Traditional vs. Psychedelic-Adapted 12 Steps

🔄 Traditional vs. Psychedelic-Adapted 12 Steps

Traditional AA Step

Psychedelic-Adapted Step (PIR)

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

We admitted we were powerless over our addiction—but not over our healing.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves—and within ourselves—could restore us to wholeness.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Made a decision to align with our higher self and the universal wisdom within and around us.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Made a courageous and compassionate inventory of our shadows and light.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Shared our truth with ourselves, a trusted other, and the universe.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Became willing to release what no longer serves us.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Invited transformation through humility, intention, and sacred practice.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

Acknowledged those we’ve harmed and prepared to make amends with integrity.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Made amends where possible, guided by compassion and wisdom.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

Practiced ongoing self-reflection and accountability.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him.

Sought deeper connection through meditation, integration, and sacred medicine.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics...

Having awakened to our true nature, we share our journey with others and live in alignment with our values.

🧠 What’s the Big Shift?

• Language: PIR softens religious language and opens the door to broader spiritual interpretations.

• Agency: Emphasizes personal empowerment and co-creation with the divine or inner self.

• Integration: Psychedelic experiences are seen as tools—not shortcuts—for deeper healing and insight.

🧘 How Integration Therapy Works (Session by Session)

Integration therapy helps people process and apply insights from psychedelic experiences. Here’s a typical flow3:

1. Preparation: Set intentions, clarify goals, and build trust with the therapist.

2. Experience: The psychedelic session itself—often guided or supported.

3. Integration Sessions:

   • Session 1: Debrief the experience—what came up emotionally, spiritually, physically.

   • Session 2–3: Identify patterns, insights, and how they relate to your recovery or life story.

   • Session 4+: Create action steps—like setting boundaries, making amends, or shifting habits.

   • Ongoing: Use journaling, somatic practices, or spiritual tools to stay grounded and grow.

Some therapists use Internal Family Systems (IFS), ACT, or transpersonal therapy to help clients integrate their experiences into daily life