Cannabis-Assisted Therapy
A different way of attending to inner experience
Cannabis can shift attention, perception, emotional experience, and awareness of the body. In psychotherapy, these changes may create another way of noticing patterns, emotions, memories, or internal experiences that can be difficult to access through conversation alone.
The medicine is not the therapy itself. Cannabis-assisted psychotherapy combines careful preparation, an intentionally supported experiential session, and integration afterward.
Depending on the person and treatment goals, sessions may involve somatic awareness, Internal Family Systems, mindfulness, imagery, music, or other experiential approaches. The emphasis is on staying curious about what emerges rather than forcing a particular experience or outcome.
What the process looks like:
Assessment
We begin by considering your goals, history, current symptoms, medications, prior experiences with cannabis, and whether this approach is clinically appropriate.
Preparation
Before an experiential session, we establish intentions, discuss what to expect, and identify ways of working with difficult or unexpected material if it arises.
Experiential Session
Cannabis may alter the usual way you relate to thoughts, emotions, sensations, and protective patterns. Your therapist remains present throughout the session and helps you stay connected to what is unfolding.
Integration
Afterward, we explore what emerged and how it relates to your relationships, patterns, choices, and everyday life. Integration helps an experience become something you can actually work with rather than simply something unusual that happened.
Medical Authorization & Safety
To ensure your safety and clinical alignment, a medical recommendation for cannabis is required before beginning your journeys.
Cannabis-assisted psychotherapy at Syzygy is offered only when clinically appropriate and requires a qualifying diagnosis and current medical cannabis authorization.
Our psychiatric nurse practitioner, Jenia Malysh, PMHNP, may provide psychiatric evaluation, medical cannabis authorization, and education when appropriate. Authorization does not automatically mean cannabis-assisted psychotherapy is the right treatment for every person, and your therapist will assess fit separately.
