Written by: Cheri L McDonald PhD LMFT, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As a seasoned healer, I've dedicated my life to guiding individuals toward a path of health and well-being, tapping into the inner healer within us to ignite lasting change.
Our approach to healing in our society has changed significantly in the last few years. Society is no longer content with band-aid fixes or superficial adjustments. We are delving further and looking for methods that deal with the wounds of the mind, body, and soul, which are the underlying causes of our suffering.
The outcomes have been nothing short of remarkable. Mental health care is changing, with more holistic approaches that acknowledge the connection of the mind, body, and spirit replacing more conventional techniques. Resulting in increasing interest in studying the draw toward, and the effect of participating in holistic interventions versus engaging in a singular modality, such as talk or cognitive behavioral therapy.
According to a study conducted by Oxford Treatment, “Holistic therapy can be effective when used as part of an overall, comprehensive treatment plan that also incorporates more traditional, evidence-based therapies." This underscores the importance of integrating holistic practices into broader treatment strategies to optimize therapeutic outcomes.
Moreover, a plethora of research has illustrated the advantages of integrating holistic interventions—particularly mindfulness-based practices—with contingency management. Integrated approaches have demonstrated improved treatment outcomes, including higher rates of program completion and abstinence, reduced levels of sadness, less severe addiction symptoms, and a decreased likelihood of stimulant usage.
Furthermore, holistic approaches may establish wholesome routines that patients carry with them outside of the therapeutic environment. Somatic therapy and exercise interventions offer support to the formation of long-term health behaviors that benefit people even after treatment has ended. Individuals can enhance their physical well-being and develop long-lasting lifestyle adjustments that support their continuous path toward health and wellness by encouraging a holistic approach to healing.
After decades of practice, I have become a part of a revolution in humanity's development and metamorphosis, as I recognize this is the beginning of discovering the methods for life-altering and lasting healing. HIT and psychedelic-assisted therapy leads society in further addressing the underlying imbalances that cause suffering and illness. To bring about long-lasting change from the inside out, the whole person—mind, body, and soul—must be treated.
I advocate for meeting the individual where they are, and with this, an eclectic approach speaks the language of the inner healer and an open ear to hear the quiet whisperings of what ails and heals the mind, body, and soul. The recent discovery of integrative, psychedelic-assisted treatment is becoming more and more popular. I confess this was a shift I had to come to understand, psychedelics? Is that not a little outrageous? Believe me, I have learned the windows open to the light within and witnessed how psychedelics can influence the course of deep healing when set and setting are honored as integration occurs under the care of a certified practitioner.
Imagine yourself setting out on a life-changing adventure that will take you to the depths of your awareness, where you will discover layers of anguish, trauma, and limiting beliefs that have been preventing you from moving forward. You can face these inner demons head-on and emerge from the chains of your past into a future full of possibilities and life-altering healing.
The revival of psychedelic-assisted therapy is extremely encouraging development in the field of holistic treatment. Engaging in a safe, therapeutic environment, psychedelic medications such as MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine—which have their roots in ancient traditions—have demonstrated unmatched effectiveness in treating a variety of mental health conditions.
"The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future" by Johnson, Richards, and Griffiths (2008) provides an overview of the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs, including their use in psychotherapy and spiritual exploration. It highlights the value of psychedelic-assisted therapy in fostering holistic healing and life-changing experiences by discussing the results of clinical investigations and case reports. Research highlights the significance of creating secure and encouraging conditions for people receiving psychedelic-assisted therapy, adding credence to the growing interest in integrative techniques that recognize the interconnection between the mind, body, and spirit.
However, holistic and integrative treatment goes beyond psychedelics. As society accepts a wide range of techniques that support the journey toward wholeness in a synergistic way, such as hypnotherapy and mindfulness exercises, energy work and healing, and nutritional and bodywork education, lasting well-being is possible.
Today brings new hope and answers, the HIT attitude that can significantly improve life as society takes charge of health and well-being. It's time to adopt a holistic healing philosophy, access the knowledge of the inner healer, and set out on a path to profound healing and enduring change.
A Journey of Transformation
There is a significant movement in the field of healing as it has become a journey of transformation—again, going beyond conventional approaches and exploring the intricate relationship between the mind, body, and spirit. Witnessing the power of inner healing intelligence has evolved into an unshakable dedication to assisting people as they discover their blueprint toward health and well-being.
