Art Therapy for Psychedelic Preparation and Integration with Charmaine Husum, RCAT

In this episode, Charmaine Husum joins to discuss how art therapy can be a powerful tool for psychedelic preparation and integration. Charmaine is a Registered Art Therapist, Somatic Counsellor and Kundalini Yoga Teacher with over 12 years of experience supporting psychedelic preparation and integration. Her courses train professionals globally using specifically developed protocols in trauma-informed, harm-reduction practices, with her book, Psychedelics and Art Therapy: A Trauma-Informed Manual for Somatic Self Expression (Routledge, 2025), endorsed by numerous experts in the field including Stan and Brigitte Grof.

In this discussion, Charmaine distinguishes between art as therapy and art therapy, emphasizing that the latter involves clinically informed, trauma-sensitive practices that externalize inner experiences to support healing. She outlines structured protocols used before and after psychedelic experiences, including creating visual representations of inner strength, setting intentions, and integrating experiences through multi-phase art exercises. Throughout, Charmaine emphasizes choice, embodiment, and the historical roots of art in altered states, offering a rich alternative for those seeking non-verbal, experiential ways to work through trauma and transformation.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The types of art and materials employed in art therapy
• How art therapy can be employed to support preparation for a psychedelic experience
• Using art therapy for grounding and restabilization following an intense psychedelic journey
• Judith Herman's three stage model of healing trauma
• Why drawing a self portrait with one's non-dominant hand could be therapeutic
• Pursuing shadow work in art therapy
• Working with a client's perfectionism in art therapy

Quotes:

"[Art therapy] is not about making art, actually. It's about being in the present moment, about moving materials, about allowing for often a cathartic release, and giving expression to what we often don't have words for." [3:14]

"Art therapy isn't just about making the art, it's about processing the art afterwards." [7:48]

"Art therapy is very helpful when we're trying to express something that's ineffable—something without words—which is… at the heart of psychedelics. There's often no words to describe what our experience has been. And so using creativity can be a real help there." [29:06]

Links:

Centre of the HeArt website

Centre of the HeArt on Instagram

Centre of the HeArt on Facebook

Charmaine on LinkedIn

Charmaine's book: Psychedelics and Art Therapy: A Trauma-Informed Manual for Somatic Self Expression

Psychedelic Medicine Association

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