Three Benefits of Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP)

Exploring Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) – A New Paradigm in Psychedelic Healing

If you've experienced trauma, imagine what might happen if your body were finally allowed the corrective experiences it needs to heal from within. Most of us aren’t aware that this possibility of self-correction exists, as our busy minds often block this kind of inquiry. The “logic-minded” part of us tends to resist uncertainty.

Now, picture feeling the weight and temporary discomfort of stored trauma rising in your body—but this time, you're not alone. You’re in a safe, therapeutic space with a skilled therapist offering steady, attuned support as memories and emotions surface. In this setting, with cognitive defenses lowered, the worst from your past can be re-experienced and integrated, freeing you from what once felt unbearable. In this shared space, healing becomes possible—a path back to yourself, anchored by genuine connection.

Will it be uncomfortable at times? Likely, but only temporarily. Recovery from overwhelming experiences requires us to feel and process what we've held inside.

As psychedelic-assisted therapies evolve, the Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) offers a unique approach to treating unresolved trauma stored in the body.

Unlike traditional sitter models or group ceremonial settings focused on unity consciousness, transcendence, or mysticism, PSIP delves into stored trauma, accessing dissociative layers where intense experiences are hidden. Other psychedelic models and experiences each serve a valuable purpose and are not discredited here; there is certainly room for a range of approaches to improving mental and emotional health with the assistance of psychedelics.

Here are the three primary focal points of PSIP that set it apart from other psychedelic therapies:

1. Emphasis on the Personal and Biographical (Psychobiological material)

PSIP does not aim to dissolve personal identity or create a mystical experience of unity consciousness. Instead, it values the individual's biographical human experience. Why? We question whether spiritual realization can undo early childhood or developmental trauma. Psychedelic experiences geared toward unity consciousness may offer glimpses of the divine or touch states of bliss, yet these experiences often leave unresolved relational wounds untouched in a dissociative state. For example, insecure attachment—often formed in childhood—cannot be undone by simply "knowing the face of god." PSIP acknowledges that such wounds require relational work to truly heal.

2. Addressing Dissociation as a Biological Defense

Dissociation is a common, biological response to trauma, often acting as a protective mechanism that numbs us to overwhelming emotions or memories. This dissociative response can interfere with both traditional and psychedelic therapies, as well as accessing and reconsolidating traumatic memories. Endogenous opioids, which are naturally released during dissociation, can essentially numb the individual, making therapy ineffective and sometimes leaving one feeling unaffected by psychedelics. This phenomenon may be familiar to those who have felt “sober” or “unaltered” during a psychedelic experience. PSIP prioritizes working through dissociation by routinely associating to what has been dissociated from, allowing clients to access and heal trauma effectively. 

3. The Therapist as an Active, Relational Participant

In PSIP, the therapist’s role is highly engaged and participatory, contrasting with the more passive presence often seen in traditional psychedelic therapies. The therapist becomes a relational ally, providing corrective experiences through compassionate touch, attunement, and protection. This relational depth allows clients to address deep-seated relational wounds, often revisiting painful memories in which they felt abandoned, unseen, or unsafe. In these moments, the therapist stands in as a vehicle for the client’s projected pain, allowing space for profound healing to occur.

This body-centered, relational approach not only supports profound healing but also integrates trauma in a way that fosters lasting wholeness, reconnecting people to themselves and to life—enhancing the impact of other psychedelic-assisted approaches focused on transpersonal states.

If you're interested in exploring whether the PSIP modality is right for you, we encourage you to reach out for a consultation call.