What Is Integration? Making Sense of Psychedelic Experience

Why integration?

It’s easy to focus on the journey itself: the ceremony, the peak experience, the release. But it’s what happens afterwards that determines whether insight becomes transformation.

Integration is the process of making meaning from psychedelic experiences—so that what is seen can become what is lived.

What does integration look like?

At ETI, we view integration as:

• Somatic: Giving the body space to digest what’s happened

• Psychological: Reflecting with care, whether through therapy or self-inquiry

• Relational: Sharing your process in trusted circles or with a practitioner

• Practical: Making aligned changes in your life—small or large

Common challenges

You may experience:

• Emotional sensitivity

• Disorientation or confusion

• A desire to make big life changes (sometimes too quickly)

These are normal. Integration provides a framework for holding these feelings safely, without rushing to fix or bypass them.

Our approach at ETI

Integration begins before the ceremony and continues well after. In our programmes, we offer:

• Integration circles and reflection spaces

• Guidance for therapists supporting others

• Ongoing community support

A lifelong process

Integration doesn’t have an endpoint. Some insights take years to mature. That’s okay. The point is not to resolve everything—it’s to stay in relationship with what’s been revealed.

Want to learn more about integration as a practice?
Learn more about our approach. Explore here →