Robin Kurland-West - Questions and Challenges in Providing Integration Services

• Psychedelic Support
• Psychology Today
• About Robin Kurland-West

• • She offers integration services through her therapy practice.

  • Robin had questions about how to create an introduction practice and how to follow up.

  • She was licensed in 2010 and graduated from the California Institue of Integral Studies in 2006.

  • About a year ago she decided to do a karma cleanse and began to talk to a friend about psychedelics.

  • Her friend sent her a podcast that spoke to her.

  • She was doing some shadow work and dealing with her addiction experiences.

• She said a prayer over the psilocybin and was open to what it would show her.

• A spirit appeared and the forest started sending her messages.

• It was a female spirit and used two trees to illustrate the inside of her brain.

• It taught her that her mind was holding onto negative beliefs.

• She taught her that she needed to let go, that it was “all so absurd.”

• What has been the difference between experimenting in college vs. doing the work as an adult?

• In college, it was seen as a party drug.

• She had a hard time having conversations with people.

• She doesn’t see it as a party drug anymore, it’s something that you honor.

• She now views it as a medicine that heals parts that have been cut off.

• Having had a history of addiction, some people are afraid psychedelics might be addictive.

• Psychedelics are non-addictive because other drugs are about escaping, and psychedelics are about being fully present.

• What is integration work for you and how do you approach it?

• This is new territory for her after having her own experience.

• She joined a network called the psychedelic support network.

• Because it’s not yet legal, it’s a bit of a struggle.

• She offers pre and post ritual services.

• People meet with her and do a pretty thorough assessment.

• They set the intention for the experience.

• Afterward they look at what some of the messages were and how to incorporate it into their daily lives.

• Do you help with dosage?

• She focuses more on intention setting because she’s still new at this.

• She refers people to resources to help with other things.

• Is there a therapeutic approach you use with people?

• She uses expressive arts therapy to tap into the unconscious and subconscious.

• She always uses family systems, there’s usually a root to behavior.

• She uses CBT and DBT.

• She uses journaling and narrative therapy.

• It’s an opportunity to rewrite your story - a new perspective to an old story.

• She uses mandala work and drawing.

• She has them stand up and move around.

• Utilizing movement to integrate is huge.

• After having her profound experience with psychedelics, she finds it to be a warm blanket she can reach for to remind you that things are different now.

• What type of challenges have you had providing integration services to people?

• She wants to know how soon she should see a client after they start on this journey.

• How many times should she see a client after, and how many times?

• It could be more individual.

• She started to do psychotherapy to go deep and heal.

• It’s possible to put your medical license at risk by providing certain services.

• She can’t sit with people when they have their experience and has to be clear that it’s a decision that they’re making.

• She has to detach herself from a lot of it.

• She likes the idea of immediacy in following up with clients.

• She sees a client 3-4 times beforehand to make sure they’re healthy enough and set intention.

• Afterward she wants to see them soon so they can hold onto the gold they discovered in the journey.

• How do you choose the right psychedelic experience for a person?

• The idea of doing a diagnosis to find out what will work is tricky.

• Throw it back on the person to see what they’re looking for.

• It’s not a scary experience, but you want to make sure you’re with someone who’s trained.

• There’s a couple that wants to come in and do integration therapy together.

• She wants to meet with them individually and together beforehand.

• People are in therapy to discover themselves and they might find something different than they’ve been looking for.

• How do you approach people who think integration specialists can get them drugs or be a guide during experiences?

• She says it isn’t about her telling them to use illicit drugs and she doesn’t do drugs with them or hook them up.

• The difference between integration therapy and a guide:

• A guide is someone you trust who sits with you.

• An integration therapist is just pre and post where she’s not involved in the drug.

• Have you had any clients reach out trying to integrate a really difficult experience?

• Not yet, but she’s looking forward to it.

• She would ask questions about what they saw and felt.

• She would bring in the arts to map it out and they can look at it together.

• You can have a psychedelic experience without having psychedelics.

• Is there anything you’re looking forward to with clients?

• In traditional therapy right now, she’s coming up against blockage in some of her clients.

• She sees a lot of people being stuck, and that’s the hardest part.

• She’s excited to see the light turn back on in people’s eyes and see them be healed.

• She wants to see people be present with themselves and each other so they can have a fuller life.

• How do you approach therapy and coaching?

• She just does the psychotherapy, asking questions.

• She appeals to a clients inner resources.

• Do you do any online work?

• She only does in-person work, every once in a while she does a phone session.

• She works holistically, so people don’t just focus on the mind, also the body and the spirit.

• Do you get people reaching out from all over the place?

• Yes, because her name is on the psychedelic support list.

• She filled out an application and had some correspondence with the organization.

• What are some of your favorite podcasts and resources?

• The Psychedelic Salon Podcast

• 8 Common Psychedelic Mistakes Course

• Erowid Archive

• Where to find Robin online

• Find her on PsychologyToday.com

• psychedelic.support

• I don’t see psychedelics as a party drug anymore, it’s something that you honor, a medicine.

• I like to see my clients soon after their experience so they can hold onto the gold they discovered on their journey.

• People are in therapy to discover themselves and they might find something different than they’ve been looking for.

• So, You Want to Find a Psychedelic Guide - Article

• Psychedelics Today Episode with Katherine MacLean

• Joe Rogan Experience interviewing Amber Lyon

• 8 Common Psychedelic Mistakes Course

• Erowid Archive

• The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide - Risks, Micro-Dosing, Ibogaine, and More