What is a shamanic journey?

Shamanic journey is a spiritual technique that uses the sound of a drumbeat to activate various regions of the brain and induce a meditative state. This is a very active experience that may feel like a waking dream. This state allows a person to connect with their self, their higher powers, their personal guides, and their own innate wisdom.

Journeys take place in a calm, safe environment traditionally known as “sacred space.” Its trappings are unique to each individual or culture, but generally include symbols of strength and references to one’s values and higher powers.

In preparation for journey work, the counselor and client will discuss the primary concern for the session and identify a focus for the journey. Leading into journey, the counselor and client engage in grounding and calming exercises, and set up protections against any unwanted or harmful interferences. A typical journey ranges between five and twenty minutes, depending on individual preferences, and is followed by reflection, interpretation, discussion, and integration into daily life.

Who engages in journey? 

The counselor, client, or both may journey both within and between sessions.

Within session, the counselor may journey for demonstration or education, to seek immediate guidance on an issue, or in accompaniment with the client, adding their insights to the client’s own journey experience. Occasionally, the counselor may journey on an issue outside of session with client consent, and share insights with the client in the following session.  

Clients planning to engage in journey work will complete prerequisites such as education, skill-building, and demonstration of sufficient mental, emotional, and environmental stability in order to ensure client safety throughout the process. The client will then work with the counselor to learn the art of shamanic journey and begin to develop this skill for use in their daily life.

What are the benefits and risks of shamanic journey? 

One advantage of the shamanic journey is that it often—though not always—has noticeable short-term benefits. Through symbolism, metaphor, and stimulating an emotional experience, this process allows the counselor and client to quickly discern and address the root of a problem. Additionally, individuals who participate in journey work gain a sense of personal mastery, greater insight, and experience a strengthened connection to forces greater than themselves.

The two primary risks of shamanic journey are that it may provoke strong emotions or may grant access to information that the client is not ready to acknowledge. To address this, the counselor works to ensure that proper education is given, regulation skills developed, and safety criteria are met. Secondly, the shamanic counselor follows clinical insight as well as the counsel of their personal guides in journey, and “trusts the process” as they say, so as not to witness or reveal information which may be harmful to the client. 

Additional consideration:

In some cultures, it is believed that shamanic journeys may affect forces outside the individual, possibly impacting the material world or individuals not participating in journey. These concerns are taken into consideration throughout the process, and the ethics of journey work are discussed. Additionally, the client’s personal beliefs are explored and incorporated into the journey work and how it is used in counseling.

Is shamanic counseling religious?

Although shamanic principles have a strong spiritual component, this is not a religion, but an approach that can be used to bring awareness, create wellness, and foster connection. This is also a very personal experience, unique to each individual. For example, where one person may connect with the Goddess Brigid in journey, another may connect with the Virgin Mary, and another still may be guided by the spirit of the Owl. Where one individual may be informed that they have too much “fire” (or aggression) in their spirit, another may receive fire as an ally to help them stand up for themselves. One individual may be guided to return to daily prayer, while another may be guided to watch the sunrise as their way of connecting with the divine. It is the role of the counselor to remain neutral, share insight as it arises, and to aid the client in uncovering personal meanings for themselves.

What about cultural appropriation?

Shamanically-informed counseling, as provided here, draws upon techniques synthesized by Michael Harner in the 1970’s. This approach is known as “core shamanism.” Throughout the 1950’s and 60’s, Harner studied various indiginous peoples and later defined a set of techniques designed represent the root, or “core” of shamanic practices (more information can be found in the links).

While I have personally been influenced by Native American spirituality, as a counselor I tend to avoid using elements that may be tied to any particular spiritual or religious belief, and instead draw inspiration from the natural world around me. As clients develop in their skill, I encourage them to find the methods and trappings that work best for them.

Is it covered by insurance? 

This depends.

As a licensed counselor my approach aligns with numerous theories and techniques in modern psychotherapy, and these services are billable to insurance as long as certain qualifications are met:

• The client is in Ohio while services are provided.

• The client has a diagnosed mental health condition.

• Counseling services and supportive care are directed at this condition, or surrounding factors which complicate this condition.

If you are interested in spiritual development in the absence of ailment, or are looking for brief consultation or isolated journey work, I am happy to provide these services on a self-pay basis.

Please note: traditional shamans and modern spiritual healers may provide additional services which go beyond the scope of my practice, such as energy work, healing rituals, divination, removal of dark entities, and knowledge of plants as medicine. Clients interested in these services may be referred to culturally appropriate healers who can provide these services, either locally or via remote care. 

Further questions can be directed to shala@shamanicstateofmind.com

or to: (740) 249-9632

Thank you for your inquiry!