We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dayna Wood. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dayna below.
Alright, Dayna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you ever experienced a times when your entire field felt like it was taking a U-Turn?
There have been several advances in the psychotherapy arena in the two decades in which I’ve practiced, including licensed counselors becoming recognized in all 50 states, fMRI’s in wider operation – improving our understanding of regional brain activity, and increased trauma-informed care, all of which have led to a variety of industry-wide pivots.
However, the one that is on the cusp could potentially be the most disruptive. Psychedelic-assisted therapy can aid people in uncovering deep-rooted emotions and beliefs that remain the cause of present-day symptoms. It can provide individuals with treatment-resistant mental health concerns with more persistent breakthroughs and prolonged improvement in symptoms.
It has, though, been tried and failed in the past; not because it wasn’t effective but because we, as a society, were naive to its profound implications.
“Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out,” Timothy Leary’s oft-quoted maxim, didn’t have the beneficial impact he intended of using psychedelics to “turn on” to a new awareness, “tune in” to inward exploration, and “drop out” from conventional society.
The faded hope of the ‘60s succumbed to the decadence of the ’70s and ’80s. It seemed as if we went to sleep, rather than doing the more difficult work of healing and growing. This, unfortunately, is no longer afforded to us. We do not have the luxury to “drop out” this time.
To grow, though, means not just as individuals but as a society we must learn to manage dichotomies. Carl Jung states, “The ego keeps its integrity only if it does not identify with one of the opposites, and if it understands how to hold the balance between them. This is possible only if it remains conscious of both at once.”
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
At Integrative Counsel, we offer an eclectic style of treatment that integrates the mind, body, and transpersonal. Our “special sauce” is combining creative out-of-the-box thinking with solid scientific research, so our clients get the best of both worlds.
Our team of experienced counselors has specialized knowledge in relationships, trauma, OCD, and other expansive therapies. In partnership with Journey Clinical’s medical team, Integrative Counsel also offers transformative, evidence-based ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) to aid people in uncovering deep-rooted emotions and beliefs that remain the cause of present-day symptoms. This allows individuals with treatment-resistant mental health concerns to have more persistent breakthroughs and prolonged improvement in symptoms.
Integrative Counsel values making mental wellness accessible regardless of where you are in your journey. We know the importance of multiple entry points for care – from helpful free resources and affordable courses to quality one-to-one counseling and coaching; we understand that mental health is more than just its symptoms!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
As referenced above, going beyond these dichotomies, which requires remaining conscious of them and holding the balance between them, invites the question of what that might look like.
It requires the reimagining (or more bluntly, unlearning) of things we’ve held sacred and that have provided (a false) sense of security through their either/or, black/white surety.
What we must unlearn and where we are required to hold the tension of opposites:
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Mental health is more than a cluster of symptoms
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Science alone can no longer serve as our go-to Godhead
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Pleasure can heal but pain is always a necessary part of the process
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Consciousness cannot be reduced solely to synaptic connections
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Rinse and repeat just might be the destination
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To read about these in greater depth visit: https://integrativecounsel.
org/why-psychedelics-now/
It is important to note that though psychedelics can provide tremendous insight by inviting a broadening of perspectives, insight doesn’t necessarily mean change. Change takes place in the day-to-day. Change is a practice.
The path to psychological healing is inherently nonlinear and ever-unfolding. Frustratingly so. But, that is the point. Change requires doing something differently over and over again. Psychedelics can help foster tremendous insight and perspective. And, then, the work is to live these into reality.
A phrase that you will often hear in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is, “Go slow to go fast.” Preparation – including mindset (“set”) and the physical setting (“setting”) are paramount. Therefore, far from just “getting high”, a tremendous amount of thoughtfulness is required. Careful screening and preparation are crucial.
Rather than “dropping out”, we must “double down” in our discipline and awareness. The time is now for a coming together (an “integration”, a word often used in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy) of past and present, medicine and Art so that we can pave a new way.
What this means concretely is rigorous research with clear methodologies and ethics at the forefront and a focus on symptom reduction for amorphis mental health conditions. It means protecting Indigenous traditions and lands, interacting differently with the planet, and providing access to quality and affordable training for licensed professions and services for those in need.
There is a paramount need to build trust and legitimacy and prioritize the mitigation of risks at this time. Safe and responsible guidance through the psychedelic experience is not only possible, but just maybe how we can begin to “hold the tension of opposites”, necessary for all healing, growth, and relearning – individually and as a species.
* “Psychedelics, used responsibly and with proper caution, would be for psychiatry what the microscope is for biology and medicine or the telescope is for astronomy.” ~ Stanislav Grof
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