Somatic therapy for

Psychedelic Integration in Vancouver

It’s undeniable that we’re in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance. We see various headlines making waves as we try to expand the public discourse to encompass the vast and multifaceted world of substances that inextricably connect body, mind and spirit in a way we can no longer ignore. There’s a dizzying array of variables to consider in every possible aspect of this topic, but one thing remains clear - more and more people are experiencing altered states of consciousness in a wide variety of contexts. And while science, medicine, academia, legislative bodies, and pop culture work out the tangled web of what that means for us going forward - it’s still incredibly important for us to offer safe spaces and skilled support for people to process and integrate their psychedelic experiences.

Read on to see some of the unique challenges of psychedelic integration, and why it might need an approach beyond regular “therapy”.

Hi there, I’m Shannon. 

Welcome to my practice, I’m so glad you found me. 

I’ve also completed the Soundmind Psychedelic Facilitator Training (in addition to my other certifications), and have been an active participant in my local psychedelic communities to further benefit from (and contribute to) their collective wisdom.

No matter how complex your experience was, I can hold the entirety of that conversation with you. My approach is not just informed by academic research; I have plenty of lived experience navigating the vastness of the Great Mystery in all of its complexity. I’ve had immensely challenging experiences, and those that have left me in a speechless state of awe - and everything in between. I had the incredible honor of working with some highly skilled healers, and it would be my pleasure to share all of the wisdom I’ve gained in service to your evolution.

I know that it can be really hard to imagine that someone can offer a safe and clear space for processing something as messy, nonsensical, all-encompassing, otherworldly, and ineffable as an altered state of consciousness. I appreciate how tender this topic can be, so I wanted to say a few words about my background to offer some reassurance.

I have over 15 years of experience within this domain - from cannabis to Ayahuasca and Iboga, I have sat with over a dozen different medicines in various contexts. I have immense reverence for the vastness of the human consciousness and I firmly believe in our right to safely explore the outer reaches of our whole selves.

I’ve also attended innumerable lectures, workshops, and conferences (like the MAPS conference and the Spirit Plant Medicine Conference), not to mention the many hours I’ve spent immersed in people’s personal stories of their journeys (through podcasts, forums, shared experiences, peer support, integration sessions, etc).

Unique challenges of psychedelic integration.

There are many layers to psychedelic integration that present unique challenges (which might not be as present for people processing other material). For one, most of the experiences being integrated often take place in complex settings and involve illegal substances - which already creates a huge barrier to people seeking help.

It can also be very hard to verbalize or explain what the experience was, how it felt, and what about it remains unresolved. Big journeys often involve imagery, sensation, emotion, and involuntary bodily reactions that the mind can’t really convey in a concise and linear way. So it’s hard for us to get through our own confusion while being unable to express any of it to the person we’re seeking help from.

Given how complex, multifaceted, and truly unique most journeys are – spending valuable therapeutic time explaining them leaves very little space for processing them. Top down approaches (eg. talk therapy) have their own strengths, but I firmly believe that these complex topics call for “bottom up” modalities that focus more on the body and the subconscious. That way the experience can remain rich and multifaceted as it’s integrated, without being collapsed through the narrow straw of cognitive processing.

therapy office

Why somatic therapy is a great fit

for psychedelic integration

  • Somatic work doesn’t rely on verbal narratives as its primary tool. It might take you many hours to explain the complexity of your journey – yet your body already has a unified sense / imprint of the situation that we can work with all at once. We can recruit your body in expressing, moving, and integrating the energy of your journey in a myriad ways.

    In somatic work we can access all of your “content” through other channels (eg. sensation, affect, movement, etc) that don’t rely on linear thought – this allows you to start unburdening your nervous system without getting stuck in loops of stories. That makes the sessions more simple, impactful, and efficient.

    There will of course still be plenty of space for us to talk about your experience and make meaning of it - but in this case, a coherent narrative would be an outcome of proper embodied integration, rather than a prerequisite for it.

  • Often big journeys can leave us feeling a bit dispersed, like we haven’t quite landed anywhere. While the details of the experience might still be up in the air, somatic work can help us locate your body in time and place - to create some sort of a bookend to your trip, so you can find some solid ground to integrate your journey from.

    If your experience was scary and/or disorienting, there might also be a lingering sense of unsafety or hypervigilance in the body. While this can certainly be talked about, your body needs a felt sense of safety - a real, embodied experience of returning to a world of finite and somewhat predictable reality.

  • It’s common to feel like the journey is too big to be “digested” - there might be so many strands of it that are all tied together, that it might feel like pulling at any thread would end up unleashing it all and re-creating the original overwhelm.

