What is the role of the body in the psychedelic session? Traditional talk therapy tends to focus on strengthening secondary consciousness: a higher order form of cognition that is geared towards goal orientation, abstract thinking and meaning making. Underneath this explicit layer of the mind is primary consciousness: an implicit, evolutionarily early form of awareness arising out of primitive brain networks that we share with other animals. We know that psychedelic medicines operate by disrupting the integrity of the brain networks that generate secondary consciousness which allows primary consciousness to become temporarily dominant.
Saj Razvi, founder of the Psychedelic Somatic Institute, has developed a psychobiological approach that amplifies the homeostatic healing mechanisms of the body that are part of primary consciousness. He is the primary developer of Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy which focuses on autonomic self correction, relational interaction (attachment) and embodied transference during the actual psychedelic session. This is not a transpersonal sitter model, it is an interactive modality that can be used with legal psychedelic medicines.
In this session, he offers an overview of his work, including how the autonomic nervous system in combination with psychedelic medicines can activate somatic processing. He will review a threat response map of the autonomic nervous system which is a useful lens for mental health providers as well as the general public.
Understand the relationship between mental health symptoms and biological responses to threat
Understand the neurological shifts involved in psychedelic medicine and how these shifts can be useful in treatment
Gain an understanding of what processing in primary consciousness looks like, from parasympathetic dissociation to sympathetic arousal
Saj Razvi, LPC
Saj Razvi is the Director of Education at the Psychedelic Somatic Institute. He is a psychotherapist and former clinical researcher in the MAPS Phase 2 trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. He is faculty at Mind Medicine Australia and taught PTSD studies at the University of Denver. He is one of the primary developers of the Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) modality which is a next generation, primary consciousness oriented psychotherapy. The focus of PSIP is to maximize the relational and autonomic healing capacity of psychedelic medicine to treat complex, childhood developmental trauma. Saj's primary focus is to train clinicians to provide legal, effective psychedelic treatment in their private practice settings utilizing readily accessible medicines such as cannabis and ketamine. He provides PSI trainings and supervision to students internationally.
Embodied Mind Mental Health Counseling, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0186.
Embodied Mind Mental Health Counseling, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0645.
Course Description
Introducing Your instructor
Getting to Know You & Your Course Goals
Part 1: Two distinct modes of consciousness; How psychedelic therapy targets primary consciousness
Part 2: Videos of sample PSIP sessions; How primary consciousness heals from trauma through re-enactment and mastery
Part 3: Overview of the autonomic nervous system & its role; Different stages of psychedelic therapy and the treatment of trauma; More session videos
Bonus: Follow-Up Q&A
CE Quiz
Course Survey
