Psychedelic-assisted therapy can open to access to previously unfamiliar emotions, such as anger.

The benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy unfold over time.

Symbolic images can help connect lived experiences and embodied understanding of difficult pasts.

“There’s somebody here. Her name is Wrecking Ball. She wants to hear 'Let the Bodies Hit the Floor.'”

My therapist played the song "Drowning Pool" on her JBL speaker.

“She wants it louder.”

The therapist increased the volume.

The speaker was already maxed out.

While this was my second psychedelic-assisted therapy session, it was my first introduction to Wrecking Ball—an imaginal character my psyche had conjured to teach me about anger.

My observing self watched the waking dream unfold:

Wrecking Ball’s tucked chin and clenched jaw amplified the intensity in her eyes. She glared at my mother, who was curled up, passively, on the floor, emotionally detached from the moment. The sterile white room contrasted starkly with Wrecking Ball’s black clothes, boots, eye makeup, and dyed-black hair.

Without restraint, she hurled aggression toward my mother. She was pissed, and she expressed that anger loud and........

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