Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Grief and Trauma: Honoring the Mazatec
First, let’s honor the indigenous roots of the psychedelic movement.
Visit The Chacruna Institute to learn about reciprocity and make a financial donation.
The Mazatec and Exploitation of Sacred Knowledge
I do my best to write about psilocybin and the culture around the sacred mushroom with respect and humility. If you have the energy to correct me, please send edits to info@carlypollacktherapy.com. Thank you.
The use of psychedelic substances like psilocybin has a rich history, dating back to indigenous civilizations.
The Mazatec people, indigenous to the Sierra Mazateca region of Oaxaca, Mexico, have a profound and enduring relationship with psilocybin mushrooms.
Central to Mazatec culture is the concept of the velada, a ceremonial context for the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms, guided by experienced shamans or curanderas.
María Sabina, a revered Mazatec curandera, gained international recognition for her work with psilocybin. She if often quoted (sometimes incorrectly) in psychedelic content. However, outright theft, lies, and White supremacy violently impacted her life and led to the exploitation of Mazatec traditions.
The surge of Westerners seeking psychedelic experiences, fueled by the exploitation of psilocybin by white figures like R. Gordon Wasson, disrupted the traditional context of Mazatec ceremonies. Wasson, in his book "Mushrooms, Russia, and History," openly named María Sabina, bringing unprecedented attention to her and her community.
This exposure led to immense disruption and distress on the Mazatec people and their cultural practices. Tragically, the publicity surrounding Sabina resulted in the burning of her home by members of her own community, ultimately contributing to her solitary and malnourished death in 1985.
Overt and covert exploitation of indigenous knowledge and practices by oppressors is a critical issue that must be acknowledged.
While Wasson's work contributed to the scientific understanding of these substances, his approach lacked cultural sensitivity and respect for Mazatec traditions.
The Mazatec people's knowledge and practices have been invaluable in the ongoing exploration of these substances, and their contributions should be acknowledged and honored.
By understanding the historical context of psychedelic exploration, we can work towards a more ethical and responsible approach that honors the cultures before us.
Again, visit the Chacruna Institute at https://chacruna.net for more.
How The Mental Health World Has Profited
Today, a growing body of scientific research is exploring the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) to address a range of mental health conditions.
Psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, has shown promise in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.
When combined with psychotherapy, it can facilitate profound shifts in perspective, emotional processing, and overall well-being.
As the benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy gain wider recognition, it is essential to consider the potential challenges and ethical implications of commercialization.
While increased accessibility is a positive development, it is crucial to prioritize patient well-being and avoid exploitative practices.
Concerns include:
Profit-driven motives: Prioritizing financial gain over patient care.
Oversimplification of the therapeutic process: Reducing complex experiences to a standardized, commercialized product.
Inequitable access: Potential disparities in access to treatment based on socioeconomic factors.
Cultural appropriation: Misuse or misrepresentation of indigenous knowledge and practices.
To mitigate these risks, it is imperative to support research and development that prioritizes patient safety, efficacy, and accessibility.
Additionally, fostering collaboration between the scientific, clinical, and indigenous communities is essential for ensuring that the benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy are shared equitably.
How Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Might Work
Psilocybin-assisted therapy is a structured approach that might involve:
Preparation: Involves several therapy sessions to establish a therapeutic relationship, discuss expectations, and address any concerns.
Psilocybin Session: This is a supervised setting where the individual consumes psilocybin under the guidance of trained therapists. The experience can be deeply transformative, often leading to profound insights and emotional release.
Integration: Post-session therapy sessions focus on processing the experience, integrating learnings into daily life, and solidifying the therapeutic gains.
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Grief and Loss
Grief is a complex and sometimes overwhelming emotion. Psilocybin-assisted therapy can offer a supportive environment for individuals to process their grief and find meaning in their loss.
By facilitating a deep connection to emotions and memories, PAT can help individuals:
Process Unresolved Grief: Explore and release suppressed emotions related to loss.
Find Meaning: Discover new perspectives and find purpose in the face of loss.
Reconnect with Loved Ones: Experience a sense of connection with deceased loved ones, offering comfort and closure.
Integrate Loss into Life: Develop strategies for incorporating grief into daily life without being consumed by it.
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have a profound impact on an individual's life.
Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown promise in helping individuals with PTSD by:
Accessing Traumatic Memories: Creating a safe space to revisit and process traumatic memories.
Reducing Emotional Reactivity: Diminishing the intensity of emotional responses to triggers.
Increasing Resilience: Building coping mechanisms and resilience to manage future stressors.
Finding Meaning: Helping individuals find meaning in their experiences and develop a sense of purpose.
Set and Setting: The Foundation for a Meaningful Experience
A crucial aspect of any psychedelic experience, including psilocybin-assisted therapy, is the concept of "set and setting."
This refers to the individual's mindset (set) and the physical and social environment (setting) in which the experience occurs.
The Role of the Client: Cultivating a Welcoming Mindset
The client's mindset, or "set," is a critical component of a successful psilocybin-assisted therapy experience.
Factors influencing the client's set include:
Intentions: Broad but meaningful expectations for the journey. These can be worked out with your therapist.
Emotional state: A sense of openness, curiosity, and willingness to explore.
Grounding practices: Prior experience with somatic grounding or mindfulness can support the journey.
Therapeutic alliance: Trust and rapport with the therapist.
By cultivating a neutral and open mindset, the client can maximize the potential benefits of the experience.
The Role of the Therapist: Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment
The therapist plays a crucial role in establishing the "setting" for the psilocybin experience. This includes:
Physical environment: Creating a comfortable, safe, and private space for the session.
Doing The Work: Ask your therapist about their own experiences with psilocybin, along with how they maintain a beginners mind and stay up to date with trainings
Therapeutic relationship: Building a strong therapeutic alliance based on trust and empathy.
Session structure: Providing clear guidelines and expectations for the session.
Loving Presence/Support: Offering continuous support and guidance throughout the experience.
The therapist's presence and expertise contribute to a sense of safety and security, allowing the client to fully engage in the therapeutic process.
The Future of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy
The potential benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy for grief, trauma and PTSD, depression, anxiety, and longevity are promising.
As legalization and acceptance of psychedelic substances increase, it is likely that PAT will become a more widely available and accepted form of treatment for various mental health conditions.
By honoring the indigenous roots of psilocybin and approaching this work with respect and humility, we can harness the power of psilocybin to support individuals on their journeys through grief and trauma.
With collaboration, curiosity, respect, reciprocity and compassion, we can use psilocybin-assisted therapy to create a healthier and more connected world.
If you’re curious about psilocybin assisted therapy, reach out and schedule a consultation call today. We can talk about what you’re looking for and how I might be able to support you.
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended to provide information and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health or well-being. As with any therapeutic approach, individual experiences may vary, and it's essential to consult with a qualified mental health professional to determine if PAT is right for you.
Citations:
Ross, S., Guss, J., Wallach, M. D., & Beutel, D. (2023). Psilocybin-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Johnson, M. W., Griffiths, R. R., & Richards, W. A. (2017). Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
https://www.ttbook.org/interview/tragic-story-maria-sabinas-sacred-mushrooms
https://chacruna.net/maria-sabina-mushrooms-and-colonial-extractivism/
