Thad Frye, LCSW
Integration Therapist
Thad Frye, LCSW has a private practice in Boulder CO where he utilizes the power of Brainspotting to focus on Athletic and Creative Performance and Psychedelic Integration. He is a Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider who works as a Teacher’s Assistant helping other medical professionals get certified in working with psychedelics during 3-day Ketamine Intensives. Thad is also a Certified Brainspotting Consultant and serves as the Director of Communications and Outreach for the local non-profit the Rocky Mountain Brainspotting Institute.
Integration, in the context of ketamine-assisted therapy, refers to the process of making sense of and incorporating the insights, experiences, and emotions that arise during a psychedelic therapy session into one’s daily life. It’s a crucial phase that occurs after the psychedelic experience itself and is an integral part of the therapeutic process.
After your guided ketamine session, you will likely encounter a range of thoughts, emotions, and insights that might feel profound or challenging. Integration involves working with a trained professional to process and understand these experiences in a therapeutic and supportive environment.
During integration, you will explore the thoughts, emotions, and realizations that emerged during the psychedelic session. This phase aims to help you make meaning from these experiences and apply the insights gained to your everyday life. The integration process can vary widely based on the individual’s unique journey.
The main goals of integration are:
- Understanding: Integration helps you make sense of any confusing or intense experiences you might have had during the psychedelic session. It allows one to explore the symbolism, emotions, and memories that surfaced.
- Emotional Processing: Psychedelic experiences can stir up powerful emotions. The integration allows you to process these emotions in a safe and supportive space, helping you work through any challenges or traumas that might have arisen.
- Personal Growth: Through integration, you can identify how the insights gained from the psychedelic experience can be applied to your life. This might involve making positive changes, adopting new perspectives, or letting go of unhelpful patterns.
- Creating Lasting Change: The true value of psychedelic-assisted therapy lies in how you can translate the lessons learned into lasting changes. Integration provides the tools and support needed to turn insights into actionable personal growth and healing steps.
- Building Resilience: Integrating challenging experiences can lead to increased resilience and a greater sense of self-awareness. By working through difficulties, you can develop coping strategies that enhance your overall well-being.