Iboga Insight

Information

Having been in treatment for my own struggles earlier in life, I know very well what it means to be profoundly vulnerable and suggestible, looking for support from experts.

Some of these experts were genuine and motivated by compassion and a sincere desire to be of service. Some were professionals, making a living, or academics coming from a research background. Others had less than pure motivations, pertaining to their own role as carer, saviour, expert.

Some of the most helpful people who I met had no qualifications and simply knew what it means to suffer and the value of simple empathy. Some of the worst people have been grandiose academics posturing as wise elders or unquestionable authorities.

Too many professionals in the world of psychotherapy, counselling, coaching, psychology and psychiatry have a piece of paper which qualifies them to be working with clients, but have skipped the most important aspect of true qualification, which is the encounter with themselves. There is no person who has all the answers and so the starting point has to be one of real self-honesty, of humility, which cuts through regressive concerns about power, authority, prestige and opens us up to a vulnerability which is characteristic of authentic human relationship. This is important because trauma most painfully impacts our ability to be authentic and intimate, which opens us up to confusion and further vulnerability.

It is true that vulnerability and authenticity are signs of appropriate relations in a therapeutic relationship, but this notion can also be coopted by charlatans and exploitative individuals who see the struggle to achieve authentic contact in others and then position themselves as a guru type figure, establishing a dependency. In the most pathological examples, we hear about exploitation, involving money and sex.

Needless to say, there are great dangers in placing trust in whacky people who may be associated with some exotic plant medicine, with the hope that you will be able to address longstanding personal challenges.

I understand that when we first meet, regardless of how you may present yourself, that this is a point in your life that requires great sensitivity, patience and respect from me.
Trust is never something that should be expected. It is always earned and bypassing this process, or attempting to force the process in any regard is best avoided or met with gentle questioning. Our intention is to create an alliance where real genuine trust is present, so that the difficult, gritty details that may have remained unspoken for so long have a chance to be explored in a way that feels truly safe. There is also no compulsion to do or say anything that you don't feel comfortable with.

My job is to help guide a process of insight and to hold up a mirror of relationship, which means that I have to be real with you also. For this reason I welcome challenge and open myself to learning from this process.

In order to do this work I have to create safety, which means having really solid boundaries and appropriate rules of conduct. These serve to give healthy structure, so that you feel secure.

I personally cannot be responsible for the choices that you make about taking Iboga or Ibogaine. For legal reasons, I am unable to make referrals or advice about whether to pursue treatment. My role is purely within the realm of psychotherapeutic support. This support is ideally aimed at uncovering the roots of your difficulties, but on occasion our work may involve interpersonal dynamics that may unfold during your treatment. My contact with your provider will be conducted with your consent at all times and will be with your best interests at heart. Having said this, I can bear no responsibility for the actions and conduct of your chosen provider.

Ibogaine treatment may involve states of vulnerability and suggestibility and although this can be highly useful for the process of healing, there are dangers involved when working with unaware or unethical individuals.

My practice makes a commitment standing firmly against manipulation, imposing beliefs or crossing any professional boundaries with clients.

Aspects of care, involving physical touch, such as hand holding, if I am present during a treatment, will be contracted beforehand. More human dynamics, such as handshakes upon meetings, or friendly hugs, will always be conducted with great care around appropriateness and with verbal consent beforehand.

I personally like to create a warm and caring relationship with all of my clients, but these boundaries are of primary importance, in affirming my professionalism and the integrity and security of our work together. There will be absolutely no blurring of the lines of my professional role, meaning no interactions of a romantic or sexual nature. These subjects may be explored within talking therapy, as is quite normal, but will under no circumstances be enacted.

I will be realistic about what we may or may not be able to achieve in our work together. I am not willing to set up unrealistic expectations, that may lead to disappointment. It is my belief that the work that we will do together is of inherent value, even without the addition of Iboga.

All of my work is strictly confidential, with a few minor caveats, pertaining to self harm and harm of others. The boundaries of confidentiality will be discussed and laid out in our working contract and are there to serve and protect you. In addition to this, confidentiality will be maintained to the best of my ability through anonymisation during my supervision.

Our work together will be contracted with certain time restraints, however reviews may be possible that re-contract and extend our working relationship. I may also offer to refer clients on to specialists and other professionals, when this seems appropriate and I believe serves the individual. I wish to avoid developing or fostering any unhelpful dependency, but also recognise that ongoing support may be best for certain clients. I commit to managing these boundaries ethically and in service to your best interests, to the best of my ability.

Supervision is an aspect of my work that is incredibly important in supporting my work. Supervision is a regular meeting with peers or more experienced practitioners, where our work is discussed. In this way my clients benefit from my own training and expertise, with the addition of the reflections and guidance of other trusted and experienced professionals. In supervision, client names are anonymised.

My work is fully insured under UK law and I am accredited to work as a psychotherapist here. Abroad, for legal reasons relating to differences in the structure of accreditation, I work as a coach. I also have an enhanced DBS police check, which means that I am able to work with children and vulnerable people. This doesn't come into my work here, but is relevant to your understanding of myself as an ethical and reliable individual.

Where I live Iboga is regulated and illegal, meaning that I have no ability, or desire to provide medicine and I do not personally handle medicine. All of my experiences with Iboga and other plant medicines have been in locations where the law permits it and under safe conditions and with the best guidance.
I maintain scrupulous conduct, with regards to the law.

I reserve the right to cease working with any client at my own discretion. I will always commit to giving clarity on the reasons why and I commit to not taking this option, unless there is a very good reason. I will also speak to my supervisor and do my best to resource you with alternative support, should this happen.
Possible reasons for such a rare occurrence could be events taking place in my own personal life which make it impossible for me to continue working, or a breakdown in the working relationship. I would always do my best to manage such issues in a relational way and without drastic action.

I will not tolerate any aggression or violence or threats thereof, in any degree. This includes any threats to myself, my property, my associates, friends or loved ones. This also includes reputation damage or damage to my profession. Details of these boundaries will be written into our working contract.

I commit to confidentiality regarding the providers who treat my clients. I will not disclose who my clients are working with, unless this is previously agreed upon and serves a purpose. The Iboga world is rather small and such boundaries serve to mitigate any potential interpersonal drama.

In all of my work, I commit to bringing myself with integrity, authenticity, compassion and to communicate transparently and as wisely as I am able. I owe a great deal to Iboga and I take my responsibility to this medicine and the people who I work with very seriously.