Psychedelic Therapy & Integration FAQs

I offer support services rooted in harm reduction, integration counseling, and psychedelic education. Sessions are offered exclusively in jurisdictions where personal or spiritual use is decriminalized, legally permitted, or constitutionally protected. All services are conducted in accordance with applicable local laws, decriminalization measures, and recognized religious or spiritual exemptions. Clients are strongly encouraged to source any substances they choose to consume during sessions.

I work with individuals who are:

• Emotionally stable, self-aware, and motivated for inner work

• Seeking transformation through music, therapy, and psychedelic care

• Willing to reflect honestly, surrender control, and respect the process

• Able to follow guidelines, boundaries, and safety protocols

I do not work with clients experiencing:

• Schizophrenia or psychotic disorders

• Bipolar 1 (manic-depressive presentations)

• Active addiction or untreated dependency

• Borderline personality disorder

• Current suicidal ideation or acute crisis states

Ethical screening, self-honesty, and mutual fit are essential to doing this work safely and effectively.

All clients are required to complete a comprehensive screening process, including consent for mental and physical health assessments, prior to scheduling a journey.

I do not work with clients who are currently taking SSRIs, SNRIs, or other medications known to contraindicate with psychedelic substances. Because medication management is outside my scope of practice, I require all clients to consult directly with their prescribing physician or psychiatrist. If you're considering changes to your psychiatric medications, they can help you explore your options and, if appropriate, develop a safe and personalized titration plan in preparation for any journey work.

Absolutely. I welcome and encourage collaboration with other professionals involved in your care, whether they are counselors, therapists, psychiatrists, general practitioners, spiritual advisors, or religious leaders such as priests or rabbis. With your verbal or written consent, I’m happy to speak with them directly to offer reassurance, share information about my approach, and ensure we’re aligned in supporting your journey. I believe that a collaborative process leads to deeper, more integrated outcomes when everyone is working together with clear communication and shared intention.

Yes, absolutely. I understand that loved ones may have questions or concerns about the process, and I welcome their involvement. I offer introductory and screening calls where partners, family members, or other trusted individuals are invited to join. These conversations allow them to meet me, learn more about the work, and feel more confident and informed. I believe that when everyone feels supported and aligned, the journey is more grounded and effective.

I work on a journey-by-journey basis, since we never know what a client might resolve, or what may arise, from a single session. Some people experience significant shifts after one journey, while others benefit from a longer arc of support. Individual needs can be discussed during the screening process.

My core protocol includes:

• 1 video 60 minutes video screening session

• Two 90-minute preparation counseling sessions

• One 8-hour guided journey day

• 2 follow-up calls (Day 1 and Day 2 post-journey)

• Two 90-minute post-journey integration sessions

• 1 follow-up call at Day 30

That said, every client is different. Experienced psychonauts may need less preparation, while those newer to the work often require more grounding and integration. Additional counseling or follow-up sessions are always available. We’ll tailor the process to meet your needs.

While the core approach of the book is designed around psilocybin mushroom journeys, many elements such as the music and counseling, can be adapted to support experiences with other four- to six-hour psychedelic medicines, including MDMA, MDA, or 2C-B.

Therapeutic DJing is the signature methodology I created and introduced in my book. It blends the emotional power of music with the healing potential of psychedelics through three core practices:

Therapeutic Music Curation – Building intentional playlists aligned with the presenting needs of the client and stages of the psychedelic substance

Psychedelic Soundtracking – Live, moment-to-moment music adaptation during a session to match the client’s unfolding experience

Post-Journey Integration – Using music and evidenced based counseling techniques to process insights and foster long-term transformation

Music is not just background; it shapes the psychological, emotional, physiological, and spiritual landscape of a session. Under the influence of psychedelics, your senses and emotions are heightened, and music can amplify or shift what arises. The right music can help you:

• Access and unlock repressed memories

• Release old grief

• Support emotional catharsis

• Feel supported during intensity

• Ease anxiety or fear

• Facilitate connection to the sacred

• Provide continuity and structure during ego dissolution

The wrong track or mistimed transition can disrupt or confuse the experience. That’s why thoughtful musical pacing and attunement matter so much.

Playlists are crafted based on your stated intentions, emotional needs, and the likely phases of the journey (onset, ascent, peak, descent, landing). I draw from a personal archive of over 30 years of ambient, chill out, downtempo, neoclassical, and other stunning psychedelic compositions. I also factor in things like:

• Client readiness, past experience with psychedelics, and reported tolerances.

