Plant Medicine & Psychedelic Therapy Preparation in Santa Barbara, Ojai & Ventura — Laying the Groundwork for Safe, Intentional Healing
Embarking on a journey with plant medicine or psychedelic-assisted therapy is a powerful step toward emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth. Thoughtful preparation ensures the experience is held with safety, clarity, and intention.
Bridging Clinical Expertise with Ancient Traditions
I’ve completed advanced training in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI), with a focus on ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin therapies.
My clinical training is complemented by evidence-based and experiential practices—including mindfulness, meditation, polyvagal theory, and nervous system regulation, bridging contemporary psychological science with the wisdom and spiritual depth of ceremonial traditions. This integrative approach honors both evidence-based practice and the transformative power of sacred medicine work.
Why Preparation Matters
Psychedelic and plant medicines often heighten emotional and somatic awareness, bringing deep material to the surface. Preparation helps:
Clarify your intentions, desires and therapeutic goals
Cultivate emotional and nervous system resilience
Create the foundation for meaningful and transformative experience
Connect with trust, safety, and presence before entering the journey
Preparation includes key elements to support your journey:
Set (Mindset): Enter with openness, clear intentions, and emotional readiness.
Setting (Environment): Choose a calm, safe, and comfortable space.
Support: Have a trusted guide or therapist present.
Health: Be physically and emotionally prepared — well-rested, nourished, and grounded.
Plant Medicine and Expanded States of Consciousness
Plant medicines, such as psilocybin, ayahuasca, and San Pedro, have been used for centuries in Indigenous traditions as tools for healing, insight, and spiritual awakening.
In contemporary therapeutic contexts, they are recognized for their ability to facilitate expanded states of consciousness, offering access to deep emotional and psychological material that is often difficult to reach through conventional talk therapy.
The mechanisms of transformation can be understood through several theoretical lenses:
Transpersonal Psychology: Explores experiences that transcend the ego, supporting self-transcendence, meaning-making, and spiritual insight. Figures such as Psychiatrist and researcher, Stanislav Grof and neuroscientist, Robin Carhart-Harris have documented how non-ordinary states can catalyze profound healing.
Neuroplasticity Theory: Psychedelic-assisted therapy has been shown to enhance the brain’s capacity for new neural connections, allowing clients to reframe rigid thought patterns and integrate adaptive coping strategies.
Buddhist and Mindfulness Frameworks: Practices that cultivate present-moment awareness and non-attachment help clients integrate insights from altered states into everyday life, fostering sustained transformation.
Psychedelic & Plant Medicine Integration in Santa Barbara, Ojai & Ventura — Transforming Insight into Lasting Healing
Psychedelic and plant medicine journeys can unlock deep emotional truths, memories, and spiritual insights. But without proper integration, these revelations may remain fragmented—limiting their potential for real, sustained growth.
Why Integration Matters
Integration bridges the gap between expanded states of consciousness and everyday life. It supports:
Emotional processing – Making sense of intense or complex material
Grounded growth – Applying insights in practical, life-affirming ways
Lasting change – Preventing regression into old patterns
Embodiment – Deepening self-awareness and nervous system regulation
