Compassionate Guidance for deep inner work
The only journey is the journey within
-Rainer Maria Rilke
Expanded State Integration
Psychedelics are receiving renewed attention as a potential form of healing, particularly for conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma. As research and public awareness grow, more people are exploring these experiences in intentional, well-supported settings as a complement to traditional mental health care.
Psychedelic and expanded state integration is the process of making sense of an altered-state experience and gently weaving one's insights into everyday life. Integration matters because, without this kind of intentional follow-up, even very meaningful experiences can fade, feel confusing, or fail to translate into the lasting changes you’re hoping for. In the days, weeks, months, and even years that follow an expanded state experience, integration invites reflection: What was revealed? What change is calling you forward? What practices or connections can help bring those insights into everyday life?
Expanded or non‑ordinary states of consciousness can happen in many ways—through psychedelics, meditation, breathwork, time in nature, or moments of silence. However they arise, these experiences can open deeper layers of awareness, offering insights that, when integrated, become seeds of lasting and meaningful life change.
Meet Ellen Riordan, PhD
I specialize in helping people integrate psychedelic and other non‑ordinary state experiences—those powerful moments that can open new perspectives or awaken deep emotions. Together, we explore how to make sense of what emerged and gently ground those insights into everyday life. My approach is trauma‑informed and somatic, rooted in presence, safety, and attunement. At the heart of my work is connection—creating a space where your mind, body, and spirit can begin to move toward balance and wholeness.
In addition to working with individuals integrating expanded states of consciousness, I also assist those moving through life’s liminal spaces—times of transition such as retirement, divorce, grief, loss, or other significant change.
Approach
My approach is grounded in the belief that each person is inherently whole. By reconnecting with our inner wisdom, we can address feelings of disconnection and cultivate practices that help us experience more joy in daily life. I incorporate mindfulness, somatic modalities, and parts work in my practice.
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Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of slowing down and returning to the present moment—resting awareness on the breath, the body, or the quiet flow of thoughts. When the mind drifts, we gently return, cultivating presence, emotional balance, and the ability to meet life with greater clarity and compassion.
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Somatic modalities are body‑centered therapeutic approaches that invite awareness into physical sensations, breath, posture, and movement. They work directly with the body, so we can begin to gently release patterns held in the nervous system and restore a sense of ease and presence.
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Parts Work
Parts work is a psychological approach that sees each of us as having many inner “parts,” each shaped by past experiences and carrying its own emotions and protective roles. By meeting these parts with curiosity and compassion, you can turn inner conflict into collaboration and cultivate a kinder relationship with yourself.
Breathwork
Breath has been central to my practice for more than 40 years, beginning with the study of yoga and advanced training in yogic breathing techniques. These practices support nervous system regulation, emotional balance, and overall health and well-being.
Breath is one of the most direct pathways to presence and vitality. Conscious breathing improves oxygen flow, calms the mind, and helps the body return to balance. Breath also serves as an anchor for awareness—establishing a grounded connection to the body and opening the door to deeper states of meditation and self-inquiry.
I am trained and certified in Neurodynamic Breathwork, a powerful modality inspired by the principles of Holotropic Breathwork. Through intentional, dynamic breathing patterns, this practice can help release stored emotional patterns, reduce stress, and support access to expanded states of consciousness and deeper self-understanding.
As a trained integration specialist, I help clients process and integrate their breathwork experiences so that insights gained during sessions can translate into meaningful shifts in daily life.
Sessions are available in both group and private one-on-one formats. If you’d like to learn more or schedule a session, please contact me to explore the option that best supports your needs.
FAQs
What is integration, and why is it important?
Integration is the process of making meaning from psychedelic or expanded‑state experiences and weaving those insights into everyday life. It helps ground what was revealed—emotionally, somatically, and spiritually—so that insight becomes lasting change rather than a fleeting moment of awareness.
What are key benefits of integration?
Supporting meaningful lifestyle changes:
Helps turn insights from the experience into practical habits and reduces the pull of old patterns.
Facilitating emotional processing:
Provides space to work through fear, anxiety, or past trauma, strengthening resilience and emotional balance.
