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About Psychedelic Integration Therapy
I help psychedelic explorers integrate their psychedelic experiences into their path of healing, growth, and spirituality through therapy.
What is Psychedelic Integration Therapy?
Psychedelic Integration Therapy is a one-on-one relationship with a therapist who helps facilitate meaning-making and healing from your psychedelic experiences.
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PIT will help you process your experiences with a variety of substances including ayahuasca, MDMA, San Pedro, psilocybin, and LSD, whether they be mystical, beautiful, profound, blissful, or difficult. PIT recognizes the value of psychedelic experiences on a person's wider therapeutic journey, and a PIT therapist knows how to help clients weave insights gained from psychedelic medicine into a wider psychotherapeutic path.
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PIT is distinct from Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy. A Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist will be with you during your psychedelic journey, whereas a PIT is only with you as you prepare and after your journey is over. To be clear: a PIT isn't with you while you are on the psychedelic journey itself.
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Even though I am trained in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, I only offer Psychedelic Integration Therapy because most psychedelic substances are currently illegal in my area outside of clinical trials.
What I Do As A Psychedelic Integration Therapist
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Build a therapeutic relationship with you using a diverse array of modalities, which may include Depth Hypnosis, Applied Shamanism, mindfulness, and IFS in addition to psychedelic integration
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Work with people who have made the personal choice to use psychedelics for healing purposes
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Work with people who are comfortable using psychedelics on their own, either by themselves or with a sitter or group facilitator
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Help you increase safety and reduce harm on your psychedelic journeys
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Help you make your own meaning out of your experiences, rather than interpreting your experiences for you
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Assist you as you weave insights and changes from your journeys into your life as a whole
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identify your goals and intentions for your healing process and life, and make meaning out of your psychedelic experiences within this context
What I Do Not Do As A Psychedelic Integration Therapist
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I do not advise you on whether or not you should take psychedelics
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I do not provide psychedelic substances to you or tell you where to get them
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I do not provide sitting or guide services (meaning I do not accompany you on a psychedelic journey)
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I do not work with severe or treatment-resistant cases, because I believe you are best served by a therapy team and someone who can sit with you during your psychedelic journeys. (This is not currently legal in the USA in most states for most substances outside of clinical trials)
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I don’t judge you for taking psychedelics or assume you have a drug problem
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In keeping with general confidentiality as a therapist, I will not divulge any information you give me about your substance use to the authorities (unless you reveal that you or another person is in danger)
Examples Of People I Can Help
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You have booked a San Pedro retreat in Peru led by experienced practitioners. You want a therapist who can help you set intentions before you leave and integrate your ceremonies into your wider therapeutic journey when you get home
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You just completed several underground ayahuasca ceremonies. They brought up some “stuff” you know you want to work on in therapy. You’re looking for a psychedelic-aware practitioner who will understand what you've been through
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You have been taking psilocybin mushrooms for several years recreationally. You are familiar with their effects. You would like to explore them for their healing benefits, and want to work with a therapist who will help you heal alongside these journeys
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You want to do therapy that uses mindful, psychedelic-like altered states such as hypnosis, shamanic journeying, and IFS, without actually using substances in session
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You are receiving ketamine infusions at a clinic under the care of a medical practitioner. You would like to work with a therapist who understands ketamine and can help you process what your experiences mean for your healing path
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You want a therapist who is psychedelic-aware, non-judgmental, and understands the healing and spiritual benefits of using psychedelic medicine, and who has the tools to help you make sense of your experiences for yourself
Examples Of People I Do Not Currently Help
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You read about psychedelic medicines in a book or article. You don't know much other than what you have read, but you and are excited to try them. You want to talk to an “expert” who will help you decide whether to take them and which ones to take
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You are looking for a trip sitter, facilitator, or psychedelic-assisted therapist, someone who will be there with you while you take psychedelics
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You're here to find out where to get psychedelics
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You have a severe or treatment-resistant mental health disorder and want to experience psychedelic healing. You want a practitioner who will help you learn how to do this on your own
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You may be wondering "why do you help some people but not others?" This is for both clinical and legal reasons. Psychedelics have been shown to be helpful in clinical trials. However, these clinical trials include medical supervision, legal protection, a designated treatment space, extensive screening, and a co-therapist team who are with you every step of the way. This extensive support is instrumental to the positive outcomes of the psychedelic experience. Since most psychedelic substances are not currently legal, the well-rounded support of a treatment team is not available to us. Psychedelics can bring up intense and difficult experiences. I do not feel comfortable working with people who do not have the support of a facilitator or a group, prior knowledge and experience with psychedelics, and/or medical supervision for severe or treatment-resistant issues. Perhaps legislation will change in favor of protecting psychedelic substances for healing purposes someday soon. In the meantime, I must uphold these boundaries. Thank you for understanding!
Training & Qualifications
Emma Donovan, MA, LPC, LCPC, completed the Integrative Psychiatry Institute's Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Certification Program and holds a certificate in PAT. She has also completed Fluence's "Psychedelic Integration: Premise and Promise" course, and the Sacred Stream's "Plant Medicine: Preparing and Integrating the Experience" course.
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Additionally, she is a Depth Hypnosis Practitioner, a Certified Applied Shamanic Counselor, is level 3 trained in IFS, and a Certified TRE Provider. She weaves all these trainings together to support the psychedelic integration experience, both virtually and in-person in her office in St. Louis, MO. If you're interested in PIT, please click the "request a consultation" button and mention your interest. ​
​**If you need immediate or trip-related help, the Fireside Project provides a free psychedelic support crisis line via call or text. Their number is (623) 473-7433.
