I guess that as a professional, I am always trying to improve the way I work with my clients and how I can make the therapeutic or shamanic space more comfortable, accessible, and safe for them. Some professionals sometimes overlook this, as the environment and the energy surrounding the therapeutic work are not something they give much importance to in their degrees or master's degrees.

I sometimes wonder if my early connection with the work of psychedelic integration opened this deep understanding of how much set and setting are involved in the healing process, and how the environment, vibration of the space and the practitioner, the sense of safety of the environment for the client and many other factors in relation to the space are fundamental for the stabilisation process and the unwinding of the fight and flight response of the client.

In many ways, I view myself as a landscapist, navigating the potential reactions of clients to different environments and settings, as well as the potential of my own internal landscape. This perspective underscores that the modality of the therapeutic intervention is often a minor aspect of a successful intervention. Instead, it is the therapeutic rapport and the sense of safety established between practitioner and client that are the most reliable predictors of a healing experience.

As a practitioner, I am acutely aware of these factors from the moment a new client enters the space. I read the signs and interpret the symbolic and unconscious communication that flows between them, me, and the space. Holding the space is the cornerstone of shamanic work, allowing the client to delve into their shadows and unconscious, knowing that the practitioner is there to ensure their safety, provide reassurance, and offer encouragement when fear arises. But also, it is our role to be the voice of nurture and comfort when the journey becomes too daunting, and the client is not yet ready to confront their own trauma.

It is all about looking at the big picture and making sure that everything is considered, that we are holding in mind the potentialities of our work so that the other can use all the resources for their journey.

Hari om Tat Sat!