Bridging Traditions: From New Mexico's Ancestral Healing to Psilocybin Therapy in Oregon
Honoring New Mexico's Healing Heritage
In New Mexico, over 1.3 million residents live in areas lacking sufficient mental health professionals, making access to care a significant challenge. This shortage has led many to seek alternative healing modalities, blending traditional practices like curanderismo, a traditional system of healing rooted in Indigenous, Spanish, and African practices, with emerging therapies such as psilocybin-assisted treatment. New Mexico has long honored the connection to Indigenous and Hispanic healing practices as an alternative path for the holistic well-being of its communities.
With mental health challenges on the rise, available treatment options had to be reevaluated. Underscoring the state’s cultural heritage and deep connection to natural and spiritual remedies, New Mexico has recently taken a pioneering step by passing a bill legalizing the supervised medical use of psilocybin. By honoring these ancestral traditions, New Mexico is exploring its alignment with contemporary therapeutic approaches, such as psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Understanding Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound, has recently re-gained more attention for its potential in treating mental health conditions, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. As a holistic alternative, psilocybin-assisted therapy offers profound experiences that echo traditional healing ceremonies. Studies are revealing that it can be a valuable addition to traditional talk therapy when other medical options yield no improvement.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine discovered that it can significantly help with symptoms associated with depression, like being stuck in negative thought patterns. The compound works by interacting with the brain’s serotonin receptors responsible for mood regulation, cognition and perception. These interactions, plus the neuroplasticity-promoting effects, allow for new pathways to form, helping participants to break out of the repetitive thought patterns.
The psilocybin-assisted therapy process at Bend Inner Alchemy is structured in three steps. Together, they help prepare for a safe and supportive experience:
Preparation: To begin the journey, a trained facilitator helps clients set their intentions. This step involves talking about expectations and preparing the client by setting a clear mental and emotional space. These conversations can lead to a more successful experience. In these sessions, clients discuss their motivations, fears, and goals for deeper exploration. Set and setting are vital aspects for a healing experience. The preparation session helps clients feel grounded and supported before the administration session begins.
Administration Session: During the preparation session, clients take a dose of psilocybin in a safe and comfortable controlled environment. This session happens separately from the preparation meeting to allow some time for further internal reflection after the prep session. Trained facilitators remain present throughout the journey to offer reassurance and support as clients enter a deeply emotional and psychological realm within themselves.
Integration: Following the exploration journey, trained facilitators support clients in reflecting on and processing their experiences. Talking through what emerged often deepens the healing process and helps integrate insights into daily life.
Because every journey is unique, the integration process will look different for each person. While combining traditional talk therapy with the psilocybin experience can be very beneficial, it is not required. Some individuals find that personal reflection, journaling, time in nature, or conversations with trusted friends or facilitators provide meaningful integration on their own. For those who do have access to a therapist, working together can further clarify insights and translate them into practical steps for ongoing growth. Ultimately, what matters most is finding an approach that feels supportive and sustainable for you.
As an alternative to traditional treatments, psilocybin-assisted therapy allows participants to dive deeper into themselves. The emotional discoveries help uncover the root causes of issues rather than just numbing the symptoms. Addressing the cause is what leads to lasting changes in the mental health world. Studies from Johns Hopkins University have shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to lasting improvements in anxiety and depression. This holistic approach has been beneficial even for individuals who had not found success with traditional therapies alone.
New Mexico's Legislative Milestone
In April 2025, New Mexico became the third U.S. State to legalize psilocybin-assisted therapy. They also became the first state to enact the Medical Psilocybin Act (SB 219) through legislative action rather than a ballot initiative. This is a big step for qualifying individuals and in improving alternative options for specific medical conditions. The New Mexico Department of Health is now working on developing a program that establishes treatment protocols and safety guidelines.
While the act is a major change, the details need to be refined and solidified. The current timeline for the program’s full implementation is projected for December 31, 2027. For individuals seeking access sooner, Bend, Oregon, offers an excellent opportunity for psilocybin-assisted therapy until New Mexico’s programs are fully operational.
Why Bend, Oregon, Is Worth the Journey
Psilocybin-assisted therapy has been and remains legal and carefully regulated in Oregon since 2023. In Bend, clients can access therapy immediately in a safe, professionally supported, and licensed setting, such as Bend Inner Alchemy. With trained facilitators, a proven framework, and the calming backdrop of Oregon’s natural beauty, Bend offers both immediate access and a deeply supportive environment, making it well worth the journey.
Beyond therapy, Bend presents plenty of adventures that enrich the healing journey, inviting visitors to immerse themselves fully. The surrounding environment is conducive to introspection and healing, reminiscent of the serene settings favored in traditional New Mexican ceremonies. The peacefulness brought by the stunning view of the mountains, easy access to hundreds of lakes to sit and process the experience, mixed with the livelihood of the town itself, creates the perfect blend for such a deeply explorational self-discovery journey.
What to Do in Bend
In Bend, nature isn’t something you just visit. It’s something you step into and experience. Whether you’re hiking the soft bends of the Deschutes River Trail or riding the flowing singletrack of Phil’s Trail, the landscape invites you to slow down and reconnect with your body and the earth beneath you.
From exploring scenic trails to participating in wellness activities, Bend offers chances to refresh guided by holistic healing principles. For those craving more rest and restoration, Bend is the reset, providing the ideal backdrop to re-align your mind, body, and spirit.
Whether you’re making the journey in the summer or winter, Bend features plenty of rejuvenating experiences. Whatever led you here, Bend has the perfect itinerary for every aspect. Indulge in culinary experiences, restore your peace, or explore the endless wilderness around. The ideal spot for a journey back to yourself, with or without psychedelic assistance.
Taking the Next Step
New Mexico’s evolving landscape around mental health and psilocybin therapy reflects the cultural connection to holistic methods. While statewide programs are still taking shape, Oregon’s well-established system offers New Mexico residents an already grounded, nature-connected path forward in their mental health journey. In Bend, you’ll find psilocybin-assisted therapy in an environment that invites you to slow down, reflect, and return home to yourself.
If you’re feeling called to embark on this new chapter in your healing journey, we’re here to walk alongside you. Psilocybin-assisted therapy at Bend Inner Alchemy offers a safe, legal, and supportive space to venture deeper. Reach out to learn more about our process, availability, and how to prepare for your time in Bend.