Additional areas of expertise
My years of work guided me to delve deeper, beyond my usual work as a clinical psychologist, into two main topics:
Therapy and psychedelia and Highly Sensitive Persons.
In both there is a combination between my professional field and my personal world.
In this section I will detail the knowledge I have gained about each of them and offer my personal angle on them.
Psychedelic Therapy
I research the field of therapy and psychedelia and offer professional guidance to those women who are interested in deepening their understanding of the connection between the psychedelic and spiritual worlds and the mental and everyday ones and/or women who have had experiences under psychedelic substances and need support in processing them.
In the use of second-consciousness materials, caution, responsibility and deep familiarity with ourselves are necessary, as well as creating a safe and secure environment. The material written here should not be seen as an invitation or recommendation to experiment with psychedelic substances.
The use of consciousness-expanding substances for mental processes has existed throughout history in various tribal cultures that used plants for expanding consciousness - mainly plants such as ayahuasca in South America, Iboga in Africa, Peyote and Magic Mushrooms in Mexico and more. The use was both for the purpose of reaching altered states of consciousness, both for the purpose of healing and in a ritualistic way, as part of different stages of puberty.
In Western culture there were several significant stages in the exposure to these substances. I will mention only of the most significant discoveries by Dr. Albert Hoffman who studied the active substance in the rye plant and produced the substance known as LSD. In the 60's psychedelic substances began to be identified with the 'counter culture' in America , something that over the years has led to many stigmas and to the outlaw these substances , even for research purposes. In the recent years there has been a strong movement coming from the world of biological and psychotherapeutic research that shows the possibilities inherent in these substances both mentally and spiritually.
This part is divided into four very partial angles on this complex field: the principle of the set and setting , contemporary research in the field , psychedelic integration and important preparations for a consciousness-altering experience .
I research the field of therapy and psychedelics and offer professional guidance to people who are interested in deepening their understanding about the connection between the psychedelic and spiritual worlds and the mental and everyday iife. I guide pepole who have experienced psychedelic experiences and need help in processing them.
In the use of Mind -Expanding substances, caution, responsibility and deep familiarity with ourselves are necessary, as well as creating a safe and secure environment. The material written here should not be seen as an invitation or recommendation to experiment with psychedelic substances without these important conditions.
Set and setting
Set and Setting is one of the most fundamental and important principles in the use of psychedelic substances, attributed to Dr. Timothy Leary, who brought it to prominence in the 1960s. On a simple level, it refers to the fact that the effects of consciousness-expanding substances are context-dependent, and that the two main factors influencing the nature of the experience are 'set' (the mental state and mindset of the person taking the substance, their intention, readiness, and expectations) and 'setting' (the physical environment in which the substance is consumed, and the social and cultural context surrounding its use). I will elaborate on each of these:
Set is the subjective experience under the influence of psychedelic substances is greatly affected by the individual taking them. The set can roughly be divided into several components.
The first component is the user’s personality traits: the structure of their psychological defenses, their ability to hold complexity and paradox, their sense of self, their capacity to tolerate anxiety and uncertainty, their level of mental processing and emotional maturity. For example, an 'ego death' experience can arise under the influence of consciousness-expanding substances, but it requires emotional maturity to understand that the self-experience is, in fact, an ongoing and infinite process, not stable, and the possibility that it might "disappear" as part of that process.
The second component is the current mental state of the individual: Am I in a stable period of my life? Have I gone through a crisis recently, and have I processed it? Do I need to get up and work tomorrow? Timing plays a significant role in shaping the psychedelic experience.
The last and perhaps most important component is the intention with which I approach the experience—how prepared am I for the psychedelic journey, what (if any) intentions am I bringing with me, and what are my expectations from the experience? The clearer I am about what I want from the experience, the higher the chances are that I will make the most of it.
Setting- The physical and social environment that is critical and has a profound impact on the nature of the psychedelic experience. Under the influence of consciousness-expanding substances, the senses are greatly heightened, and we become very sensitive to any physical or emotional changes in our environment. Therefore, it’s crucial that the setting supports the process and our intentions. Appropriate music, a comfortable and aesthetic space, trustworthy people and an experienced guide—all of these contribute to supporting the potential process. In contrast, using psychedelics in an unsafe, noisy, or unfamiliar environment, or in any unprotected situation, has the potential to lead to a fearful, traumatic, or even psychologically dangerous experience.
Moreover, there is a difference between using psychedelics in tribal cultures (or spaces inspired by those cultures), where psychoactive plants are part of tradition, and using them in Western contexts for recreational or entertainment purposes. In many cultures, plants like Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, Iboga, Peyote, San Pedro, and others are considered sacred, and their use is part of a deep, ancient tradition, which shapes the perception of their effects.
