History & Origin
About Psychedelic Integration Therapy
Psychedelic Integration Therapy is a specialised psychotherapeutic practice focused on supporting individuals in making meaning from, and therapeutically processing, non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by psychedelic substances.
Psychedelic Integration emerged as a distinct therapeutic specialty in the 2010s as psychedelic research resumed internationally after decades of prohibition. The historical context includes: the first wave of clinical psychedelic research (1950s–1960s) which was largely curtailed by the scheduling of LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA; the gradual resumption of clinical trials from the 2000s onwards (led by institutions including Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, and MAPS); and the growing recognition that psychedelic experiences — whether in clinical, ceremonial, or personal contexts — require skilled therapeutic support for optimal outcomes. Organisations such as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), the Psychedelic Integration List, and the Psychedelic Support network established practitioner directories and training guidelines. Integration therapists typically hold conventional psychotherapy credentials supplemented by specialised training in psychedelic-specific protocols. The field bridges clinical psychedelic medicine, traditional plant medicine contexts, and harm reduction approaches.
