Engagement

Required Reading If You’ve Ever Tripped Balls and Wanted It to Mean Something

Scott Graham’s new book Engagement: The Missing Component in Psychedelic Therapy is exactly what we need right now. Not just another floaty, incense-laced manifesto, but an actual guide to making psychedelic experiences matter — whether you’re using psilocybin to heal old wounds or just trying not to miss the damn concert you paid $500 for.

The man knows what he’s talking about. He's not some armchair psychonaut quoting Reddit threads — he’s done the work. Scott talks about “engagement” as the often-missing middle step between preparation and integration. And he's right. We’ve been told to set intentions and reflect afterward, but nobody tells us what to do when the floor melts and our ego dissolves mid-trip. That’s where this book steps in.

What makes this even more legit is Scott’s personal story — including a DIY MDMA therapy session where he unearthed raw grief through reading time capsule letters written with his late husband. It’s brutal, moving, and shows exactly how engagement can make or break the impact of a psychedelic journey.

Also, this book isn’t just for “medicine” people. Scott doesn’t crap on recreational use — in fact, he defends it — but he challenges us to show up for the experience, even when it’s for fun. You want joy? Be engaged. You want healing? Be engaged. You want to stop licking frogs aimlessly in the jungle? Be. Engaged.

Bottom line: Engagement isn’t about controlling your trip — it’s about being present for it. It’s mindfulness on mushrooms, equanimity with your ego turned inside out. Read this before your next journey. Or at least before your next heroic dose.

Much of the conversation around psychedelic-assisted therapy revolves around two phases: preparation (setting intentions, ensuring safety, and cultivating the right mindset) and integration (making sense of insights and applying them to daily life). But what about what happens during the experience itself?

In Engagement: The Missing Component in Psychedelic Therapy, G. Scott Graham argues that the real-time experience of a psychedelic journey is often overlooked. Without engagement, psychedelic experiences can become directionless, overwhelming, or fleeting, failing to create lasting transformation.

For those exploring psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD, DMT, mescaline (peyote), ibogaine, MDMA, or 5-MeO-DMT, this book offers a crucial perspective: The trip itself is not enough. How you engage with it matters.

Why This Book Is Important
✔ The Missing Piece in Psychedelic Therapy
While there are many resources on preparation and integration, few explore what happens in the moment of the experience itself. Graham makes a compelling case that engagement — staying present and participatory — determines whether insights lead to transformation or fade away.

✔ A Practical Approach to Psychedelic Engagement
Unlike books that focus on theory or mysticism, Engagement offers a clear framework for understanding what it means to be engaged during a psychedelic journey. It explains how mental presence, emotional responsiveness, and balance shape the depth and effectiveness of the experience.

✔ Balances Surrender and Active Participation
Many psychedelic traditions emphasize surrender, but Graham clarifies that engagement is not about control — it’s about staying connected. The book explores how to navigate psychedelic states without disengaging or forcing insights, striking a balance between letting go and staying present.

✔ For Both First-Timers and Experienced Psychonauts
Whether you’re exploring psychedelic therapy for depression, PTSD, trauma healing, or self-discovery, this book helps you understand how to make the most of your journey. It’s just as valuable for seasoned explorers who want to ensure their experiences remain meaningful and transformative.

✔ Complements Graham’s Psychedelic Series
This book is a perfect companion to Graham’s Psychedelic Preparation Workbook and Psychedelic Integration Workbook. While the first book focuses on setting up for a meaningful experience and the second on applying insights afterward, Engagement ensures you stay fully present in the experience itself.

What Could Be Improved?
❌ Not a Deep Dive into Psychedelic Science
While the book is highly insightful, it does not focus on the neuroscience of psychedelics, clinical trial data, or pharmacology. Readers looking for a scientific breakdown of how psychedelics affect the brain might want to supplement this with books like How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan.

❌ More Research Needed on Engagement as a Variable
Graham makes a strong case for engagement as a critical factor in psychedelic-assisted therapy, but scientific research on this topic is still emerging. While the book is based on experience and logic, future studies could help solidify engagement as a key determinant of therapeutic outcomes.

Final Verdict: A Must-Read for Those Serious About Psychedelic Healing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

Engagement: The Missing Component in Psychedelic Therapy is an essential read for anyone serious about psychedelic healing, therapy, or self-exploration. It introduces a vital but often ignored factor — how to stay engaged during the experience — ensuring that psychedelic insights don’t just happen but actually lead to transformation.

Whether you’re working with psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD, MDMA, or DMT, this book will help you rethink how you approach the experience itself. Highly recommended for anyone looking to make their psychedelic journeys more meaningful, impactful, and effective.