For further reading on this topic, you can read the article I wrote about it here (in hebrew) or contact me.
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The psychedelic experience has enormous potential for transformation and healing, but also carries risks when it is undertaken for the wrong reasons or at the wrong time. It can be a way to connect with oneself and what I’m going through, or it can be an escape from myself and the reality I live in. Responsible and mindful use is crucial—being aware of the dangers and the possibilities that can arise when using psychedelic substances.
Contemporary research in the field
During the last 30 years the MAPS organization has been promoting research into various psychedelic substances.
The most advanced research is MDMA-based psychotherapy (the active substance in ecstasy) for victims suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which is held in several countries in the world, including Israel. The third and final phase of the study has been completed these days and is before the approval of the FDA, which in 2017 declared this treatment a "breakthrough treatment" in light of results that showed that one year after the end of the treatment, 68% of the participants no longer suffered from symptoms at the level defined as post-traumatic stress disorder. Of the remaining 32%, a large proportion showed marked improvement in symptoms but were still defined as having post-traumatic symptoms. During the treatment, which lasts 12 sessions, the patient is accompanied by two therapists specially trained for this treatment, when only in 3 of the sessions the patient takes the MDMA, under controlled conditions (see Set and Sting ). Recently, the FDA rejected the request to legalize the treatment due to claims of ethical issues, despite the fact that the third phase of the study showed results similar to the previous phases.
There are many other studies, most of which are on the effect of psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms. This is a substance that shows extremely high neuroplasticity (the ability to change brain structures). The leading studies, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, California and New York, focus on dealing with resistant depression and meanwhile show promising results, until in 2019 the FDA declared psilocybin-based therapy as a "breakthrough treatment" (see article here) for resistant depression. Additional studies show promising results also among terminally ill patients, where an improvement in their well being was reported during the remaining time of their lives.
The research field deals a lot with the potential inherent in these materials and several conferences were recently held on the subject.
It is recommended to be impressed by the lecture of Dr. Rick Dublin , founder of the MAPS organization, in which he explains about the field.
Psychedelic integration
In my professional career , I met many people who found themselves in difficult mental states due to uncontrolled use of various substances. The psychedelic experience is powerful, multi-layered, and holds significant developmental potential when is experienced within the appropriate set and setting. On the other hand, it can also be a destabilizing and even deconstructive experience on a psychological level.
One way to understand the psychedelic experience is to recognize that under the influence of psychedelic substances, psychological defenses tend to dissolve, which brings unconscious content to the surface. However, it's important to remember that psychological defenses are, by nature, an important mental function, and the content that emerges can be deeply anxiety-provoking (after all, there is a reason it was unconscious).
Thus, unconscious traumas from the past, suppressed emotions and destructive mental mechanisms may suddenly be experienced in their full intensity and shake our psyche—precisely when we are most sensitive and open to every small nuance of reality. Naturally, contact with such mental content requires subsequent processing, exploration, and integration of its various meanings. Even if the experience itself was positive and enriching, it is crucial to internalize feelings such as connection to the eternal, deep understanding of harmony, or any other spiritual experience from the infinite possibilities.
In tribal societies where psychedelic substances are used traditionally, integration occurs constantly within the community. This allows the opportunity to share, understand, and deepen the spiritual, emotional, and mental experiences they undergo on these journeys. In contrast, in Western society, many people who use psychedelics today do not maximize the potential of their journeys due to the lack of proper integration that would allow them to connect the alternative realities they have experienced with their "regular" reality.
Preparations for a mind-altering experience
In this section, I will attempt to outline on a timeline how I perceive the potential of the psychedelic experience. I am not referring to the experience itself, as the dimension of time doesn’t really exist under the influence of consciousness-expanding substances, but rather the beneficial ways in which a person can prepare for the psychedelic experience, how to get the most out of it. What’s written here is not an endorsement to try consciousness-expanding substances, but rather an attempt to provide information for those of you who have already decided to experiment and are looking for a way to prepare for the psychedelic experience (if such a thing exists). For convenience, I will divide the preparation into stages.
