Articles & Images by Steve Elfrink
More featured posts
The Dissociative Child as a Newborn: Healing Birth Trauma and Infant Dissociation
Birth trauma, often overlooked, can profoundly shape a newborn's emotional and physical development. When faced with overwhelming experiences like medical interventions or separation from caregivers, infants may adopt dissociation as a survival mechanism, disconnecting from their emotions and sensations. This early adaptation, while protective, can leave lasting imprints on somatic and emotional patterns, influencing relationships and self-regulation into adulthood. This exploration delves into how birth trauma leads to dissociation, the somatic memories it creates, and transformative healing methods. Somatic therapies, attachment-focused interventions, and trauma-informed practices offer pathways to restore safety, connection, and wholeness. Addressing these hidden wounds allows both children and adults to reclaim resilience and integrate their experiences for a brighter future. Discover the profound journey of healing the dissociative newborn and unlocking the potential for lifelong transformation.
The Dissociative Child: A New Neurobiological Theory of Trauma and Identity Formation
Discover how childhood trauma rewires the brain, fragments identity, and creates dissociative survival mechanisms. This in-depth analysis combines neuroscience, psychology, and somatic therapy to reveal the hidden impact of trauma and pathways to healing. Perfect for those seeking to understand the science behind dissociation and its role in resilience and recovery.
Exploring Selective Inhibition and the Autonomic Nervous System in PSIP: A Mechanism for Emotional Release
Unlocking Trauma with Psychedelic Somatic Therapy: How Selective Inhibition Frees Emotions Discover how Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy uses selective inhibition to dismantle coping mechanisms, build internal pressure in the nervous system, and release deep emotional and somatic trauma. Inspired by Peter Levine’s concept of containment, this revolutionary approach taps into the body’s natural healing potential.
Latest posts
Interpreting Messages Through the Lens of Our Personal Narrative
Explore how personal narratives, trauma, and rewriting others’ words shape mental health—insights from Steve Elfrink, psycholytic somatic integration therapist at OmTerra and Subject Matter Expert at Webdelics.
Male Dissociative Stress Disorder (MDSD): Exploring the Roots of Men’s Severe Dissociative States
Discover Male Dissociative Stress Disorder (MDSD)—a clinical pattern where men experience chronic dissociation, anxiety, and emotional numbness. Learn how trauma, social conditioning, and neurobiology shape dissociative coping and explore evidence-based treatments for healing and reconnection.
How to Talk to a Loved One About Wanting to Try Psychedelic Therapy: An In-Depth Guide with Compassion and Care
When considering psychedelic therapy, discussing it with loved ones can be as daunting as the decision itself. This comprehensive guide offers a thoughtful and empathetic approach to communicating your interest in psychedelic therapy, making sure you address this sensitive topic with the care it deserves. From understanding the therapy’s basics and preparing for the conversation to engaging in open, honest dialogue and addressing common concerns, this article helps you navigate these discussions with compassion and clarity, fostering support and understanding from those closest to you.
Are Psychedelics a Necessity for the Evolution of Humanity?
In an era marked by crises, psychedelics offer an invaluable path toward harmony and awakening. Integrating with other tools and practices empowers us to create a compassionate, sustainable, and enlightened future. The evolution of humanity calls for embracing this transformative power within ourselves, paving the way for collective progress and possibility.
The Next Wave of Mental Health: A Shift Toward Somatic and Body-Based Treatment Protocols
The future of mental health care lies in embracing somatic and body-based therapies as key to healing. By addressing the root causes of trauma, emotional dysregulation, and dissociation, approaches like somatic therapy, trauma-informed movement, and psycholytic somatic integration offer a holistic path to recovery. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with time-honored practices, this paradigm shifts mental health treatment toward a more compassionate, transformative, and empowering model.
Understanding Fight, Flight, and Freeze: How the Body’s Response to Trauma Shapes Anxiety and Depression
Trauma impacts the body in profound ways, often leading to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and dissociation. This article explores how the body’s fight, flight, and freeze responses work to protect us during trauma and how the endogenous opioid system can lead to dissociative experiences. By understanding these responses and their effects, we can see anxiety and depression as the body’s way of processing unhealed wounds. Learn how somatic therapies and approaches like Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) can help unlock the body’s innate healing power, leading to lasting recovery from trauma.
Ketamine FAQ: Everything You Need to Know
Discover ketamine's safety profile, optimal dosages, potential neurotoxic risks, and how it promotes neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, making it a powerful tool for mental health treatment.
The Safety Profile of Ketamine: Dosage, Lethal Dose, Neurotoxicity, Neurogenesis, and Neuroplasticity
Explore the safety of ketamine therapy, including dosage guidelines, potential risks, and how it supports neurogenesis and neuroplasticity for mental health.