    There are many techniques in Somatic Experiencing that allow us to create some containment for the situation and to take small, manageable bites of the overall story to keep your nervous system within its zone of resiliency. That way you won’t have to process it all at once, and can integrate your journey in small increments that leave you room to breathe.

  • Sometimes psychedelics can bring to surface some old stagnant energies, memories, and experiences that had previously been buried in the body. As a result, it’s very common to have involuntary movements, sounds, sensations, and other physiological releases during the journey that may or may not have been allowed to run their full course.

    Somatic work can help the body complete some of those impulses in a safe and contained manner.

  • Psychedelics can and often do impact more than one aspect of us, and have a great way of connecting the body, mind, and spirit in rich and multifaceted ways. I find that it’s best to involve all of those aspects of ourselves during integration in order to preserve, and further foster that beautiful interconnectedness - without trying to collapse this entire rich experience into the cognitive realm.

  • Processing your journey is only part of the integration process; the other big piece is learning how to live in the world with your new level of awareness.

    Somatic work pays deliberate attention to supporting your nervous system in expanding its capacity to contain your new level of being. That way your post-journey self is not just confined to the wider container of your mind - it’s also embodied in real and grounded ways that help you create lasting change in your life.

Wondering if this work can be done online? Better than you’d think. Click here to find out more.

Ready to get started?

Book a free consultation.

It’s important that you feel safe, seen, and understood in our work together. You can tell me what you’re working on, and what’s important to you. I’ll let you know how I can help, and we’ll see if we’re a good fit! 

My office is in Vancouver, but I also offer online sessions - so wherever you are in the world, I’d be happy to work with you.

Got questions? Get in touch.

I know that the first steps are always the hardest. 

But you’re here taking them anyway, and that’s all that matters. 

I look forward to hearing from you, and I can’t wait to meet you.

If you prefer to reach out directly, my email is: shannon.solieva@gmail.com

The unique benefits of in–person somatic work

  • The most obvious benefit is the physical containment that a therapist’s office provides. It exists outside of all of your daily distractions, it’s safe and confidential, you don’t have to worry about any interruptions or multitasking, etc. and can just focus on yourself and your process.

    This can also create a bit of a “ritual” space for your body and mind. Having a dedicated healing space can prime you for deeper explorations, as all layers of you start to associate the physical place with the depths of your internal landscape. I often have unexpected insights on my way to my therapist’s office.

  • Being in a physical space with a neutral and compassionate other that you trust creates an excellent opportunity for boundary explorations. We get to play with where the chairs are in the room, how far we sit from each other, the angle at which we face (or don’t face) each other, etc.

    We get to help you find your embodied sense of safety around another person and give you a chance to practice setting, negotiating, and repairing your boundaries in physical and relational space. This can be a great way to process previous boundary violations and (re)establish a better sense of your present-day self.

  • None of our “real world” interactions are neutral, and there might be many ways we override our real preferences for the benefit of the situation (or the relationship) at hand. Being in the same physical space gives us an opportunity to identify and attune to your actual rhythm of connection.

    How much eye contact / attention is too much (or too little)? What is it really like for you to be seen? Can you hold on to your internal process while in my presence, or do you become preoccupied with my experience of you?

    The interpersonal space of the therapy office is such rich territory for us to explore the way you relate to others in your world. And, it is as close to a neutral space as you can get - who knows what you’ll discover about yourself if the situation doesn’t demand that you show up in a specific way?

  • Somatic modalities offer a whole range of ways our bodies can interact in service of your nervous system. Touch work can be a brilliant way to gain access to experiences stored in the body that might otherwise remain out of reach.

    Various types of touch work can offer a felt sense of safety and reassurance, bring body-memories to the surface, and offer the support and containment your nervous system might need to release some of those old stories.

    This type of touch work is done fully clothed, and is offered in a gentle and attuned way based off of your body’s response.

  • Our nervous systems are very responsive to our social environments, and we can use the therapeutic container to help your nervous system regulate off of your therapist’s.

    That shared physical space is rich with all kinds of relational data that your nervous system is (re)calibrating off of, and it can be very supportive to have your body learn new skills through this non-verbal, visceral experience.

  • In-person sessions are also great at providing more options for spontaneous movement, sound, physical impulses, etc. without having to adjust your headphones, reposition your laptop, etc.

    Ultimately we want to restore more vibrancy, fluidity, and spontaneity in your nervous system, and it can be lovely to be a in a physical space that allows for uninterrupted connection - no matter where your impulses take you.

All of that being said, in-person somatic sessions might not be accessible to you for a wide variety of reasons. As you’ll see on this page, somatic work is still immensely helpful when done online, and a skilled practitioner can still support a deeply embodied experience throughout your sessions.