Enhancing therapeutic progress:
Reinforces mindset shifts and deepens the benefits of ongoing mental-health or personal-growth work.
Increasing self-awareness and connection:
Encourages reflection, meaning-making, and a greater sense of connection with oneself and others.
Providing ongoing tools for growth:
Offers skills—such as mindfulness, journaling, or communication techniques—that support long-term development.
Do I need to have had a psychedelic experience to work with you?
Not at all. Many people come to integration work after meditation, breathwork, or other non‑ordinary state experiences—or simply during times of major life transition. The same principles of embodiment, reflection, and self‑understanding apply, regardless of how the experience arises.
What does an integration session look like?
Each session unfolds differently, depending on what you bring that day. Together we might work with somatic awareness, guided reflection, mindfulness, or parts‑work to help you process, ground, and integrate insight into daily living. The space is collaborative, gentle, and supportive of whatever arises.
What if my experience was difficult or confusing?
Challenging experiences can be powerful teachers, even when they feel overwhelming. Integration offers a grounded, compassionate container to explore what happened, understand what’s unfolding now, and find ways to honor the insights or emotions that have surfaced.
How many sessions will I need?
That depends on your goals and what you’re integrating. Some people find clarity in just a few sessions, while others benefit from ongoing support over time. We’ll discuss your needs together and move at a pace that feels right for you.
How do somatic practices support integration?
Because the body holds memory and emotion, somatic awareness helps anchor insights and release stored tension. By cultivating presence through breath, movement, and sensation, the body and nervous system learn new pathways toward balance, resilience, and ease.
Do you work with people who microdose?
Yes. While microdosing doesn’t produce the same effects as a full psychedelic experience, it can still help some people feel calmer and more connected to their inner awareness. I don’t provide or source substances, but I’m happy to discuss your experience with microdosing and how it fits into your overall well‑being. Research on its effectiveness is still mixed, and we can explore what that means for you.
Do you offer psychedelic experiences?
No. Psychedelic experiences themselves are not offered. Most psychedelic substances are illegal in Florida, and while ketamine is legal, it can only be prescribed and administered by a licensed medical professional. I provide integration services only, which focus on reflection, support, and meaning-making after a psychedelic or expansed state experience. These services do not involve the use, provision, or facilitation of any substances.
What happens during a Neurodynamic Breathwork session?
Each session uses a rhythmic breathing pattern paired with a specially curated music set. The breath and music work together to help you release emotions, connect with your inner wisdom, and open space for deeper understanding—all in a safe and nurturing environment.
How can Neurodynamic Breathwork support psychedelic preparation and integration?
Neurodynamic Breathwork helps guides you into a deeper connection with yourself. Before a psychedelic journey, it can bring clarity around your intentions and emotional readiness. Afterward, it offers another way to explore and process what surfaced—supporting integration without the intensity of another psychedelic experience.
How long does a Neurodynamic Breathwork session last?
The active breathing portion typically lasts about one hour. Afterward, there’s time to reflect and integrate your experience. Whether in a group or one-on-one, this integration time is adapted to what you personally need in the moment.
Do you offer other types of breathwork?
Yes. Many people benefit from learning simple breathing practices that support nervous system balance, stress relief, and emotional grounding. Many people also have to retrain themselves to properly breathe. I share different tools to help you find more ease and presence with your breath in everyday life.
Is Integration therapy?
Integration work is not mental health therapy or medical treatment, though it may feel therapeutic and healing. It can complement therapy, coaching, or other wellness practices by deepening your connection with your own inner wisdom and capacity for change.
Do you offer group sessions?
Yes. When there’s interest, I offer group integration and breathwork sessions. Research suggests that group work can be highly supportive and long‑lasting, especially within a structured, mindful community. Sharing experiences with others on a similar path fosters connection, insight, and healthier ways of relating—helping to gently shift old relational patterns.
Are meetings online or in person?
Initial meetings for integration happen online. Subsequent meetings can continue online or be determined. Breathwork sessions happen either online or in person. I'm located in Naples, FL.
What are your rates?
One hour Individual Integration sessions are $225.
Breathwork sessions depend on whether they are individual or group. We determine rates when we discuss your needs.