Mental health

Psychedelic integration therapy: Processing the experience

Published January 20, 2025 · 7 min read · Updated April 2026

Reviewed for accuracy by licensed clinical professionals.

Psychedelic integration therapy helps people process, understand, and apply insights from psychedelic experiences, whether from clinical trials, legal services (Oregon, Colorado), or personal use.

What integration is

Therapy sessions (before and after psychedelic experiences) that help translate the experience into lasting behavioral change. The psychedelic experience is the catalyst; integration is the work that creates change.

What happens in sessions

Processing the emotional and visual content of the experience. Identifying themes and insights. Connecting insights to real-life behavioral changes. Working through difficult or challenging aspects of the experience. Maintaining motivation for changes identified during the experience.

Who provides it

Licensed therapists with specialized training in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Directories: MAPS therapist directory, Psychedelic Support. Note: therapists cannot legally provide psychedelics (except in licensed Oregon/Colorado settings); they help process experiences that have already occurred.

Authoritative sources

This article references guidelines from: NIH · NAMI · APA

Frequently asked questions

What is psychedelic integration?

Therapy that helps process and apply insights from psychedelic experiences, translating the experience into lasting behavioral and psychological change.

Do I need integration after a psychedelic experience?

Integration significantly improves outcomes. Without it, insights from the experience often fade without producing lasting change.

Is psychedelic integration legal?

Yes. Therapists can legally help process experiences. They cannot legally provide psychedelics (with limited exceptions in OR and CO).

Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. SAMHSA: 1-800-662-4357.