Integration is the term given to the unfolding process a person goes through after a peak experience. This can take the form of thinking about, learning from, and working through whatever occurred. Integration is the way that a person can shift their perspective away from a single, mountain top moment, to a consideration of how this moment impacted, and continues to impact their lives. Research1 shows that integration is a key factor in getting the most out of a psychedelic experiences like KAP.

Integration is done at a number of levels, starting before someone even arrives in an office. This begins with Set and Setting: The mindset a person takes into an experience, and the setting in which it takes place. A person has the capacity to set goals, intentions, and evaluate their mindset leading up to something, and comes to a KAP provider like myself to ensure a safe setting in which to be present. Integration continues after the medicine as the individual finds words to describe what took place, and from there begins to interpret meaning in the moments, days, and weeks following.

Many people integrate and process an experience through the use of journaling and self reflection. Others find movement, walking, and yoga ways to connect to their physical bodies with a new level of insight. And as is true for most of us, a connection to nature and the healthy world around us can further facilitate a setting in which we can learn and grow safely.

1Gorman, I., Nielson, E. M., Molinar, A., Cassidy, K., and Sabbagh, J. (2021). Psychedelic harm reduction and integration: a transtheoretical model for clinical practice. Front. Psychol. 12:645246. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645246