Harm Reduction Meets Psychedelic Integration in Trauma Therapy in New York City
Mental Health Support for Adults Who Witnessed Addiction Growing Up
As an adult child of someone who struggled with addiction living in New York, you may be familiar with the lingering effects of trauma attached to this experience. Whether it's difficulty forming healthy relationships or struggling with feelings of abandonment, these challenges can make it difficult to live a fulfilling life.
The Psychedelic Renaissance in NYC
Plant medicine and psychedelic integration therapy have been gaining popularity in recent years as a potential treatment option for trauma and other mental health concerns. These substances, when used in a controlled, safe, therapeutic setting, have been shown to have profound healing effects on trauma and C-PTSD.
Is Harm Reduction relevant in NY these days?
It's important to approach these therapies with a harm reduction lens, especially if you're dealing with trauma or other mental health challenges. Harm reduction is a set of strategies that aims to minimize the negative consequences of substance use, without necessarily abstinence. This approach is particularly important when using substances that have the potential for abuse or misuse.
Harm reduction was started as a response to the negative consequences associated with substance use, particularly injection drug use. In the early 1980s, HIV/AIDS began to spread rapidly among people who injected substances, as a result of sharing needles and other injection equipment. This led to a public health crisis, as HIV/AIDS had no known cure at the time and could be fatal.
In response, harm reduction advocates and public health officials developed a new approach to substance use that focused on minimizing the harms associated with substance use, rather than simply trying to eliminate substance use altogether (like the naive Reagan’s who instead started a racist war on drugs that disproportionately impacted people of color and low-income communities). This approach recognized that some individuals may continue to use substances despite the risks, and that simply telling people to stop using substances was not an effective solution.
Instead, harm reduction advocates focused on implementing strategies and interventions that could reduce the risk of harm associated with substance use. This includes providing access to clean needles and syringes, as well as other injection equipment, to reduce the risk of HIV and other blood-borne infections. Other harm reduction strategies include providing substance education and overdose prevention, as well as offering medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.
Harm reduction is now recognized as an effective public health approach to substance use and has been adopted by many countries around the world. It acknowledges that substance use is a complex issue and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Harm reduction focuses on reducing the harms associated with drug use and helping individuals to make safer choices, rather than stigmatizing and punishing individuals who use drugs.
Dr. Carl Hart’s Health + Happiness Model of Substance Use for Adults
I had the privilege to attend a training in 2018 with Dr. Hart, a professor of psychology at Columbia University, where he conducts groundbreaking research on plant medicine and addiction. His work challenges many of the prevailing myths and stereotypes surrounding drug use, particularly in the African American community. He argues that drug use is often a rational response to social and economic pressures, and that the negative effects of drugs are often overstated by the media and politicians. He details his personal and professional experience in his books: High Price : Drugs, Neuroscience, and Discovering Myself and Drug Use For Grown-ups : Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear. In his research, he notes the negative tone of harm reduction and instead proposes a Health and Happiness model that focuses on strengths, benefits and healthfulness of use.
Finding a Qualified Psychedelic Integration Therapist in NYC
If you're considering plant medicine or psychedelic integration therapy as a treatment option, it's important to work with a qualified and experienced therapist who can guide you through the process. This includes a thorough assessment of your mental health history and any potential risk factors, as well as an individualized treatment plan that takes into account your unique needs and goals.
In Virtual Psychotherapy & Holistic Mental Health Counseling: Anxiety + Trauma Therapy with Desiree, you’ll receive a harm reduction approach to plant medicine and psychedelic integration therapy. We’ll help you explore the potential benefits of these therapies, while understanding and minimizing any potential risks. We offer a safe and supportive environment where you can feel comfortable exploring these treatment options and more.
