Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

What Is Psychedelic Therapy?

Most of us go through our lives so consumed with day-to-day demands—our work, our extracurriculars, our daily stressors, and our social obligations—that we lose sight of our connection to the greater universe. We tend to forget that we are part of a cosmic process that extends far beyond our little bubbles of stress.

Psychedelic therapy is a way of tapping into our greater purpose and reconnecting with our place in the universe. It can help us zoom out and see our lives from a bird’s eye view. We can acquire a more nuanced understanding of our mental health as well as a deeper awareness of the role spirituality plays in our lives.

While many people associate psychedelics with acid trips and the 60s counterculture, the truth is that psychedelic therapy is safe, lawful, and evidence-based. At Valmente Wellness and Healing Center, we’re proud to offer this unique approach to clients who have not found healing through traditional therapy methods. Thanks to the power of psychedelic-assisted therapy, we’ve helped clients suffering from numerous mental health challenges find healing, growth, and relief.

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What Makes Psychedelic Therapy So Effective?

The psychedelic journey allows us to expand our self-awareness and connect with a deeper level of spirituality, and there is scientific proof to back this up. Certain psychedelics have been shown to enhance neuroplasticity, which refers to the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways and adapt over time (1).

Psychedelics can also open “critical windows” for connection that normally shut down in our youth. When most of us are adolescents, our critical window for connection opens and we develop many of the relationship-building skills that will define the rest of our lives. As we age, this critical window closes. Yet neuroscientists have now proven that psychedelics can reopen this critical window years after it’s closed, reinvigorating our ability to form meaningful relationships (2).

Some psychedelics, like mushrooms containing psilocybin, have also been shown to have very strong anti-inflammatory properties that might help us combat the ravages of chronic stress in our lives (3).

Additionally, there is a wealth of research surrounding psychedelic therapy’s ability to help with treatment-resistant conditions, meaning mental health issues that haven’t responded to other types of medicine and treatment (4). And now that psychedelic therapy is legal in the state of Colorado, many people who couldn’t find relief through medication or standard therapy can reap the benefits of this unique and potentially life-changing approach.

How Does Psychedelic Therapy Work?

At Valmente Wellness and Healing Center, we offer psychedelic-assisted therapy to clients struggling with depression, trauma, chronic pain, death anxiety, and many other emotional, behavioral, and spiritual challenges. Per Colorado law, we provide psychedelic therapy in three stages: preparation, administration, and integration. Each of these stages is broken down below:

Preparation—After a thorough screening is done to ensure that you’re a good candidate for psychedelic therapy, we will begin the preparation phase of treatment. We’ll teach you about how psychedelic medicines work and answer any questions you have about treatment. Additionally, we can even provide medication management if you’d like to taper or alter your current medication regimen because of psychedelic treatment.
Most importantly, we’ll help you set an intention for your psychedelic journey—and this could be anything from “I want to reduce my stress” to “I want to connect with my spirituality on a deeper level.” We will also work together to create a setting for your journey that will feel safe and meaningful to you.

Administration—Our therapists often refer to the administration process as ceremonial, because the psychedelic journey is sacred. After all, this is far different than a spa treatment or a therapy session—it’s a highly personalized journey with an opening ceremony and a closing ceremony to bookend the medicinal process.
The administration session generally takes place over the course of a whole day, and the only requirement is that you fast for four hours before arriving. After some opening therapeutic work, you will take the medicine and relax while your therapist stays with you to ensure you are safe and comfortable. You’ll have the option to wear a blindfold or a sleep mask if you want and there will most likely be music (chosen from a playlist that we’ll create together) to accompany your journey. You are also welcome to incorporate poetry or another interest of your choosing.

Integration—The focus here will be on developing practices to carry over what you learned in the medicine journey. We’ll discuss what insights came forward during the process and explore how the medicine journey reflected your original intention. Integration is the heart of psychedelic therapy, as it helps you go from having one eye-opening experience (the administration session) to implementing real change in your life.

All of our therapeutic work is done in conjunction with a licensed psychiatrist who will oversee your medication management during treatment. And for clients who want to do their healing work in an accelerated format, we’re happy to offer intensive psychedelic therapy, which allows you to meet with your therapist for several hours a day for 4 to 14 days.

Why Should You Choose Psychedelic Therapy With Valmente?

There are many practitioners offering psychedelic therapy throughout Colorado, but not all of them are licensed. At Valmente, our resident therapist, Alisa Hannum, is licensed as a clinical natural medicine facilitator in the state of Colorado. She has trained with Elemental Psychedelics, which is a DORA (Department of Regulatory Agencies)-approved program.

Dr. Julia Hajibrahim, our licensed psychiatrist (MD), has extensive experience conducting medication management associated with psychedelic-assisted therapy. Between her medicinal knowledge and Dr. Alisa’s acumen at providing therapeutic support, we are confident that we can help you find healing and growth through the power of psilocybin-assisted treatment.

Reduce Your Stress, Connect With Your Purpose, And Experience Healing

Pursuing psychedelic therapy requires courage and a willingness to dive deep into the root causes of your emotional and spiritual challenges. But for those who are committed to healing, the results can be truly life-changing. Many of our clients walk away from psychedelic therapy with a renewed perspective, a deeper sense of spirituality, and a stronger belief in their ability to handle life’s challenges. We want you to experience the same thing.

If you want to begin your journey toward healing and wellness today, we encourage you to use the contact form or call (719) 755-4190. We look forward to working with you!

https://bmcneurosci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/
s12868-023-00809-0#:~:text=It%20has%20recently%20been%20
discovered%20that%20psychedelic%20drugs,
synapses%2C%20and%20changes%20in%20the
%20dendritic%20arbor%20%5B1%5D
https://neurosciencenews.com/psychedelics-social-learning-23466/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109232
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/06/psychedelics-as-medicine

Psychedelic Therapy Colorado Springs, CO

5585 Erindale Drive, Ste 203,
Colorado Springs, CO 90918