In my attempts to get closer to my feelings and emotions and to uncover the root of emotional repression, I found that using cannabis in therapeutic sessions can be very effective. Surprising as it was, cannabis has a way of calming the mind and body, lowering defensive structures like laughing things away, numbing out, or simply not feeling the body. And in the Netherlands, where cannabis is at least not illegal, we have more flexibility to explore its potential in therapeutic settings.
If you’re open-minded, this approach can offer many possibilities. For some, this path may not feel necessary or may carry concerns about using substances. I’d suggest approaching it with curiosity and an open heart; it may have something valuable to offer.
Disclaimer: Intentional Use Over Recreational Use
A disclaimer here—I’m in no way advocating for cannabis use in recreational settings like going out with friends or watching a movie. While these activities can be enjoyable, recreational use can sometimes lead to dependency or addiction. My recommendation is to understand the power of cannabis as a therapeutic tool with a clear intention and a structured approach, incorporating proven practices like meditation, breathwork, and therapeutic techniques. With this kind of mindful use, cannabis becomes a powerful resource for deep personal growth.
Speaking from Experience
I approach this work from two main perspectives. First, from my own experiences. I’ve practiced meditation consistently for several years and have worked extensively with various psychedelics, such as Ayahuasca, psilocybin, MDMA, Bufo Alvarius and San Pedro. Each one has offered different insights, with its own unique flavor and direction, but they all ultimately guide us back to the same thing: understanding and peeling back what stands between us and our true self.
Cannabis, in particular, has become very interesting to me because it’s both widely accessible and one of the safest options, yet it can go just as deep as many other substances. Through dedicated practice, I’ve come to see its transformative potential firsthand.
Second, there is a growing body of therapists and practitioners who are exploring cannabis as a legitimate tool for self-discovery and healing. Modalities like Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) and the Medicinal Mindfulness approach developed by Daniel McQueen bring cannabis into therapeutic frameworks. I’ve practiced and undergone both methods, which has only reinforced my belief in cannabis’s therapeutic potential.
The Power of Staying Present with Cannabis
What these therapists and I have both observed is that cannabis, when combined with mindfulness and breathwork, has a unique ability to help us stay present and connected to the body in ways we might not be accustomed to. This grounding effect allows for exploration of stuck parts, limiting beliefs and underlying emotional patterns.
Next to this there always stays a quite big part of you having so called: agency. Meaning you can kind of like step out and stop whenever you want. But for example with Ayuhasca, or other medicine, this is not the case and can potentially give you an overwhelming ride. Where I also have experience with. That is not perse always a healing experience then…
A common concept here is dissociation, where we retreat to the mind and resist feeling, or even disconnect further from reality. Cannabis, used in a structured and mindful way, can be remarkably effective in addressing these dissociative patterns and can offer significant benefits for daily life.
For example, I used to dissociate quite easily during intense emotional conversations. Now, with this work, I find those interactions so much easier. My body and mind have learned that I can stay present and handle emotions without escaping into my mind.
A Long Journey of Discovery
Four years ago, when I started working with a therapist, I slowly realized just how much I was living in my head. I didn’t even know the language of emotions. Most of my feelings were repressed, locked away with little body awareness to process them.
It took me quite a few years to work through those repressed feelings (and I’m still working through them!), but things have definitely improved so much!!! People around you will feel it 🙂