Chrissy's Journey: 3 Questions

An integration coach reflects on her own healing journey, the teachings that changed her life, and the problems with viewing psychedelics as "miracle cures"

For this month's profile, I'm excited to introduce you to Chrissy. Chrissy Sandwen is a certified Addiction Recovery and Psycho-Spiritual Integration coach with a background in social work.

After recovering from her own eating disorder with psychedelic medicine, Chrissy now supports clients with psychedelic integration and major life transitions, support that I've personally experienced and benefited from greatly in my own healing journey.

She is also the co-creator of the East Bay Psychedelic Healing Collective, which creates events and retreats to support psychedelic integration in the Bay area. 

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What ignited your healing journey, and how have you evolved since?

Like most people, my healing journey began during a time of desperation. Ever since I could remember, I was nagged by really deep loneliness and a sense that I didn't belong anywhere. The feeling rarely left no matter what new community I found, how far I traveled, or how many friends I had around me. This pain got so heavy that I found myself struggling with an eating disorder, depression, and anxiety.

In a frantic Google search, I came across an ayahuasca retreat center. I barely knew what ayahuasca was but was desperate for something new after years without much progress in therapy. Though I was incredibly skeptical, this experience remains the single most transformative of my life. 

While, of course, no healing journey is linear, that retreat has had a lasting impact on how I orient to the world. Even in times of difficulty now, I find I can tap into this loving place I discovered through ayahuasca (however faint it feels) and know that in my deepest core, I'm whole, I'm worthy, and I'm supported. 

What have been the three most profound teachings you received from plant medicine?

The first lesson has been to surrender entirely to life. To truly act as if I have chosen every moment and can learn from every experience. I feel so much more at ease letting go of my resistance to things being as they are! 

The second is that self-love is the most profound medicine. It sounds like a Hallmark card, but truly that has been such a deep lesson for me. By having had several experiences of complete love and acceptance through psychedelics, I've been able to relate to myself in a much more gentle, kind way. I now trust that I'm doing my best, even when I mess up. Self-love has also given me the foundation to love others well. 

The last is that healing can be pleasurable! I found a considerable part of my healing through plant medicine has been reclaiming my sexuality and finding new ways to experience my body and life as ecstatic and joyful. 

What's a common misconception about psychedelic medicine that you wish people understood better?

I wish more people knew that when you start using psychedelics consciously, you're signing up for a path that continues to unfold, not a destination. They are not magic pills. Psychedelics can open us up in incredible ways, but the benefits can and usually will fade without the support and daily work. Healing deep underlying issues requires continual commitment and support. It took me two years of deep work before I felt a profound shift. This is why psychedelic integration coaching or therapy is so important. 

You can find more about Chrissy Sandwen on her website, on Instagram, or by checking out her events collective in the Bay area on Facebook.

Inspired to share your own journey? Reply to this e-mail if you’re interested. I’m always keen to feature readers.