MENTAL HEALTH & COUNSELING SERVICES IN CONNECTICUT AND ONLINE
Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapies
Ancient Wisdom for Mental Health
Individuals, Couples, or Groups
The recent interest in traditional and indigenous healing approaches has provided a number of promising medical benefits for people suffering from mental health conditions. These treatments are also useful for resolving relational problems and facilitating personal growth. Ayahuasca is one of the most respected and ancient traditional plant medicines for mental health. It has been used ceremonially for hundreds or thousands of years as a practice to promote wellbeing and purge negative energy. Ayahuasca is not yet available in the US or Canada, outside of a research study or specific religious groups. However, the Behavioral Wellness Clinic is now able to make this time-honored traditional medicine available to our clients in collaboration with our expert medical partners in South America.
Therapists at BWC work with people who are on a journey of healing and self-discovery involving ayahuasca or other plant medicines.
Ayahuasca is a plant medicine believed to offer spiritual and psychological healing properties. The active ingredients include the chemicals DMT and harmaline. Ayahuasca is served as a thick drink, made from two plants: Psychotria viridis shrub (Chacruna), and Banisteriopsis caapi vine (Ayahuasca, Jagube, Caapi, or Yagé). Combining these two plants forms a powerful brew that causes non-ordinary states of consciousness that may include visions, out-of-body experiences, and psychological insights.
During the ayahuasca therapeutic experience, it increases levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain and has been shown to stimulate neurogenesis in adults. This leads to antidepressant effects and increases in creative thinking while decreasing convergent thinking, which helps people become unstuck in their thought patterns. Ayahuasca ceremonies can be intense and difficult — so it is important that an experienced healer facilitate the experience.
Contact the Behavioral Wellness Clinic to learn more about accessing ayahuasca treatment »
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Some Ayahuasca Clinical Research
Clinical research has shown that ayahuasca can be used to address a variety of problems, including drug addiction, eating disorders, grief, PTSD, and depression. There are over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles exploring the benefits of ayahuasca. Below are just a few.
Palhano-Fontes, F., Barreto, D., Onias, H., Andrade, K. C., Novaes, M. M., … Araújo, D. B. (2019). Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Psychological Medicine, 49(4), 655–663.
Renelli, M., Fletcher, J., Tupper, K. W., Files, N., Loizaga-Velder, A., & Lafrance, A. (2018). An exploratory study of experiences with conventional eating disorder treatment and ceremonial ayahuasca for the healing of eating disorders. Eating and Weight Disorders.
Murphy-Beiner, A., & Soar, K. (2020). Ayahuasca’s ‘afterglow’: Improved mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in ayahuasca drinkers. Psychopharmacology.
González, D., Cantillo, J., Pérez, I., Farré, M., Feilding, A., Obiols, J. E., & Bouso, J. C. (2020). Therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in grief: A prospective, observational study. Psychopharmacology.
BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS CLINIC
392 MERROW RD, SUITE E
TOLLAND, CT 06084
OFFICE: (860) 830-7838
FAX: (860) 454-0667
EMAIL: clinicalcare@behavioralwellnessclinic.com
CLINICAL DIRECTOR: MONNICA WILLIAMS, PHD
OFFICE MANAGER: JASMINE FAIRFAX
BUSINESS MANAGER: MATTHEW JAHN
FRONT DESK PHONE HOURS
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Tu: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
We: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Th: 8:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Fr: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sa: by appointment