Make Sense of Your Psychedelic Experience.
At Raphael we provide expert, non-judgmental therapy customized to your needs to help you process, heal, and integrate experiences of altered states of consciousness - whether profound, confusing, or overwhelming.
What you went through is worth understanding and we're here to help.
We Support
-
Patients completing a clinical or research psychedelic protocol
-
People seeking help translating a psychedelic experience into lasting change
-
Individuals experiencing trauma-related symptoms, depression, or anxiety
-
Persons experiencing interpersonal difficulties that persist or emerge after a psychedelic experience
-
Referring clinicians, research programs, and organizations seeking a reliable partner
-
Anyone seeking psychedelic aftercare, regardless of where or when their experience occurred
Note: We understand that the legal landscape surrounding psychedelic substances is evolving and that stigma persists. At Raphael, we provide a welcoming, judgment-free environment and respect your privacy, maintaining confidentiality within professional and legal requirements.
Who We Are / What We're About
A psychedelic journey can take many forms. Whether you want support and consultation before starting a journey or help integrating a past psychedelic experience, we are here to help you navigate it all.
With more than 30 years as a psychologist, including 10 years in psychedelic research, it has become clear to me that psychedelic aftercare requires an individualized approach developed in collaboration with you. Psychedelic experiences, no matter the context, can be powerful, life-changing, but also destabilizing. They may bring relief, raise difficult questions, or change how you see yourself and your life. My long career as a clinical psychologist has taught me to begin by listening. I want to understand what happened to you, what matters to you now, and what you would consider helpful.
Some people come because symptoms of depression, anxiety, or trauma are still affecting them. Others want to explore changes in their relationships, life goals, or sense of meaning. You don't need a single reason to seek care here, and there's no predetermined idea of what your experience should mean. You will be met with clinical knowledge, openness, curiosity, and a deep commitment to helping people move forward in ways that are meaningful to them.
This is the idea behind Raphael.
Through our clinical work and research, we keep developing more precise ways to match each person with the care that works for you.
Symptoms in the Context of Psychedelic Experiences
A challenging psychedelic experience can be associated with a variety of symptoms. We describe some of them below, but this is not an exhaustive list. If you are unsure whether we can help, please contact us.
Anxiety
Symptoms can include: worry, fear, muscle tension, racing heart, or sweating. Anxiety can arise during or after a psychedelic experience. Speaking with a clinician experienced in psychedelic aftercare can help you understand what you are experiencing and find ways to address it.
Depression
Symptoms can include: sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep, or feelings of hopelessness. Some people experience new or worsening depression after a challenging psychedelic experience. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include suicidal thoughts.
Trauma & PTSD
Syptoms can include: intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance of people or situations, changes in mood or beliefs, or feeling constantly on alert. A past traumatic event may resurface during a psychedelic experience, leaving you wanting support in understanding and processing it. A psychedelic experience can itself feel traumatic. We provide expert, trauma-informed care to help you process what happened and move forward.
HPPD
(Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder). Symptoms can include: persistent or recurring visual disturbances after the substance's effects have worn off. These symptoms can be distressing and can interfere with daily life.
Spiritual Emergency
Symptoms can include: overwhelming experiences involving meaning, identity, or spiritual beliefs. “Spiritual emergency” describes a psychological or spiritual crisis in which intense experiences become difficult to understand or integrate, affecting everyday functioning. Experiences involving detachment from reality require careful clinical assessment to identify appropriate care.