Learning to ask for and receive help through plant medicine with Mary Sanders, LCSW

*Formerly Everyday Nonordinary* Welcome to Integrating Psychedelics, featuring insights gleaned from psychedelic experiences and conversations around how to integrate this wisdom into our daily lives. I'm your host, Jenny Weinar, and in today's episode I'm speaking with Mary Sanders, LCSW.

Mary Sanders is a committed licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and social justice advocate. Mary's goal is to explore the depths of transgenerational trauma and peel off the layers of oppression so that we can relate to our true self. Mary's experience is working with Black, Indigenious, and People of Color (BIPOC), 2SLGBTQIA+, veterans, immigrants and refugees from Iraq and Syria, and foster youth. Mary is committed to treating trauma, certified in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and is a somatic experiencing psychotherapist in-training. Additionally, Mary is a trained psychedelic-assisted therapist from California Institute of Integral Studies' Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research, MAPS, and Ketamine Training Center. Mary is founding board member of the People of Color Psychedelic Collective and works towards collective healing and justice for Black, Indigenous people, and People of Color within the context of psychedelics. Mary integrates her extensive training and lived experience in her private practice, EMPATH Center and social work role at Veteran Affairs' homeless programs in San Francisco, CA.

I loved this conversation with Mary and could have kept talking for hours. In this episode we discuss:

• How Mary’s longtime interest in altered states of consciousness led her to psychedelics as a way of exploring past traumas and attachment wounds


• How altered states of consciousness support us in confronting uncomfortable sensations in the body


• The corrective emotional experience that comes through asking for and receiving help in medicine circles


• How licensed providers in the psychedelic space can learn from underground and indigenous practitioners


• The role of psychedelics in both pleasure and healing, and the significance of this particularly for Black and Brown communities


• Singing and dancing as psychedelic integration practices that help us explore the full range of self-expression


• Carrying the lesson of asking for and receiving help in the medicine session out into other areas of life


• How modeling asking for help to others can deepen our relationships


• The need for greater representation of marginalized identities in the psychedelic space


• ...and more!

You can connect with Mary through her private practice and through the People of Color Psychedelic Collective on their website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

You can connect with me on Instagram, however I'm actually trying to transition away from social media a bit (not entirely) - so your best bet is to sign up for my newsletter where I'll share occasional reflections and updates on services I'm offering. You can also show this episode some love by subscribing, leaving a positive review and sharing.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. Please do your research about the legality and safety of any substance you are considering using and make the most informed choice possible for your unique situation and self.