparation is more than arranging the day. Through IFS, we get to know the parts of you that are curious or hopeful, and those that feel cautious, frightened or opposed. We seek permission from your internal system, taking protective concerns seriously rather than trying to persuade them to step aside.

We listen to what each part hopes for and fears: “What if I lose control?”, “What if something comes up that I cannot manage?”, “What if nothing happens?” There is time to ask questions, explore possible experiences and be honest about what nobody can predict. We return to concerns that need more attention, without expecting you to have no fear.

We also discuss boundaries, communication, sensory needs, who will be present, how support will be offered and what happens afterwards. Readiness can include deciding to wait, change the plan or not go ahead.

The details vary with the medicine and setting. Medical suitability, medicine provision and monitoring are handled by the appropriately authorised professionals involved.

Set is what you bring into a journey: expectations, emotions, hopes, fears and what is happening in your life. Setting is the environment around you: the space, sensory conditions, people, relationships and sense of safety.

Trust, clear boundaries and feeling able to communicate can affect how supported you feel. For neurodivergent people, lighting, sound, transitions and predictability may need particular attention. Preparation gives these needs a place in the plan.

You may notice changes in emotion, perception, body sensations, time or your sense of self. Some moments feel connected or spacious; others may be confusing, painful or frightening. Experiences can change direction, and they do not always resemble what you expected.

In a supported setting, you can turn towards your experience or ask for contact and reassurance. If something feels overwhelming, the focus is on helping you feel supported and responding to what you need. A journey does not need to be intense to matter. We pay attention to how it affects you and the support you need.

Afterwards you may feel love, spaciousness, connection or relief. You may also feel tired, clear, unsettled or full of questions, and several feelings can be present together. We make space to understand your experience at a pace that feels safe.

In my own journeys, what emerged has been what I needed, even when it was not what I wanted at the time. I have also seen this in my professional work. That has not made the difficult moments easier, but recognising it has helped me meet them with more trust. Your own experience and what it means to you have room here too.

These are broad descriptions, not predictions or a recommendation for you. Suitability depends on your health, circumstances, the medicine and the support available. Read the addiction research below.

Psilocybin: 2026 clinical trial ↗ · MDMA: 2025 discussion of evidence limitations ↗ · Ketamine: NHS benefits and risks ↗

MAPS is the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Its MDMA-assisted therapy manual describes how preparation, support during a medicine session and integration fit together. It gives practical attention to trust, consent and staying with the person’s experience rather than directing it.

I draw on that framework to think about continuity of care: knowing someone before a journey, supporting what arises and helping afterwards. The manual was developed for MDMA and PTSD; it is not a universal protocol for every medicine or person. Read the MAPS therapy manual ↗.

IFS offers a way to listen to your internal system throughout the work. A hopeful part may long for relief; another may fear vulnerability or losing control. We get to know both and work towards a plan your system can agree to, rather than letting one part overrule another.

During and after an experience, we can notice which parts need reassurance, what has shifted and what still feels unresolved. IFS is the therapeutic approach I bring. Early research describes ways it may support integration, including self-compassion and making sense of internal experience. There are encouraging findings, alongside questions that need larger comparative studies. Read the evidence and its limits below.

Integration is a place to explore what happened and how it is affecting you now. We can stay with feelings, body responses, images or questions, using conversation, drawing, imagery or sandtray when helpful. You remain the person who decides what the experience means to you.

If a journey was frightening or left you feeling unlike yourself, we begin with what helps you feel steadier. We can listen to parts that still feel alarmed, revisit moments that need support and consider what would help you feel more connected in everyday life.

You may feel you were not sufficiently prepared, or that your needs and boundaries were missed. We can explore that carefully. IFS preparation aims to build trust with protective parts, seek their permission and reduce the risk of overwhelm or protective backlash. I take that seriously rather than hoping parts will cope on the day. Preparation can help create a more supported journey, although we cannot predict everything that will arise. If an experience was difficult, we can explore what preparation or support was missing without blaming you. Explore the IFS clinical skills manual.

We talk openly about your health, medication, previous experiences and the support available, with medical questions explored by the appropriate clinician. Your identity, sensory needs, consent and boundaries belong in that conversation.

If an experience has left you struggling, we can consider what kind of support you need now, including working alongside other professionals. If you need immediate help, urgent support information is here.

You are welcome to ask about preparation, support in a legal setting, or integration after a past journey. A few lines is enough; you can leave the more personal details for a conversation. Contact Shema.