Music for Psychedelic Therapy
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
— Nietzsche
Psychedelics and Music
The music you hear during a psychedelic session can have an incredible impact on your experience. Psychedelics heighten sensitivity and interest in music, making selecting a meaningful track important. The point of music during a psychedelic session is to deepen the experience, to help you explore new aspects of yourself, and to find release. Some music may be challenging, but like all the content that comes up in a psychedelic session - hard isn't bad. Think about your music selection as a support for diving as deeply as possible into yourself.
The Second Therapist: Music is the Heart of Psilocybin Therapy
When you enter a psilocybin session, you aren't just sitting in a room with a provider. There is a "second therapist" present: the music. In psychedelic work, we often talk about Set and Setting. "Set" is your internal mindset and intention. "Setting" is the physical environment around you. Music is the most powerful part of that setting—it acts as a bridge between your inner world and the outside environment, guiding the emotional flow of your journey.
Music and the "Somatic" Connection
Psilocybin can trigger synesthesia, a fascinating state where the senses "cross over." You might "see" the music as colors or "feel" the textures of a melody against your skin. This can be incredibly important for catalyzing healing.
Many of our deepest struggles—like trauma, depression, and anxiety—are somatic, meaning they are stored in the body, not just the mind. Music can reach into those physical spaces, gently "massaging" old emotional wounds and helping you release tension that words alone can’t touch.
Three Guidelines for a Healing Soundtrack
At Transcendent Health, we don't just put on a random playlist. We follow three strategic rules to ensure the music supports your transformation:
1. The Power of the Unfamiliar
We often use music that is new to you. Why? Because your favorite songs come with "baggage." A Top 40 hit might remind you of an ex-partner or a specific high school memory. Unfamiliar music provides a "blank canvas," allowing you to have a fresh experience without being pulled back into your past.
2. The Freedom of Instrumental Sounds
While lyrics can be beautiful, they are someone else’s thoughts. We primarily use instrumental music because it leaves room for your story. Without a singer telling you what to feel, your subconscious is free to wander and find its own meaning in the melody.
3. Strategic "Anchors"
While most of the music is new, we can weave in a few "Anchor Songs" chosen by you. These are tracks that have deep personal meaning or connect directly to your intention. These songs act as a "north star." If the journey becomes intense or confusing, hearing a familiar, meaningful song can remind you why you are here and give you the courage to keep going.
Guiding the Journey
Music provides the "container" for your experience. It can be a gentle hand on your shoulder during difficult moments or uplift during moments of joy. By carefully selecting the right sounds, we ensure that your "second therapist" is always leading you toward healing.
How to choose music for Psychedelic Assisted Therapy:
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Intention
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What is your intention for your journey? If you intend to process past relationships, consider including songs that were meaningful for you and previous partners. If your intention is to explore a different part of your personality, perhaps a genre of music represents the "different you" and can hep you embody a different part of your psyche. If you are intent on processing anger, consider more beat driven music, over neutral or soothing tracks.
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Memory
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What songs might you be avoiding? Music from a hard time or past relationship can be hard to listen to in ordinary circumstances. Psychedelics offer a buffer of psychedelic protection, and listening to songs from a past traumatic time can bring release.
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Variety
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Before your session, search for music outside your typical genres. Spotify suggestions are great for exploring new varieties.
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Flexibility
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Individual therapy allows you to choose a playlist that is right for you. Make sure to remember that you can ask your therapist to change the music at any time. Have a few options to choose from prepared ahead of time. Group therapy can be more difficult, because the music needs to support everyone in the group. Make music a part of the group preparation conversation, and have a plan for when the music needs to change.
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Arc
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Psychedelic experiences can have a specific arc to them - with a "peak" intensity happening for psilocybin about 45 min after administration and lasting for several hours. Consider the order of your music, and plan to make a most of the peak of your experience.
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Favorite Playlists:
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Transcendent Psilocybin Playlist
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"Our healing center created this playlist specifically to match the rhythm of a psilocybin session, featuring instrumentals, uplifting tracks, and the ebb and flow most clients need." - Dr. Ryan Phillips, Transcendent Owner and Facilitator
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This playlist made by Kelan Thomas for Chacruna is timed to be used with psilocybin. It has several smaller peaks with space for relatively calmer music in between.
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"I love this playlist because the music can be interpreted based on the emotion of the client - it doesn't force the client to feel one thing over another. The same song can be felt as happy or sad, and the flow has a cinematic quality." - Aleya Littleton, LPC, Psychedelic Therapist
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"This playlist is ambient. It also switches pacing, giving opportunity to break out of a 'funk.'" A favorite of Amanda Phillips, Transcendent Administrator.
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