Before experimenting with consciousness-expanding substances, it is highly recommended to start with something very basic: getting to know myself and the conscious and unconscious content that occupies me. One space in which this can be done is through good psychotherapy. There, in a gradual and gentle process, one can discover their inner world through the therapeutic relationship and emotional contact with oneself—where in life there are conflicts and with which figures they appear, what emotions are difficult to face despite existing within me, and what unconscious experiences have played a role in shaping my personality and who I am today. Another recommended space is through yoga and meditation practice. Retreats where I deepen my understanding of myself, dealing with myself in a calm and safe space that provides tools for exploring how I experience and understand myself. This phase can take months or even years. Consciousness-expanding substances lead to a massive reduction in our mental defenses, those created to protect us from unconscious content that threatens the stability of our mind. The more we prepare a strong and stable foundation in our self-awareness, the less likely we will experience a shock when use such substances.
Another condition is that there is a call within me to embark on a journey with mind-altering substances. That I feel curious about my inner world, that something within me is drawn to the possibilities of these journeys. I do this with attentiveness to myself and my inner pace, considering the state I am in in my life and my ability to cope with something that could be destabilizing and unsettling, as well as fulfilling and awe-inspiring. In line with this, it’s important to assess the timing—am I in a period that allows me to embark on a mind-altering journey? Am I in a crisis and seeking a quick fix? Am I after a breakup, a loss, job termination? If the answer is yes, perhaps it’s best to take a moment before going into a psychedelic experience. We want the reality to be stable enough to allow ourselves to be shaken.
The next and very significant step is to choose a professional and experienced guide. The guidance can be personal or group-based, each having its advantages and disadvantages. Finding a guide is a big challenge, as the substances are still not approved by law, so this activity occurs underground without supervision. As a result, many people searching for guidance struggle to find it, and even when they do, the ability to make an informed, conscious choice is very limited. The central points here are the professionality and the guide’s ability to offer emotional ,psychological and spiritual support for the regressive states that can emerge during the psychedelic experience, as well as the connection between you and trust that can be placed in the guide. Warning—there are painful cases of abuse within the psychedelic space in various forms. The choice of who to journey with also includes considering the physical space, which significantly impacts the nature of the experience. Do I want to experience the journey in nature, by a fire, in the desert, or forest? Or perhaps in a protected clinic where I can control the temperature, music, etc.?
The days before a mind-altering journey are crucial to fulfill its full potential.
The preparation can be divided into three parts: physical, emotional, and spiritual:
- **Physical dimension**: Prepare the body with healthy nutrition—no gluten, sugar, or processed foods. . Some stricter approaches recommend avoiding mushrooms, onions, and foods from the nightshade family due to their acidity. Try to reduce coffee and other mind altering substances such as marihuana, alcohol and cet.
- **Emotional dimension**: Understand what I aim to work on. What would I like to experience? What is my intention? What am I seeking from the experience? This is a very significant part of the preparation. Writing in the days leading up to the journey helps clarify and refine the intention. Another factor affecting the nature of the experience is my expectations—what do I think will happen to me, and where am I guiding the experience? These are powerful tools to maximize the benefits of a psychedelic journey.
It’s also recommended to pay attention to what I am feeding myself emotionally and mentally in the days leading up to the journey—detoxing from external noise, especially news, and connecting inwardly.
- **Spiritual dimension**: Meditation is very helpful, as well as physical-spiritual practices like yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, etc.
After the psychedelic experience, it is recommended to continue the detox process for a few more days. The mind is still open and vulnerable, so it’s important to continue nurturing it with care and attention at all levels. Additionally, drawing, writing, spending time in nature, and practicing meditation and yoga can help continue the internal processing.
The final, equally critical phase is integration, a term that refers to the dismantling that occurs under the influence of consciousness-expanding substances. The aim is to process the experience and give it meaning. Broadly, there are two forms of integration. One is talking about the experience shortly after it happens, often the morning after, when the unconscious is still open and the content is fresh. The second is discussing the experience in the context of long-term therapy or guidance, which helps connect the experience more deeply with my emotional/psychological/spiritual reality. Good integration is extremely important to take what I experienced and bring it down to earth. In simple terms, integration helps me understand how I can walk with the knowledge I gained when I had wings. The importance of integration can be read here on the site or in an article I wrote on the subject (in hebrew).
Highly sensitive persons
Each and every one of us is born with our unique biological-mental set, which consists of infinite components. One of them is our innate sensitivity. The trait of high sensitivity (Highly sensitive person - HSP, also known as a very sensitive person, hypersensitivity) is innate and as a trait, it has advantages and disadvantages. It should be noted that in the psyche nothing is dichotomous and in the case of sensitivity it is not that a person is sensitive/insensitive but there is a continuum of sensitivity where at the top of the scale are defined those who are very sensitive person. The main researcher of the field is Dr. Elaine Aron and her studies show that about fifth of the population is defined as having high sensitivity.
