Cannabis and the Deep Psyche in Psychotherapy
The Psychedelic Nature of Cannabis
Cannabis is often misunderstood. For some, it’s seen as just a way to relax or unwind. For others, it’s something to avoid altogether. But for those who approach it with intention and reverence, cannabis can become a surprisingly powerful ally for healing, insight, and emotional processing.
It’s important to say upfront: cannabis isn’t for everyone, and it isn’t always easy. Like any psychedelic, it can open the door to deeper layers of the self—but it can also stir up fear, discomfort, or overwhelm.
This post is for those over 21 who already have experience with cannabis and live in California, where use is legal. If you’re unsure how your body will respond or have a complex mental health history, please speak with a medical provider first—and always start with the smallest possible dose.
A Mirror for the Unconscious
Cannabis has a way of amplifying whatever is already inside you. When used mindfully, it can bring unconscious emotions, old stories, and forgotten parts of the self into the light. Sometimes this leads to insight or emotional release. Other times, it can feel like too much, too fast. The key is in how we approach it.
Without awareness, cannabis can become a tool for checking out, numbing, or avoiding discomfort. But with care and intention, it can become something else entirely—a mirror, a guide, a doorway inward.
Opening to What’s Beneath the Surface
Cannabis isn’t just about feeling good. It can bring up grief, old fears, or buried memories. If you’ve been carrying pain for a long time—especially pain that never had a safe place to land—cannabis may help it surface. That’s not a sign that something’s gone wrong. It’s a sign your system is ready to feel what it couldn’t feel before.
When that happens, it’s important to go slow, stay grounded, and offer yourself compassion. If the experience becomes overwhelming, fast-acting CBD can help counterbalance the effects of THC. And for those in distress, the Fireside Project offers free, peer-led psychedelic support at 62-FIRESIDE.
A Sacred Relationship
Long before cannabis was used recreationally, it was treated as a sacred plant. In many ancient cultures, it was seen as a tool for connecting with spirit, accessing deeper wisdom, and tending to the soul. Somewhere along the way, we lost that reverence.
But we can bring it back. By slowing down and approaching cannabis with intention, we can build a relationship with the plant that supports emotional healing and inner growth—not escape.
Listening Through the Body
Cannabis doesn’t just impact the mind—it also speaks to the body. Many people notice an increased awareness of breath, sensation, and subtle shifts in energy. This heightened sensitivity can help us connect with parts of ourselves we usually ignore or override.
If you tend to live in your head, cannabis may help you drop into your body. If you’re carrying unresolved trauma, the plant might help loosen some of that tension—especially when paired with mindfulness, breathwork, or gentle movement.
This is where cannabis can support trauma work. Not by erasing pain, but by creating enough safety and spaciousness to meet it with presence.
Cannabis in the Therapy Space
When someone brings cannabis into their healing journey, I always start with curiosity:
• What has your relationship with the plant been like?
• How do different doses affect you?
• What are you hoping to understand or feel?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But intention matters. When cannabis is used with a clear purpose—like exploring emotional blocks, accessing intuition, or connecting with the body—it can become a powerful tool in therapy.
We might set an intention like:
• “Help me see what I’ve been avoiding.”
• “Show me what needs to be felt.”
• “I’m ready to meet myself more honestly.”
Cannabis tends to respond to that kind of honest, open-hearted presence.
Creating a Personal Cannabis Ritual
If you’re using cannabis for self-inquiry outside of a therapy session, a little structure can go a long way. Here’s how you might create a simple ritual:
Set the space:
• Choose a quiet, comfortable place where you won’t be interrupted
• Dim the lights, light a candle, or play calming music
• Have a journal, a blanket, water or tea nearby
Begin with intention:
• Take a few deep breaths
• Speak your intention out loud or write it down
• Keep your heart open to whatever arises
Tune in gently:
• Notice what you feel in your body
• Welcome any emotions, images, or sensations that arise
• Allow spontaneous movements or expressions—tears, laughter, stillness
Afterward:
• Give yourself time to come back
• Eat something grounding if needed
• Reflect or journal on what came up
A Plant That Tells the Truth
Cannabis can act like a truth serum. Not because it gives you “answers,” but because it softens your defenses. Suddenly, things you’ve been avoiding might rise to the surface: a truth you haven’t wanted to admit, an emotion that’s been living in your body for years.
This process takes courage. It’s not always easy to face what’s been hidden. But when we do, we open the door to real change—not the kind that comes from forcing or fixing, but the kind that grows from seeing ourselves with honesty and compassion.
Integration Is Everything
The most important part of any deep experience is what happens after. Insights are only valuable if we take time to reflect on them and let them change us.
After a cannabis journey, you might ask yourself:
• What did I feel or notice that surprised me?
• What part of me needs more attention or care?
• Is there a message or truth I want to carry into my everyday life?
Talk about it in therapy. Write it down. Let it move through art, movement, or silence. That’s how the experience becomes part of your growth, rather than just a passing moment.
A Different Way to Relate
Cannabis doesn’t have to be about checking out. It can be about checking in—to your body, your truth, your longing for healing. When used with care, cannabis can help you build a deeper, more compassionate relationship with yourself.
It’s not a shortcut. It’s not a magic solution. But it can be a gentle companion on the journey inward—especially when the intention is to listen, not escape.
If you’re curious about integrating cannabis into your healing process in a safe, intentional way, feel free to reach out. You don’t have to navigate this alone.
I offer cannabis friendly and marijuana use therapy in Oakland, CA, and virtually throughout California. Contact me today to learn more.