Intero Psychedelic Therapy

"I want to share my experience (so far) with psychedelic-assisted therapy for my depression and PTSD to help bring light to the experience for others open to learning about alternative mental health treatments. I first heard about it at a national conference when a keynote speaker said he believes psychedelics are the future of psychiatry. Then I read it in The Myth of Normal when Dr. Gabor Mate said his ayahuasca experience changed his whole perspective on drugs, medication, and therapy. So I called Intero Psychedelic Therapy here in MN and started w my therapist, Alex. We have been meeting almost weekly since August to discuss why I'm seeking help and what I'm hoping to get. This therapy is big on intentionality, and my intention has been "to feel the contentment of being calm near a lake, in all aspects of my life." Two months of meetings were like normal talk therapy and why I feel discontent or methods to regulate, and then I got to my birthday when we met for a ketamine-induced session together. I was in a sensory-controlled space (headphones, eye mask, blanket in a dim, calming therapist's office) when the doctor came to give me a shot of ketamine. I was transported to the Northwoods of MN and immediately met by a little girl who I knew was my Grandma (see AI image for my best representation of the trip). We spent the next hour walking in the woods. I kept asking where we are going, whats the point, why are we here, and she kept reassuring me that we don't need all the answers, we can just be. We are safe, we have everything we need, things will be exactly as they are meant to be. I felt interconnected with the woods around us, I felt my intuition to trust her and set aside my analytical anxiety of all the bad that could happen. I felt perspective on my life and all the cliches of presence, gratitude, and knowing that everything in the world has a spirit and a purpose were truly felt, not just heard. It was the contentment I was seeking. My therapist took notes the whole time and for the next 3-4 weeks, we will be reviewing quotes and themes from the things I told him, and finding ways to incorporate those into my real life. Psychedelic therapy is still in its infancy, but they are finding the best results aren't just from the medicine session, but from the processing that comes after it, so while I feel changed now, I'm excited to see the long-term effects I might gain in the coming weeks."

"So helpful. This type of alternative psychiatric care needs to be more accessible. I can’t say enough good things about the folks here, and I look forward to our culture widely accepting psychedelic assisted therapy as a legitimate and transformational practice."