Liz Zhou is a freelance writer and graduate student in the Mindfulness-based Transpersonal Counseling program at Naropa University. She was a recipient of the 2018-2019 Watson Fellowship, a one-year travel grant through which she studied altered states of consciousness across cultures. Liz has conducted immersive research on shamanism and spirituality across 12 countries, and previously worked as a translator and facilitator at an ayahuasca center in Peru. Currently based in Boulder, Colorado, Liz aspires to bring science into conversation with spirituality through her writings on psychedelic healing. Her passions include singing, drawing, playing the steel-tongue drum, practicing yoga, and being a cat mom. She shares her personal experiences with medicines and meditation on her blog, arisingawareness.com..
Therapy
Top 5 Challenges Facing Psychedelic Practitioners Today
If you’re interested in becoming a professional in the field of psychedelic medicine, here are some important factors to consider in your practice.
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca Research: Where Science Meets Spirituality
A newly published study details the effects of ayahuasca on individuals at the Ayahuasca Foundation in Iquitos, Peru. Here’s what the science says.
Mushrooms
Psilocybin Benefits: Magic Mushrooms & How They Can Help
Research on mushrooms is newly underway. Here, we discuss the potential benefits, as well as the risks of psilocybin as shown in clinical research.
LSD
LSD for Anxiety: Can LSD Relieve Anxiety?
As clinical trials continue, psychedelic-assisted therapy will become accessible to the public. Here’s what we know about working with LSD for anxiety.
Mindfulness
Altered States of Consciousness: 4 Non-Psychedelic Approaches
People use psychedelics to alter their consciousness — but what does it mean to be in an “altered state of consciousness” and why is it so appealing?
Microdosing
Microdosing For Anxiety: Risks, Benefits, & the Transformational
Mainstream mental health interventions typically consist of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, or both. Now, a growing body of research is pointing to the efficacy of microdosing for anxiety and other mood disorders.
Kratom
Kratom: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
It would be overly simplistic to say that kratom is all good or bad, given the variation in quality and dosage that may lead to either healing or harmful experiences.
Mainstream Society
How to Start a Career in the Field of Psychedelic Integration
With the legalization of psilocybin-assisted therapy, the door is opening to therapists interested in providing psychedelic integration support.
Psychedelic Integration
Translating Psychedelic Epiphanies: Inside the Art of Integration
Several practitioners and their clients weigh in on some of the benefits of finding a helping hand to navigate the psychedelic integration process.
Microdosing
Combining Movement and Microdosing: Athletics, Exercise, and Flow
Microdosing psychedelics is a great way to experience the benefits of plant medicines without plunging into a full-on visionary journey.
Personal Development
Four Things to Consider When Choosing an Integration Specialist
To embed the lessons learned from non-ordinary states of consciousness into ordinary life, psychedelic integration is key.
Personal Development
Out of Your Mind, Into Your Heart: The Role of Psychedelic Integration
Psychedelic integration follows a harm reduction model and offers a non-judgmental and supportive space for people to unpack the meaning of their experience.