Embracing the Infinite: A Journey Through High Indifference and Psilocybin
In an FDA-approved psilocybin study, I journeyed into the depths of human suffering and emerged in a state of High Indifference—a profound space of awareness beyond suffering, joy, or attachment. This experience revealed a powerful truth about existence, showing me that everything we seek already resides within us, waiting to be seen.
Are Psychedelics Safe? An In-Depth Examination of Psychedelic Safety and Neurotoxicity
Discover the truth about psychedelic safety, neurotoxicity, and therapeutic potential in addiction treatment. This in-depth article explores data from leading studies, including David Nutt's research, revealing how psychedelics may support mental health and brain health with minimal risk.
Psychedelic Iatrogenic Structural Dissociation (PISD): An Exploratory Hypothesis on Amplified Dissociative Processes
Exploring the Risks of Psychedelic Therapy - Can psychedelic-assisted therapy unintentionally amplify dissociative processes in trauma survivors?
The Changing Landscape of Psychedelic Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and the Path Forward
The psychedelic field stands at a pivotal juncture. The path forward will require a recalibration that values depth over speed and complexity over simplicity.
Resources
Psychedelic iatrogenic structural dissociation: an exploratory hypothesis on dissociative risks in psychedelic use
This paper introduces the Psychedelic Iatrogenic Structural Dissociation (PISD) hypothesis, proposing that psychedelics may amplify access to dissociated traumatic material, increasing the risk of psychological destabilization in vulnerable individuals. Psychedelics, as “unspecific amplifiers” of mental processes, have the unique ability to bring unresolved trauma into conscious awareness in ways that can be profoundly disruptive
How Psilocybin Affects the Brain
Curious about how psilocybin works in the brain? In this video, we’ll take you through the fascinating science behind psilocybin and its effects on mental health. From increasing neuroplasticity and stimulating neurogenesis to its influence on the Default Mode Network (DMN) and anti-inflammatory properties, psilocybin is reshaping the way we understand mental well-being. We’ll break down: How psilocybin binds to serotonin receptors to alter perception
The power of neuroplasticity and forming new neural connections
Neurogenesis and its potential in healing the brain
Ego dissolution and the DMN's role in self-reflection
The anti-inflammatory effects that may protect brain health With research expanding, psilocybin shows great promise in treating mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Discover how this remarkable compound could open up new pathways for healing and growth.
The Story of You
A short video about YOU. Complied from downloads from my psychedelic journeys.
The MAPS Psychedelic Integration Workbook
A guide to help process, understand, and incorporate psychedelic insights into your daily life.
HAF Client Guide to Psilocybin Therapy in Oregon
The Oregon Psilocybin Services Client Guide is an
introduction to Oregon’s state-regulated
psilocybin services program. It has been compiled
by the Healing Advocacy Fund (HAF) in
partnership with members of our Safety
Committee, a group of wide ranging subject
matter experts that advise our organization, and
additional experts and stakeholders.
OmTerra Art by Steve Elfrink
Two of Steve Elfrink's passions are psychedelic therapy and the creation of art. OmTerra.art is a collection of images created by Steve utilizing a combo of photography, Photoshop and AI. Many of the AI images were created with the augmentation of low-dose ketamine. Enjoy!!!
Webinar: Dosing, Potency and Safety in OR’s Psilocybin Program
The Healing Advocacy Fund hosted a webinar led by Bob Jesse on “Dosing, Potency, and Safety in Oregon’s Psilocybin Program.” You’ll hear from Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, a scientist and educator with background and training in pharmacology, chemistry, toxicology, and neuroscience, Steve Elfrink, HAF Safety Committee member, licensed facilitator, and recipient of largest psilocybin dose in a published clinical trial, and the founders of two licensed service centers and licensed facilitators, Dee Lafferty, from Inner Guidance Services, and Ryan Reid of Drop Thesis service center and advisor to Bendable Therapy.
Steve shares about an LSD experience that saved his life
Listen to Steve telling the life saving tale of his high-dose LSD experience.
Interview with Steve Elfrink on JPR
Listen to an interview with Steve discussing psilocybin on Jefferson Public Radio.
Cannabis-assisted psychotherapy for complex dissociative post traumatic stress disorder
A case report Study on the PSIP model for structural dissociation.
A brief introduction to Internal Family Systems Therapy
Founding developer , Richard Schwartz, gives an overview of the Internal Family Systems model.
Published paper of the PSIP model
A very in-depth and informative dive into the PSIP model co-authored by Steve Elfrink. Peer-reviewed and Published in the Journal of Psychedelic Psychiatry (https://www.journalofpsychedelicpsychiatry.org/articles2020)
Podcast on The Entheogenic Revolution with Martin Ball, PhD.
Is there another way to do psychedelic therapy that doesn't follow the standard model that's being developed by research institutions like MAPS? Steve Elfrink is here from OmTerra with a positive answer.