The issue of Ibogaine Provider self-care has long been an under-addressed issue in this community. It’s time that Providers get as much care and attention as those seeking treatment. How can we help people heal if we aren’t taking time to heal ourselves?
Having worked in multiple clinics, and having been close with many working and running clinics, I have seen first hand the incredible stress and pressure that working with Ibogaine brings. Ibogaine treatment itself requires meticulous adherence to safety protocols which, even when followed, doesn’t guarantee a smooth or easy treatment. Medical emergencies are an ever present threat. There is also the extreme pressure which comes from the high expectations of those seeking treatment. Many come to Ibogaine expecting a new life overnight, or to be ‘cured’. These kinds of expectations place impossible pressure on Providers. Those who seek treatment also can have complex mental health issues. Clinic staff become the dumping ground for every imaginable past trauma, abandonment issue, unaddressed rage, and resentment. The Provider is not only in charge of someone’s life, they are a temporary 24 hour Therapist.
Of course there are clinics with larger staffs who are able to have multiple people supporting clients in different aspects of treatment. This helps to alleviate some of this pressure. Regardless, guiding someone through their shadow selves and past traumas is no joke! Placing a healthy boundary around yourself when helping someone process extreme pain is not a straightforward or simple process, it requires support from others. The emotional and psychic debris that gets left by clients can be overwhelming and it’s essential to take time to process and reflect. I have seen Providers end up in hospitals, have to close their clinics, and relapse into destructive behaviors. This kind of thing has happened too many times and I would like to propose a new tool to help deal with this therapeutic burnout.
Through utilizing my past experience working in clinics, I would like to offer a fresh perspective and a supportive safe space to process. My goal is to help people find a healthy way of working with Ibogaine and to discover what regular practices support this. We will discuss and reflect on experiences, identify the challenges of the work environment, and investigate daily exercises and habits that can help maintain a healthy connection with the self. We can also just simply talk about difficult work experiences and figure out, together, the best way of dealing with them. I want to support you in moving towards a new way of interacting with your inner self so that you are better able to support others who are trying to heal.
