Psychedelic-assisted therapy, metacognition, and the problem of integration: a tri-phasic approach

Integration is a crucial but poorly defined part of psychedelic-assisted therapy. This article proposes a new, coherent model of integration that focuses on metacognition and unfolds in three phases. The model is grounded in clinical experience, teaching, research, and philosophical thinking, aiming to clarify the concept and its practical application.

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Psychedelic-assisted therapy is an emerging and promising field for the treatment of various psychological disorders. The concept of integration is integral to the success of such interventions. While the term integration is used frequently and in numerous ways within clinical literature, it remains poorly defined, and inconsistency in its use has led to confusion in practice. This article proposes a coherent conceptualization of integration by exploring the mechanisms at play in its application as a critical sub-dimension of psychedelic-assisted therapy. A new metacognitively focused, triphasic model of integration will be proposed, grounded in a deeper understanding of the pragmatics of integration and informed by clinical experience, clinical teaching, clinical research, and philosophically informed thinking.