• Tempo and energy pacing

• Emotional tone

• Harmonic transitions

• Strain-specific traits (e.g., dreamy vs. introspective)

During live sessions, I perform live adaptations and in real time using DJ software to match your unfolding state

Possibly, but we’ll discuss it beforehand. Some tracks may carry personal associations that either enhance or interfere with the journey. If you have music that feels sacred, emotionally resonant, or aligned with your intention, I’ll do my best to weave it in if it feels therapeutically appropriate.

That said, as described in the book, most clients benefit from surrendering to the process, trusting the curated musical arc to guide them beyond familiar patterns and into deeper emotional territory.

Integrated Psychedelics operates as a private-pay practice. Currently, most psychedelic-assisted therapy and integration counseling services are not covered by standard health insurance plans, as these are emerging therapeutic modalities. However, sessions may be eligible for reimbursement through HSA or FSA accounts. A Journey Fund is available offering partial and full scholarships, with priority given to veterans and first responders. A free 10-minute consultation is available to discuss options.

Growing research from institutions including Johns Hopkins, MAPS, and NYU has shown that psychedelic-assisted therapy holds significant promise for conditions including PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, grief, and addiction. While no psychedelic therapy is FDA-approved as a standalone treatment as of 2026, the clinical evidence base is expanding rapidly. Matt's work supports people navigating these conditions through careful preparation, guided experiential work, and grounded integration — always within an ethical, harm-reduction framework and in alignment with applicable laws.

Integration is a deeply personal process with no fixed timeline. Some people find clarity and grounding within a few sessions following a journey. For others, integration unfolds over months or even years, particularly after profound or complex experiences. Matt typically recommends beginning integration sessions within the first week or two after a journey, when the experience is freshest, and the neuroplastic window is most open. Ongoing sessions are scheduled based on what emerges; there is no rigid program, only what your process genuinely needs.

A psychedelic guide typically supports someone through the experiential journey itself, holding space, providing music, and offering grounded presence. A therapist brings clinical training to address psychological history, trauma, emotional patterns, and integration. Matt Xavier holds both roles simultaneously: as a CADC-II certified counselor and Gestalt therapist, he brings clinical depth to every stage of the work, while his 30+ years as a professional DJ and therapeutic music curator mean the journey itself is also expertly held. This rare combination means clients receive clinical-grade care throughout, not just before and after, but during the experience itself.

Yes. Matt Xavier offers confidential, encrypted remote sessions for preparation, integration counseling, traditional counseling, and consultation available to clients worldwide. In-person sessions are available in Arizona and Los Angeles when scheduling permits. The psychedelic journey itself, when applicable, is conducted in person. To discuss the best format for your specific needs, book a free. consultation.

Start by asking about the provider’s training, credentials, experience with integration, and the scope of their work. It helps to understand how they support people after difficult or confusing experiences, and whether their approach fits what you’re looking for.

My background includes addiction counseling, Gestalt approaches, and supporting people through psychedelic preparation and integration. An introductory conversation gives you space to ask about my experience, explain what you need, and explore whether we would work well together.

At Integrated Psychedelics, I offer experiential counseling that draws on Gestalt approaches, somatic awareness, and a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

In sessions, we pay attention to what you’re experiencing in the present—your emotions, physical sensations, relationships, and patterns that keep coming up. Depending on your needs, we might explore an unfinished conversation, conflicting feelings, or ways of responding that no longer serve you. The work develops through our conversation rather than following a fixed script, and psychedelics are not required.

My practice includes both ongoing non-psychedelic counseling and support for psychedelic preparation, guided work, and integration. These are different ways of working, and we can discuss which type of support is appropriate for your circumstances.

Some people come to me solely for traditional counseling. Others want help understanding a past psychedelic experience, or wish to explore preparation for future work. Choosing counseling doesn’t create any expectation that you will eventually take psychedelics. We begin with what brings you here and what you need.

Preparation involves more than choosing an intention. It’s a chance to discuss your history, expectations, concerns, and the support you may need before and after an experience.

In my practice, preparation sessions give us time to explore what brings you to this work, consider suitability, and talk through practical arrangements. We also discuss music preferences and sensitivities, along with plans for integration afterward. You don’t need to arrive with a perfect intention. Questions, uncertainty, and mixed feelings are all useful things to bring into the conversation.

Music can offer a point of focus, a sense of continuity, and a way to connect with feelings that are difficult to put into words. Its role can change throughout an experience, which is why thoughtful selection matters.

In my work, I combine a prepared musical arc with responsive, real-time soundtracking. Your preferences, sensitivities, and the emotional flow of the session inform those choices. Music is a central part of my approach, alongside preparation, attentive support, and integration. Different people respond differently, so there isn’t one soundtrack that suits everyone.