Presenting Holistic Integral Therapy (HIT)©—a revolutionary method created after helping people and families heal from traumatic situations for close to 40 years. Holistic Integral Therapy (HIT) treats the whole person, from the inside out for symptoms, effective healing, and addressing the root causes of suffering by integrating the desired shifts and creative changes that come. HIT fosters the mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of well-being to produce a healing experience that is unlike any other.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy, along with HIT can lead to deep understanding and insight where people can achieve significant emotional liberation, enhance their consciousness, and reestablish a connection with their spiritual side.
"Psychedelics and Psychiatry: A Historical Overview" by Vollenweider and Kometer (2010) provides insights into the use of psychedelics in psychiatry, tracing their evolution from ancient ceremonial practices to modern therapeutic applications. This study explores how psychedelic-assisted therapy can help people grow personally, improve their self-awareness, and recover emotionally. The historical viewpoint highlights the revolutionary potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy in conjunction with holistic approaches such as Holistic Integration Therapy (HIT), providing individuals with a holistic healing pathway that considers their mind, body, and spirit.
The potential for transformation
1. Emotional release: Assisting in the release of trauma and unresolved emotional events can generate deep-seated barriers that obstruct personal growth. Psychedelic-assisted therapy, in conjunction with HIT and the expertise of a trauma specialist, offers a safe environment where patients can confront and let go of suppressed emotions. Becoming free from negative outcomes and old traumas through the blueprint process makes it possible for profound and permanent healing.
2. Self-awareness: Psychedelic users encounter altered states of consciousness that aid in their increased awareness of their ideas, feelings, and behaviors. An individual’s heightened self-awareness leads to self-reflection and spurs them forward in personal growth, empowering them to change their life for the better and embrace healthier coping mechanisms. Transformative healing from the inside out can be attained via self-reflection and accessing one's inner healing wisdom.
3. Mind-body connection: Beyond cerebral constraints, psychedelic experiences often disclose a deep sense of interconnectedness between the mind, body, and spirit. This enhanced sense of connectedness cultivates a profound awareness of one's emotional and physical needs, enabling clients to prioritize self-care and achieve holistic well-being.
4. Spiritual reawakening: Patients who report having spiritual experiences during psychedelic-assisted therapy report a profound reconnection with their spiritual foundation. Experiences can improve a person's life path by giving them a sense of direction, meaning, and unity with the universe.
5. Perspectives: Long-lasting change requires upending ingrained beliefs and cognitive patterns. Psychedelic-assisted treatment, under the guidance of an integrated trauma therapist, provides a unique opportunity to reevaluate these perspectives, enabling patients to embrace more adaptable and productive ways of thinking.
Embracing a holistic viewpoint, we can adopt a thorough healing strategy that considers the connections between the mind, body, and spirit. Combining the HIT technique with psychedelic-assisted therapy, people can go on a life-changing path of self-awareness and development. These cutting-edge techniques can transcend past traumas, develop a sense of self, and strengthen our bond with our spiritual nature. With the combination of holistic therapy and psychedelic-assisted treatment, patients have a rare chance to achieve internal healing and profound emotional release. The way is open toward a better, more connected future where people can prosper in every area of their lives as we adopt this holistic perspective.
Cheri L McDonald PhD LMFT, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
As the founder and Clinical Director of A Place to Turn, Dr. Cheri McDonald, PhD, LMFT, PATP, shines as a light of hope, providing a lifeline for individuals looking for change. Dr. Cheri is a trauma specialist with more than 35 years of experience in psychotherapy and hypnotherapy. She is unwavering in her commitment to helping clients overcome the complex web of losses and difficulties that stand in the way of their genuine wholeness and pleasure in life.
Her breakthrough Holistic Integral Therapy (HIT), which she invented to help clients access their inner healing knowledge, is at the core of her purpose. She sets out on a trip with you using HIT, fusing your mind, body, and spirit to advance your total progress and true wholeness.
Dr. Cheri's vision also encompasses DrCheriBreakFreeTM, a consulting program painstakingly created to guarantee that radical changes spread throughout families and communities, paving the road for achievement and an unbroken chain of integration work. Her most recent achievement is her certification in psychedelic-assisted therapy, which she smoothly integrates with the other tools in her toolbox, such as hypnotherapy, EMDR, energy work, trauma-informed yoga, and IFS, to speed up and elevate the healing process.
Dr. Cheri is an author of three Amazon number one selling books sharing her insights, tools and stories of success in the hope of spreading the power of everyone’s capacity to heal from the inside-out and assisting countless patients to overcome the avalanche of severe PTSD, her unwavering commitment for empowering people. Her transformative approach has sparked long-lasting rehabilitation and nurtured her clients' development into their best selves.
