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Hi, it’s Elizabeth here with this month’s Co-Founders’ Corner. Let's start this edition with a question: What should you do when your clients choose psychedelics?
As the co-founder of the leading psychedelic therapy training organization, I’ve witnessed an important shift in mental health treatment; therapists are increasingly encountering clients who use psychedelic substances.
While clinical trials and state-sanctioned programs dominate headlines, the growing prevalence of psychedelic use in ceremonial and peer-group settings is an equally significant phenomenon and one that presents both challenges and opportunities for therapists working in this field.
Psychedelics generally have a different risk profile compared to substances like alcohol or opioids. However, they can still lead to psychological challenges such as emotional distress, paranoia, or spiritual crises.
For individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions, the risks may include exacerbation of symptoms or even loss of touch with reality. For those with chronic conditions and ongoing medication needs, the risks of drug interactions or medication changes must be carefully evaluated by a prescriber.
So, what can you–the therapist–do to help clients who are choosing psychedelics? The answer lies in acknowledging potential harm as a basis for conversation and a starting point for mitigation.
Once seen as a radical departure from abstinence-based models of working with people who use drugs, harm reduction is now widely recognized as a compassionate and pragmatic approach and is embraced by clinicians and public health authorities.
Specifically, our unique approach—Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) therapy—acknowledges the risks and equips therapists with tools to help minimize them while supporting clients' autonomy.
PHRI therapists engage with clients nonjudgmentally, fostering trust and open communication. Instead of ignoring or condemning psychedelic use, PHRI emphasizes safety, ethics, intentions, openness, curiosity, and integration. It can reduce the likelihood of adverse outcomes through preparation and psychoeducation and help patients derive meaningful insights from their experiences.
In conclusion, the use of psychedelics can present serious risks, but harm reduction models such as PHRI provide therapists with the tools to help—fostering open and honest discussions, safer psychedelic experiences, and the client's own long-term goals.
Learn more about harm reduction on our upcoming webinar, ‘How to Support Clients Who Choose Psychedelics’, with Joshua White, Psychedelic Coach and Founder of the Fireside Project.
Thanks,
Elizabeth Nielson, Fluence Co-Founder
Alexander Camargo, PsyD, a New York City-based psychologist, specializes in psychedelic harm reduction and integration and is one the expert Fluence trainers on our upcoming Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration Therapy program.
Alex supports clients through all phases of psychedelic experiences—preparation, insight incorporation, and post-experience challenges. His work bridges cutting-edge therapeutic practices with deep clinical expertise.
He is also a trained psilocybin therapist and has served as a lead therapist on an investigator-initiated clinical trial of psilocybin for Body Dysmorphic Disorder at the New York Psychiatric Institute.
In addition, Alex is the Fluence Certificate Program Admissions Director and hosts our monthly Open House events. These are fantastic events where anyone can join and learn about our upcoming courses, how to get started with psychedelic therapy, or how to become professionally certified.
Alex’s next Open House will be on March 7th at Noon EST. Why not join the event and find out how you can take the next steps in your psychedelic therapy journey?
As Elizabeth discussed in Co-Founders’ Corner, a growing number of people are self-administering psychedelic substances—from recreational use to intentional self-discovery— but without necessarily understanding the importance of set and setting. As therapists, we are uniquely positioned to help increase the safety and effective integration of psychedelic experiences. In this webinar, Joshua White, Psychedelic Coach and Founder of the Fireside Project will join us to explore the essential principles of Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) within clinical and non-clinical settings. This session is tailored for therapists, mental health professionals, and individuals interested in supporting others through psychedelic experiences.
Specific discussion topics will include:
Harm Reduction Strategies: How to support clients before, during, and after psychedelic experiences.
Integration Practices: How to help clients process their experiences.
Community Support: How organizations like Fireside Project are shaping psychedelic support.
A Q&A session to wrap up the event.
Date: Mar 25, 2025
Time: 1 - 2 PM ET
In exciting news, our co-founders, Elizabeth Nielson and Ingmar Gorman, have authored a groundbreaking and deeply researched workbook that helps patients and therapists navigate psychedelic therapy.
The Psychedelic Therapy Workbook introduces psychedelic harm reduction and integration (PHRI) methods and offers hope to those who have found conventional treatments for mental health issues ineffective.
As discussed in Co-Founders’ Corner, PHRI is a unique and comprehensive approach that maximizes the therapeutic potential of psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and ketamine while minimizing risk and emphasizing safety.
This pioneering guide provides readers with essential tools and offers step-by-step instructions on setting intentions, choosing the right environment, and implementing evidence-based practices for healing and growth.
Psilocybin Facilitation
March 11 - August 9, 2025
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
March 11 - July 29, 2025
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration Therapy
March 11 - December 8, 2025
Beyond Words: Unlocking the Language and Meaning of Psychedelic Experience
This 8-week course helps psychedelic therapists guide their clients in articulating and exploring profound but often ineffable psychedelic experiences.
March 26 - May 14, 2025
Trainer: Jeffrey Guss, MD
Study Examines Fireside Hotline Services
This article explores the University of California San Francisco's analysis of survey data from over 800 users of the Fireside Project hotline.
Psychedelics, Novelty Theory, & the End of History
Few figures have left as profound a mark on the psychedelic landscape as Terence McKenna. This article looks at the extraordinary life of the unofficial godfather of psychedelics.
Legalized Psilocybin Use in New Mexico?
A group of New Mexico lawmakers have proposed a program for the medicinal use of psilocybin mushrooms for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.