The manner of its expression is first of all sensory - a very sensitive person will react more powerfully to physiological stimuli - this can often be seen in children who react to a certain type of fabric, experience physical discomfort more quickly, are sensitive to loud sounds, blinding light, textures of foods and more. The processing method of such person is deeper and more fundamental and as such it also requires more cognitive and emotional resources, and indeed it has been found that high sensitivity is reflected in differences in the nervous system and therefore highly sensitive children will often mature emotionally more slowly than their peers.
As you can see, the sensory dimension here is significant, but an equally important dimension is derived from it - the emotional dimension. Here there are several styles of types. Highly sensitive person will often pay more attention to subtleties in social situations, will understand interpersonal dynamics in depth, will recognize other's feelings more accurately, will respond more strongly to the other's needs, etc. HSP who are inwardly sensitive will experience their feelings more powerfully, will be more vulnerable, critical of themselves, will need more recovery time, time with themselves, and more. Here too, it is a continuum and not a dichotomous division. Mostly, very sensitive women will be creative, empathetic to others, with great attention to details and will process situations in a deep and rich way.
Also, this feature is accompanied by the reaction of the environment to it, when the environment's understanding of the feature and its consequences has a significant effect on the way in which the person will experience it. Many times such children (who become adults) will be labeled as shy, dramatic, closed, cowardly - depending on the way the sensitivity is expressed. Of course, this labeling has great significance in building self-worth and identity.
Wondering if the setting is right for you? Here is a link to a short questionnaire that can help
HSP and Therapy
Many times HSP will come to therapy, sometimes out of a desire to grow and develop and sometimes out of distress and a feeling that they are unable to deal with the way they experienced reality. The first and very significant thing in which therapy can help is to recognize that I am like this, to give a name to the experience, to call the child by his name. The realization that there is a name, that I am not alone and that what I am experiencing is not weird or strange is super significant and calming in itself.
So after there was recognition of the high sensitivity, it is necessary to move to know my sensitivity. When did I notice that I experience things more powerfully than others? Where did it contribute to me and make me successful and where did it hurt me and make me feel wrong, dramatic, scared? How do I learn to conduct myself in the world with my sensitivity, how do I mediate it to myself and others in order not to be in situations where it is too strong for me? What can help me in situations where I experience strong emotional experience that makes it hard for me to cope? Where is my sensitivity a gift for me and to the world? Of course, all these and more are part of a process of getting to know myself gradually and in depth, as part of a therapeutic interaction that holds a safe space that allows looking inward into oneself.
Another layer in the process is the understanding how my sensitivity and its interaction with the environment affected the shaping of my personality and mechanisms. As with any therapeutic process, there is a need to process past experiences through a new point of view that accepts the sensitivity as it is, with a minimum of judgment and criticism. Many times highly sensitive children, especially boys but not only, will receive negative feedback about their sensitivity and over the years they will either cut themselves off from soft parts within them or develop internal rigidity towards these parts since they are not accepted by the environment. Also, many times they will develop hard feelings such as guilt, a feeling that I am burdening the other, that it is not okay to feel the way I feel. And also here, it is a matter of gentle and processual depth work within a benevolent therapeutic space in order to unravel internal tangles from the past and try to resolve it in the present.
It is important to note - every man or woman who comes for treatment brings with them a whole world and that every therapeutic interaction emerges in its own unique way. For Highly Sensitive Person, the potential for growth and development within therapy is high, since this is a space that allows non-judgmental expression and that strengthens many of the qualities of these person.
HSP and addiction to cannabis
Throughout my years of working with people with addictive patterns, I have noticed that many of them meet the definition of HSP. I will try to briefly clarify several points that can explain this connection.
Our ability to contain ourselves emotionally develops in interaction with the significant figures in our lives (usually our parents) during the first years of our lives. When these interactions take place in a good way, the baby turns these interactions to the ability to self-calming and emotional regulation. However, when a baby is born with high sensitivity, in some of the times there will be many difficulties of these figures in containing the emotional experience of the baby and therefore the baby will have difficulty developing these abilities and then HSP can grow up with a lack in the ability to self regulate themselves. Into this space enters the use of marijuana, which produces a significant relief in emotional flooding and suddenly the world is experienced differently - more pleasant and simpler. However, after a certain period, the effects of marijuana fade and sometimes smoking actually increases the emotional intensity. Naturally, there is a longing to experience the same pleasant relaxation from the past and therefore the use continues and perhaps even increases, which may lead to the development of a strong dependence on the substance.
