Exploring the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Sex Therapy with Devin Green, LPCC

If you’ve been following along with LAST for a while, you’ve hopefully had a chance to meet Devin Green, LPCC, and read in earlier posts about the new frontier in psychotherapy, psychedelic-assisted therapy. Devin is a compassionate practitioner of this less-traditional modality, and was featured recently on The Sex Talk with Mou, detailing her experiences with it, the multifarious benefits it affords, and a bit about what the future holds in terms of legalities, regulations, and mainstream views about it.

Already a licensed sex therapist, Devin was always aware of her interest in non-ordinary states of consciousness as a means to healing. When she discovered the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), she found a more humanistic method of the practice and study of psychotherapy that resonated with her personal approach and, in a sense, re-wired her training. She is not alone in feeling that traditional therapy can be more limited, a bit antiquated, and doesn’t leave too much room for inclusivity.

Fortunately, Devin found a way to join the ranks of specialists expanding their practices to include ketamine-assisted therapy to provide an alternative route for those interested. There are a couple of different forms this and related therapies take–one of which is essentially a “trip sitter,” who provides “on demand” integration of therapy, concurrent with the active use of the medicine. While there are many who offer this service, Devin focuses instead on the “pre” and “post” work with clients. She breaks it down into three different stages:

1. Preparation – In the preparation session with Devin, clients talk about trip safety, realistic expectations and what to expect, and setting specific intentions for their journey with the medication.
2. Medicine – The trip itself is between the client and the medicine, without a therapist’s direct involvement.
3. Integration – The integration session with Devin is a post-mortem, of sorts, to unpack, process, and understand how to apply the trip experience to growth and healing.

In the video, Devin elaborates further on what those experiences can be like, how many preparation/integration sessions might be indicated, and how the psychiatrist she works with comes into play with the medicine and dosing itself.

It is important to note the distinction between any psychedelic-integrated therapy, from what is commonly viewed as casual, recreational drug use. Though we’re not here to comment on or judge those experiences either, what Devin and her like-minded practitioners focus on really is an integration of how medicines such as ketamine can unlock a deeper understanding of the self, and thus work together with other modalities, such as somatic therapy, yoga, and similar tools, to bring greater healing and self-compassion. As for Devin, she has a particular interest in the integration of her psychedelic-assisted work, and her sex therapy work, especially as it applies to the LGBTQIA community. With this nontraditional therapy, how radically can one alleviate and heal trauma, conditioning, shame, and guilt to embrace and accept their gender, sexuality, and whole self?

As we look to the future of this exciting development, there are, of course, many legal ramifications, and initiatives happening all over the U.S. to change the landscape of psychedelic drug usage as medicinal and therapeutic. “Treatment is evolving with humanity,” Devin says, which provides a hopeful outlook as acknowledgment grows that perhaps traditional talk therapy just isn’t for everyone.

Click the link below to watch the full episode of The Sex Talk and dive deeper into the process/benefits; accessibility; rates; and the pros and cons of greater legalization and regulation!