Therapists Top 12 Low-5 Questions

A report on therapeutic practices

The Rise of Therapeutic Practices

Nine remarkable months have passed since the inception of The Pattern Project. Our subscribers' innovative uses of low-dose 5-MeO-DMT have greatly enriched our understanding and for this, we are thankful.

Interest from mainstream and psychedelic-assisted therapists has been especially keen, leading to our research collective now supporting a nascent Community of Practice for Canadian therapists and facilitators. By gathering learnings from these professionals, who are exploring pairing low dose 5-MeO-DMT with their therapy techniques, we aim to develop the evidence base and best practices for low-dose’s therapeutic effectiveness and safety; capacity for integration into current models of mental healthcare; and potential to improve treatment access.

Top 12 Questions

As we support building the Communities of Practice, we’ve gathered dozens of questions¹ about pairing therapy with low-dose. Based on therapists’ feedback, these are the top 12:

1. Who is a good candidate for therapy with low-dose? Are there certain client profiles or conditions that are best suited?

2. What prerequisites should therapists have for working with low-dose, including personal experience with its effects, before integrating it into client treatment plans?

3. What barriers to adoption do therapists who have practiced with low-dose foresee?

4. Could low-dose be used to support couples therapy or group therapy?

5. In what ways might low-dose aid in the transition from a state of mindfulness to deeper, more profound states of awareness, without overwhelming the client?

6. What best practices have emerged for titrating dosages to align with therapeutic goals and client sensitivity?

7. How does the immediate onset and shorter duration of low-dose's effects influence the structure and flow of a therapy session, including integration and closure?

8. What unique considerations should therapists keep in mind when introducing low-dose into modalities such as IFS or Gestalt Therapy, to ensure a productive session?

9. How can therapists navigate the varying responses to low-dose, from profound stillness to expressive somatic releases, to maintain a supportive and adaptive therapeutic environment?

10. What common experiences or side effects should clinicians be prepared to address during a low-dose session, ensuring client comfort and safety?

11. What is the potential for abuse or dependency with low-dose 5-MeO-DMT?

12. How do the accessibility and cost of low-dose therapy compare to other forms of psychedelic-assisted therapy?

Help Shape the Future of Therapy

As we continue to explore the potential of low-dose 5-MeO-DMT, we invite you to join our journey. If you have experiences, insights or protocols related to pairing low-dose 5-MeO-DMT with therapy, please contribute to our Community of Practice by reaching out to hello@patternproject.ca. Additionally, by becoming a paid subscriber, you not only have access to our full research but also support the sustainability of this important work.

Together, we can break new ground in the field of mental health care and wellness.

Full List of Questions Gathered from Low-dose Community of Practice

Therapeutic Potential and Practices

• How do clients describe their therapy sessions with low-dose?

• How do therapists describe their experiences supporting clients with low-dose?

• Who is a good candidate for therapy with low-dose? Are there certain client profiles or conditions that are best suited for low-dose?

• How do the effects of low-dose influence the therapeutic alliance and interpersonal dynamics during therapy sessions?

• What prerequisites should therapists have regarding low-dose, including personal experience with its effects, before integrating it into client treatment plans?

• Could low-dose be used to support couples therapy or group therapy?

• Can low-dose serve as a bridge for clients hesitant about more intense psychedelic experiences, thereby broadening the accessibility of psycholytic therapy?

• How are therapists incorporating low-dose therapies into established therapeutic frameworks and modalities? Do they feel it enhances the efficacy and depth of sessions?

• What unique considerations should therapists keep in mind when introducing low-dose therapies into modalities such as IFS or Gestalt Therapy to ensure a productive session?

• How can therapists navigate the varying responses to low-dose, from profound stillness to expressive somatic releases, to maintain a supportive and adaptive therapeutic environment?

• What effect does client preparation, such as setting intentions or providing an ontological framework for healing with mindfulness, have on the therapeutic session?

• What different therapeutic approaches or lenses are suitable for the various types of absorption a client might exhibit?

Enhancing Presence and Awareness

• Does low-dose facilitate a deeper engagement with mindfulness? If so, how does this influence the therapeutic process?

• Is there any way to gauge or predict the client’s progression from their baseline state to a more mindful or mystical state?

• Is it beneficial to educate the client about mindfulness and the mystical qualities of advanced mindfulness?

Altered States

• How can the varying degrees of sensory, emotional, and somatic absorption facilitated by low-dose be harnessed to enhance therapeutic outcomes?

• What strategies can therapists employ to gently guide clients back from deep states of absorption, ensuring a seamless reintegration into the therapeutic dialogue? Can such strategies be employed to manage the session's timeline?

• Are the mystical experiences reported with low-dose the same as those reported with deep meditative states?

• At what dose does the client become more absorbed in their inner process and less attentive to the therapist's guidance?

• If clients become absorbed in their own process, is that productive for them, or is it a poor use of resources? Is there any way to tell?

Dosage, Duration, and Session Frequency

• Is a standardized approach to medication dosing and frequency mandatory, or can a clinician's judgment be integrated into the protocol?

• What best practices have emerged for titrating low-dose dosage to align with therapeutic goals and client sensitivity?

• How does the immediate onset and shorter duration of low-dose effects influence the structure and flow of a therapy session, including integration and closure?

• Can different low-dose dosing strategies—such as a single dose or dose stacking—achieve predictable effects within a session?

• Does increasing the dosage of low-dose enhance the longevity and magnitude of the session’s therapeutic benefits?

• Have therapists gained any insights regarding the optimal frequency of low-dose sessions to maintain therapeutic momentum?

• What are the benefits and drawbacks of different methods of administration, particularly nasal spray and vape pen?

• What are the benefits and drawbacks of different dosing strategies, including: a single dose at session start, a dose when needed to deepen the therapy, taking doses far apart, and using a stepwise approach?

• Does a higher dose of low-dose result in higher, longer-lasting retention of benefits?

• How does the half-life of low-dose impact dosing?

Safety and Side Effects 

• What common experiences or side effects should clinicians be prepared to address during a low-dose session to ensure client comfort and safety?

• Are there effective strategies for dampening the effects of low-dose, or preventing side effects like nausea?

• What is the potential for abuse or dependency with low-dose 5-MeO-DMT?

• Are there different contraindications and screening criteria for clients considering therapy with low-dose as opposed to high-dose 5-MeO-DMT?

• Many people report feeling a return to normal in as little as fifteen minutes. Is this an accurate self-assessment or a misjudgment?

• Under what dosing conditions can low-dose be considered intoxicating, and if so, for how long?

Integration and Aftercare

• Is it appropriate to conduct multiple sessions with low-dose, or is it necessary to have medicine-free sessions for integration after medicated sessions?

• Can low-dose be used during the integration process?

• Given the various effects of low-dose, what integration and aftercare strategies are recommended after therapy with low-dose 5-MeO-DMT?

1. Adoption

• What barriers to adoption do therapists who have practiced with low-dose foresee?

• How do the accessibility and cost of low-dose therapy compare to other forms of psychedelic-assisted therapy?