In addition, HSP can live their lives in a reality that they experience as too powerful, intrusive, overwhelming. Starting with physical contact, through the physical environment and ending with daily interactions - every encounter with reality, internal and external, is a potential for a difficult, tiring and repulsive experience. In such a day-to-day experience, every moment of relaxation is priceless and that's exactly where the use of marijuana comes in, creating a kind of distance between me and my emotional experience, numbing. Many times the initial experiences of use will be so pleasant and relaxing - suddenly the world is not experienced as overwhelming and there is something relaxing and magical about it. However, after the effect of the substance wears off, reality is experienced again in a rough and powerful way, and from there the road to further use is short.
For HSP, therapy can often be a significant lifeline that helps them learn to regulate their emotions in the face of reality. Since many times their experience in the relationship is that their feelings are burdensome, illegitimate, too powerful, excessive, it is very important to build a close and beneficial therapeutic relationship.
Therefore, the therapeutic relationship is often a significant anchor within the ability to deal with unhealthy substance use patterns. The more a highly sensitive man or woman can trust a significant figure who knows how to deal with their sensitivity well enough, the more they will be able to give up their habits of use, transfer their dependence on the substance to dependence on the therapeutic relationship and succeed, through processes of internalization and growth, in learning to deal with their sensitivity better in the world.
A. Women are very sensitive and mind-expanding substances
Mind-altering experiences are powerful and as such have tremendous transformative potential but can also be dangerous and disruptive. This statement is even more precise for HSP who experience reality in a different way from most people.
Psychedelic experiences can take us into the dark depths of reality, into the most delicate and thinnest veins of existence. The delicate and rich texture of a flower's petals, the endless range of colors at sunrise or sunset, the never-ending meanings that exist in every interpersonal interaction. For HSP, this can be a significant and transformative experience, since the experience can be accompanied by admiration and wonder that can continue to accompany them throughout their lives and help them experience the many subtleties of everyday reality in a different way. Thus, what until the psychedelic experience could have been experienced as a burden can become a source of joy, curiosity, happiness and gratitude for being sensitive in the world, for the powerful qualities of sensitivity and the possibility of experiencing the infinite depth of the world with its help. Also, when consciousness expanding substances are taken in a supportive therapeutic environment that allows for emotional work, it is an opportunity to learn to work with and process my emotional strength in a healthy and nurturing way.
Another strong quality of psychedelic experience is creativity - the possibility of experiencing things in a different way, from different perspectives, expanding the way I experience and think about the world. Many of the artists in the world are HSP and experiencing the change of consciousness can be refreshing and full of life and color for them, enriching their inner world in countless new forms and introducing new and fun dimensions into their creative lives. Even for HSP who do not work in the creative field, there can be a similar experience, since creativity can be expressed in many ways, not only through art - science, therapy, education - in all these fields, a connection to creativity can be a great advantage for them .
Another and important experience that can be in a mind expanding journey for HSP is actually not the way of their experience - the possibility that others close to me will experience the world in a more similar way to me. When people in the the environment of a HSP undergoes a psychedelic journey and becomes aware of the infinite subtleties of existence, they can better understand the way in which a highly sensitive man or woman experiences reality. The same is true for the good and pleasant part of these subtleties - the beauty inherent in every moment - and also for the challenging and difficult parts of a psychedelic experience. In situations where our consciousness is expanded, we are open and exposed to the world and sensitive to every subtle shift that occurs in our environment, an experience that can be overwhelming and challenging. Suddenly the barking of a dog sounds like a strong and jarring attack, faking the guitar playing is unbearable and physical discomfort can oppress and overwhelm. When people who are not highly sensitive have these experiences, they can connect to the daily experience of HSP and develop patience, empathy and acceptance towards it.
But, of course, if people who are not sensitive can have such experiences on a journey of changing consciousness, this is doubly true for HSP. And here perhaps lies the most significant challenge in consciousness-expanding experiences for HSP- they may be emotionally overwhelmed more easily, experience reality as intrusive and threatening more frequently and more strongly, be more sensitive to any shrill of reality (shrills that are always present, even in the safe and most protected space). In Winnicott's language - they will have more difficulty being in the continuity of the experience (going on being) and will experience much more impingement from reality, which can make the psychedelic experience difficult to the point of being unbearable. Therefore, it is even more important for HSP to go through consciousness-expanding experiences in safe and protected spaces that will know how to provide them with the appropriate setting- both in terms of the physical environment and in terms of the man or women who accompany them in this process and will be able to help in the event that they find themselves in distress. Ensuring such an environment can minimize the chance that the experience will be too overwhelming for them.
