3 April 2026
Psychedelic Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Restoring Your Mental Health and Reclaiming Your Life
An Excerpt: Nurturing a Growth-Oriented Mindset
By: Will Van Derveer, MD & Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC
MAPS Bulletin: Volume XXXVI
A psychedelic therapy session can unlock powerful insights, but lasting change requires ongoing effort. Many people come to this work feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and desperate for relief. A single session may offer a glimpse of possibility where they once saw only obstacles, but the real challenge is integrating this new perspective into daily life—a process that takes time, intention, and action.
This is where a growth-oriented mindset becomes essential. Coined by psychologist Carol Dweck in her 2006 book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, a “growth mindset” is the belief that personal development is always possible. Unlike a fixed mindset, which sees abilities as unchangeable, a growth mindset embraces challenges, setbacks, and discomfort as opportunities to learn and evolve. This perspective is deeply connected to post-traumatic growth, where adversity becomes a catalyst for meaning, resilience, and transformation. Instead of letting trauma define you, it becomes a stepping stone toward renewed purpose and appreciation for life.
A common misconception is that a growth mindset means always feeling positive—it doesn’t. It allows space for all emotions while framing life as a process of continuous learning. After psychedelic therapy, this shift is crucial for sustaining change. Depression, for example, can make even basic tasks feel impossible. While therapy can bring relief, long-term progress depends on taking small steps forward—doing laundry, making a budget, applying for a job—until what once seemed unattainable becomes manageable.
To cultivate a growth mindset, engage in practices that help reframe challenges, such as journaling, therapy, open discussions, and surrounding yourself with people who encourage growth. Integration groups, meditation circles, and spiritual communities can also provide support. Though embracing discomfort isn’t easy, actively seeking growth is key to lasting transformation.
How might you shift your perspective on challenges, seeing them as opportunities rather than obstacles? What small steps can you take today to nurture a growth mindset, even when you are facing discomfort? Who in your life models this mindset, and how can their example inspire you?
Tools For Turning Insights Into Action
The real test of any mental-health treatment isn’t the insights it provides, but how those insights translate into action. Without action, even the most profound realizations remain just ideas—glimpses of possibility rather than actual change. Taking the first steps to turn insight into habit is what ultimately creates a more fulfilling and goal-oriented life.
In the weeks after a psychedelic session, many participants feel a surge of motivation. Non-ordinary states of consciousness can make change feel effortless, as if a path forward has been cleared. But as daily life resumes, sustaining those changes requires intention, discipline, and the right support. While mindset is crucial, real transformation happens through practical tools and strategies that bridge the gap between realization and action. With the right approach, turning insights into habits becomes not only manageable but deeply rewarding. Let’s explore the tools that make this process most effective.
Self-Reflective Methods for Going Inward
Practices like meditation, breath work, and journaling are powerful tools for integrating psychedelic insights into daily life. They help ground you in the present, deepen self-awareness, and turn realizations into lasting change. Regular practice fosters emotional balance, clarity, and stability—key to sustaining the openness and creativity sparked by a psychedelic experience.
For those new to meditation, starting small—just two to five minutes a day—can make it approachable. Focus on your breath, gently bringing your attention back when your mind wanders. It might help to follow guided meditations, do walking meditation, or join a group that provides support. Experienced meditators may deepen their practice with techniques like loving-kindness meditation, body scans, or mantra recitation. Over time, meditation can open pathways to profound realizations—much like a psychedelic journey, only cultivated naturally.
Journaling is another valuable tool, helping to clarify insights and translate them into action. Writing down key emotions, patterns, or breakthroughs can uncover deeper layers of self-understanding. If you prefer a visual approach, creating a vision board can bring goals and intentions into focus. Time in nature also supports integration, grounding you in the present and fostering a sense of connection—whether through walking, listening to the wind, or simply observing sunlight filtering through trees.
These practices align with the expanded awareness psychedelics activate, encouraging creativity, reflection, and growth. What small steps can you take to weave them into your routine? How might meditation, journaling, or time in nature support your journey toward greater self-awareness and inner peace?
Behavioral Hacks that Stick
Changing deeply ingrained habits—like those around eating, exercise, sleep, and socializing—requires intentional strategies. Atomic Habits by James Clear is an excellent
resource for building sustainable habits. One of the most effective ways to make lasting changes is to align new behaviors with your core values. When actions resonate with what matters most to you, they become more meaningful and easier to maintain. For example, if family is a core value, linking exercise to spending quality time with loved ones—such as taking hikes together—can create a strong incentive. This approach turns abstract intentions into personal motivations, making change feel natural rather than forced.
Psychedelic therapy uniquely supports this process by fostering clarity around goals and the drive to make real, actionable changes. Unlike traditional therapy, which can sometimes feel open-ended, psychedelic sessions often provide heightened insight, making integration the bridge between realization and action. A therapist can help you create a personalized road map to turn insights into tangible steps, ensuring they feel achievable and connected to your larger vision for your life.
Setting clear, actionable goals is essential. The SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—helps break big ambitions into manageable steps, keeping progress steady and realistic. Regularly revisiting and adjusting goals ensures they remain aligned with your evolving insights and values.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of celebration. Growth isn’t just about reaching a destination; it’s about appreciating every step along the way. Psychedelic
experiences often teach us to savor the present, and acknowledging small wins reinforces progress while cultivating gratitude. Lasting transformation happens when change is rooted in values, guided by clear goals, and fueled by joy along the way.
How can you align new behaviors with your core values to make them more meaningful? What specific, actionable goals can guide your transformation? How can you celebrate progress—no matter how small—to stay motivated and connected to the process?
Will Van Derveer, MD
Will Van Derveer, MD, is a leader in the adoption of integrative psychiatry practices to treat mental health issues. He is cofounder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and Integrative Psychiatry Centers and cohost of The Higher Practice Podcast for Optimal Mental Health. He has published research on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.
Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC
Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC, is cofounder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and Integrative Psychiatry Centers and cohost of The Higher Practice Podcast for Optimal Mental Health. He has worked with individuals, couples, and groups as an integrative psychotherapist and coach since 2005.
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