Sophie Whitney

Therapist Description:

Associate Psychologist

Specialties: Psychedelic integration, depth psychology, transpersonal psychology, mindfulness, meditation

Services Offered: Individual, group, couples, psychedelic integration (individuals), psychedelic integration (groups), pre- and post-ritual counseling, mind-body therapy, mindfulness training, yoga therapy, dieta counseling

Sessions: Telehealth & In person (San Diego and Ojai, CA)

Biography

I assist individuals who have had a psychedelic experience and whom are looking to ground and integrate that experience into their day to day life. Psychedelic integration can be understood as the process one continuously undertakes to bolster the insights they gained from an experience and live from that place of new knowledge, insight, and understanding. Through this process, individuals are supported and guided to uncover new insights and meaning post-transformative experience. This support is also open to those who are preparing for a psychedelic experience.

My orientation and approach is based in depth and transpersonal psychology. I received my M.A. in psychology from Columbia University’s Spirituality Mind Body Institute, am a certified yoga teacher and meditation teacher, and am currently pursuing my doctorate in clinical psychology. I have worked at Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica (an ayahuasca retreat center) where I worked closely with the chief medical officer Dr. Jeff McNairy and owner and founder Gerry Powell.

I have also worked for the Psychedelic Education and Continuing Care Program in New York City under Dr. Ingmar Gorman where I helped facilitate and participated in their Psychedelics 101 & 102 training led by Dr. Gorman and Dr. Elizabeth Neilson whom both work in psychedelic integration. In working together, integration becomes a practice in compassion, growth, and strength. I believe that integrating our psychedelic experiences is in service to both the individual and the collective, and that through the process we can find great joy and meaning.

How I work with clients

I have found depth and transpersonal psychology to be a meaningful and supportive framework from which to work with psychedelic experiences and the integration process. My training is predominantly in depth, Jungian, and transpersonal psychological traditions however, I also bring in mindfulness-based approaches as much of my masters education focused on spirituality and the mind-body connection. Clients will be encouraged and supported to feel both expansive and grounded through customized means of approach. Each individual is unique, but we all share a desire to connect with our experience of ourselves, others, and the world on a deeper and more meaningful level.