About Sean Lawlor
LPCC, MFA
My therapeutic journey began with traveling, writing, and psychedelic medicine. While studying philosophy during a semester abroad in Australia in 2009, I experienced psilocybin mushrooms for the first time. What followed was a life-changing afternoon of profound interconnectivity with the Cosmos, with dear friends, and with myself. I began writing soon after, and I fell in love with the authenticity and vulnerability the blank page allowed. Writing, therapy, traveling, and psychedelics continue to be symbiotic methods of self-exploration, supporting my ongoing journey of manifesting my potential and living a fulfilling life of love, gratitude, service, and creative expression.
My clinical work is grounded in a humanistic approach focused on authenticity and mindful, embodied presence. I am trained in Internal Family Systems therapy, and for those who resonate with this parts-based approach, I help them recognize the positive intent of their most potent struggles and release the burdens they habitually carry. Amid the verbal processing, I take a somatic approach, encouraging clients to remain attuned to their bodies to expand their capacity for peace and centeredness amid challenging situations. Ultimately, my role is to help clients help themselves, and psychedelics like ketamine are helpful tools for this goal.
I respect psychedelic medicines deeply. As such, I recommend clients meet with me for at least three preparation sessions before undergoing a ketamine session. These preparatory sessions allow us to establish strong rapport and trust, for without trust, it is nearly impossible to allow the unpredictable experience to take its natural course.
Before ketamine enters the picture, I ensure that my clients feel comfortable and safe and that we are on the same page with their intentions, fears, hopes, and expectations. During ketamine sessions, I focus on offering a compassionate presence, making sure I am there if a need arises while maintaining space for my clients’ authentic processes to unfold. I prioritize ethical facilitation to establish a container conducive to healing and transformation.
Modern life is full of stressors. It’s all but impossible to avoid getting snagged in Western culture’s frantic pace, whereby our inner worlds become riddled with anxiety, depression, hopelessness, loneliness, and exhaustion. In an individualistic society, many of us struggle to navigate our way out of these places alone. I believe we were not meant to live in isolated silos, and I aim to provide broad forms of support to help my clients establish more fulfilling and peaceful lives.
In both my psychedelic work and non-psychedelic work, I come from a transpersonal orientation. Rather than pathologizing experiences that seem connected to something “beyond the self,” I help clients understand and make meaning of them. I respect the mysteries of the universe and the limitations of human understanding, and I believe great joy and fulfillment can be found in not having all the answers.
Thank you for taking the courageous step of considering therapy. I’d be honored to support you on your journey.
Together, We Can Work On...
Recognizing and understanding recurring roadblocks between you and your goals
Discovering unconscious beliefs and exploring their roots to heal underlying wounds
Exploring systemic influences on your day-to-day experience and understand their effect on your unique identities
Understanding psychedelic and other non-ordinary state experiences to integrate their wisdom into your day-to-day life
Building new, positive habits that pave the road to improved wellness
Learning techniques that you can use in your daily life to improve regulation and continue self-exploration, such as mindfulness practices and writing exercises
Practicing self-care and self-compassion to improve confidence and contentedness
Expanding your understanding of who you are by recognizing limiting beliefs, exploring beyond them, and integrating shadowed layers of your identity into your body and psyche
Deepening your spiritual practice, in whatever form it takes in your life
Improving relationships by practicing honest communication, boundary setting, and your ability to self-regulate amid conflict and distress
Navigating life transitions with intention, awareness, courage, and patience
Exploring archetypal and mythological connections to the current stage of your life, appealing to the wisdom of those who have come before as you navigate the stage’s challenges and pitfalls
Advanced Training, Experience & Associations
Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in the state of Colorado (LPCC.0020838)
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Naropa University, with a concentration in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling
Clinical Internship at Wholeness Center, facilitating individual and group ketamine-assisted therapy (2021-2022)
Internal Family Systems Level 1 Certificate of Completion (2022)
MAPS Certificate of Completion in MDMA-Assisted Therapy (2021)
PRATI (Psychedelic Research and Training Institute) Certificate in Ketamine and Psychedelic Medicine (2020)
Author of Psychedelic Revival: Toward a New Paradigm of Healing, forthcoming from Sounds True Publishing
Published writer on Psychedelics Today, Chacruna, Lucid News, Psychedelic Times, EntheoNation, and other online and print outlets
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Fiction) from Chatham University (2014)
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from University of San Diego (2010)
Certified Personal Trainer through National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
