Part 1: What is Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy? And Why Preparation Matters.
Episode Summary
Psychedelic therapy is generating a lot of excitement. But excitement can make it easy to lose sight of something important: these medicines aren't magic bullets.
In this episode of Through the Sh#t, host Jen McDowell talks with Dr. Suzanne Blazing about what psychedelic-assisted therapy actually involves—and why the work surrounding the medicine may be just as important as the medicine itself. This is part 1 in a 2-part conversation.
In This Episode
How Suzanne went from being skeptical of psychedelics to working extensively with ketamine and psilocybin
The difference between ketamine and psilocybin and how they work differently
Why psychedelics may be particularly helpful for people who feel stuck
How psychedelic therapy may help people access emotions, memories, and perspectives that have been difficult to reach through traditional approaches
Who may—and may not—be a good candidate for psychedelic-assisted therapy
Why emotional readiness and a strong support system matter
What happens during the preparation process before a medicine session
Why Suzanne tells clients to "keep your expectations very low and your intention very high"
Why the psychedelic experience isn't the finish line—it's the beginning
The critical role of integration in turning insight into actual behavioral change
Why a powerful psychedelic experience doesn't necessarily mean a dramatic or visual experience
What psychedelic therapy can teach us about changing the patterns that keep us stuck
Key Takeaways
The medicine is a tool—not a magic bullet. The real work happens in what comes afterward: making meaning of the experience, changing behavior, and integrating new ways of seeing and feeling into everyday life.
Insight isn't enough. After an extraordinary psychedelic experience, the most important question isn’t, “What did you just experience?” It’s, “What are you going to do differently now?”
About Dr. Suzanne Blaising
Dr. Suzanne Blaising is a psychotherapist, psychedelic medicine therapist, and educator specializing in the clinical use of ketamine and psilocybin to support people navigating complex mental health challenges, trauma, and major life transitions.
Learn about Suzanne’s work:
https://wholeness.com/doctors/dr-suzanne-blaising/
Coming up in Episode 2
In part 2 of the conversation, Jen and Suzanne talk about what actually happens when you take the medicine. Suzanne gets personal about her own experiences with psilocybin, including using it while grieving the death of her daughter. We also talk about difficult psychedelic experiences, why a challenging journey isn't necessarily a bad one, and why having the right person there to support you can make all the difference.
Listen to Episode 2 next.
