Nick Martin

Nick Martin is a psychedelic guide and integration coach in San Diego who describes himself as a facilitator at Pivot Psychedelics, a Southern California collective of psychedelic therapists, guides and coaches. He studied counselling psychology at Boston College to master’s level and reports more than three years of psychedelic work in therapeutic and ceremonial settings.

Approach

His guided programme lasts a month. Two preparation sessions in the first fortnight cover expectations, logistics, safety and informed consent, intentions, grounding and journaling prompts. At the end of the second week comes one ceremony day, an introspective session of six to eight hours with his undivided support, then a check-in after 24 hours and two aftercare sessions with his notes, journaling prompts and a self-care map. Preparation and aftercare usually happen online, the ceremony in person. His orientations include person-centred and feminist approaches and an ethics of care.

Who it is for

He names anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, gender and class issues and questions of meaning among his specialities, and also offers a month of integration or microdosing coaching. Pivot says it works with people who feel stuck and want to move forward.

Practical details

Joining starts with a phone call of about 20 minutes and a 30-minute video call, then an intake form on mental and physical health, substance use and safety, and a disclaimer form. Pricing follows a sliding scale. Pivot’s site gives its rate as $125 an hour with substantial financial aid, and describes a typical five-week programme of at-home ketamine treatment, prescribed after an assessment by a psychiatric clinician it connects clients with.

Care and safety

Pivot states that it provides no illicit substances and works in a coaching capacity rather than as psychotherapy, and that its guides hold a master’s in counselling psychology and have trained in psychedelic therapy, including ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.