Choose Your Guide Well for Psilocybin Therapy

One of the first sec 56 exemptions Nov 2020.

I was deeply touched to be among the first therapists in Canada offering government-approved Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for those with Sec 56 exemptions. It was an incredible experience to be present with individuals as they journey through expanded states of consciousness. You can read more about one of these experiences in this Vice article, where I co-sat for a woman with depression who became very passionate about sharing publicly about her experience.

In December 2021, the government shifted its approach, announcing that applications should now go through the Special Access Program (SAP) instead of the Sec 56 exemptions. This means that a medical doctor can request access to Psilocybin Therapy for someone with a serious illness—such as Major Depression—who has already tried other forms of treatment. While some have received approval, the application process is quite arduous, and legal approvals have been slow.

Psilocybin Therapy is unlike traditional therapy. It offers a chance to enter a space beneath the words and tap into a deeper wisdom—one that comes from our emotions, sensations, and even the pain or tensions that lie hidden beneath the surface. These treatment is not a traditional medical treatment in the usual sense. The power of the plant medicine helps us access parts of ourselves that are often inaccessible in day-to-day life.

As with any transformative experience, it's essential to be steady enough in your life to fully benefit from the journey. These experiences can stir up unresolved material from the past, leaving us feeling vulnerable or even raw.

Having my background in psychotherapy, I firmly believe that the true integration of expanded states requires careful preparation. Activating these states with the help of plant medicine can be immensely powerful, but there’s a responsibility for therapists to work ethically, professionally, and most importantly—heart-centered. This is a delicate space, especially in an environment full of hype around psychedelics, where the focus often shifts to the promise of something happening to you, rather than the work you can do with the plant medicine’s support. It's easy to get caught up in the idea of a "quick fix," but the real magic of a journey lies in the work of self-exploration, self-healing, and emotional expression.

As Kylea Taylor has wisely pointed out in her book "The Ethics of Caring", we need to remember that expanded states aren't a shortcut to bypass the deeper emotional work of therapy—they are tools that, when used properly, can help bring to light suppressed attachments, wounds, and long-buried truths. Like traditional therapy, which progresses at a pace the ego can integrate, psilocybin work helps you see and feel things that have often been hidden or suppressed—exposing attachment wounds, showing you how you've adapted to compromised care, and revealing what you need to return to a sense of inner flow. The integration process is about nurturing these new insights and allowing them to take root in the body, mind, and soul.

Drawing from the wisdom of original traditions, many indigenous cultures have long used expanded states—through dance, song, or psychotropic plant medicines—to access deeper wisdom and reawaken the sacred essence of life. These cultures have a natural understanding of how to navigate these spaces, rooted in ancient traditions that respect the preparation and integration phases of such journeys. Unfortunately, in the modern West, many of us are disconnected from these ancestral roots. As a result, people are increasingly turning to trusted therapists and guides to help them navigate the profound realms that plant medicine opens up.

However, as Kylea Taylor emphasizes, we need to be thoughtful in choosing a guide. Traditional communities typically chose their healers, individuals who had earned that trust through deep personal work, humility, and a demonstrated capacity to hold sacred space. In contrast, today there’s a growing pressure to “become a healer” quickly, often without the full guidance or spiritual maturity necessary to hold space with presence and humility. This rush—driven by financial pressures and a sense of urgency—can lead to unintended consequences. It is crucial to seek out those who are grounded, have done a solid amount their own inner work, and approach this process with reverence. The quality of the space you are held in matters immensely for your healing journey.

In addition to supporting people through legal journeys, I’m also committed to providing integration sessions for those who’ve returned from difficult or confusing plant medicine journeys of any sort. Sometimes, these experiences are not held in the proper setting or with the necessary reverence, and I understand how disorienting and challenging that can be. I’ve been blessed to work alongside some deeply grounded mentors, which has provided me with the experience to help others as they re-establish trust with their bodies and reconnect with their healing intelligence. My role is to create a safe, brave space for this process, one rooted in gentleness and curiosity.

Psilocybin journeys are transformational, but they require a holistic, compassionate approach to be truly healing. The real magic lies not in seeking a fix, but in learning to trust the journey, embracing the rawness that it can bring, and integrating the revelations it offers. I feel deeply honored to assist people on this journey, helping them navigate the vulnerability and the wisdom that comes with it.

Finally, I’m excited to also be teaching at UVIC, where I’m training new graduates in this emerging field. I can't emphasize enough that as the field of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy continues to evolve, it's vital that we all approach this work with integrity, mindfulness, and deep respect for the transformative power of these substances. I know for myself, I still do regular therapy and ongoing collegial intervision.

For more on what a psilocybin session is like, I recommend watching Bill Richards'  What is a Psilocybin Session like? which gives a valuable insight into the approach.