How Psychedelics and Bodywork Unlock Possibility for Chronic Pain and Trauma

Picture your mind as a densely woven forest. Over time, the well-worn trails—your beliefs, habits, and reactions—become the only paths you can see. These trails are efficient for navigating life, but they can also trap you, leaving no room to explore other directions. For those of us working with chronic pain or trauma, these trails can feel like cages, the rigid beliefs about our pain or identity weighing us down.

The REBUS model—Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics—offers a compelling explanation for how psychedelics might loosen these bindings. Introduced by Carhart-Harris and Friston in 2019, this model explains how psychedelics temporarily relax the brain's grip on rigid "priors"—the deeply ingrained expectations and beliefs that shape how we perceive the world and ourselves. For conditions like chronic pain, depression, and PTSD, where these priors are particularly entrenched, the REBUS model provides a roadmap for profound change.

Chronic Pain and Strong Priors

In nociplastic chronic pain, the brain becomes stuck in a loop, repeatedly signaling danger even when no physical injury is present. This loop isn’t just about the body—it’s also about beliefs. Many of us living with pain know the storylines: I’ll never get better. Movement will make this worse. My body has failed me. These are the strong priors REBUS speaks to, and they can make it nearly impossible to imagine a life beyond pain.

Under psychedelics, the brain enters a state of increased entropy—think of it as shaking the snow globe. The rigid paths soften, the priors loosen, and new connections become possible. This state of openness is why many describe psychedelic experiences as moments of profound insight, emotional release, or even a renewed relationship with their bodies.

But this is where integration becomes critical. Psychedelics can open the door, but it’s the work that follows—particularly in the body—that solidifies and deepens those shifts.

The Role of Bodywork: From Sessions to Integration

Bodywork during psychedelic sessions and in the integration window can amplify the brain’s newfound openness. While REBUS explains the neural shifts, chronic pain isn’t just a brain issue—it’s also a body issue. Our bodies hold patterns of tension and fear, often protecting us long after the original threat has passed. Psychedelics might soften the brain’s resistance to change, but physical touch and movement can anchor those changes in the body.

For instance, many people in psychedelic sessions describe spontaneous movements, shaking, or other forms of physical catharsis. This is not an adverse event. It’s the body releasing years—sometimes decades—of embodied patterning. As a bodyworker, I see this as the forest regrowing, with the rigid trails dissolving into a more open and adaptable landscape.

During the integration period, bodywork can help sustain this flexibility. Gentle, attuned touch supports the nervous system as it learns to hold new patterns. Techniques like somatic tracking, guided movement, or even structural integration can reinforce the changes sparked in a psychedelic session, helping clients reclaim a sense of trust and curiosity in their bodies.

The Critical Window

The "critical window" after a psychedelic experience is a time of profound neuroplasticity. The brain is particularly open to learning and forming new habits, and the body is primed for change as well. This is where the partnership between psychedelics and bodywork shines. By working within this window, we can help clients solidify their insights, reduce rumination, and reshape their relationship with chronic pain. It may even resolve completely in just a few sessions!

Instead of simply distracting from pain—something psychedelics might do in the moment—we can guide clients toward engaging with their sensations with curiosity. Through gentle, attuned bodywork in safe ranges of motion, we support the nervous system in finding safety in movement, in breath, and in connection.

A Paradigm of Openness and Connection

The REBUS model teaches us that healing doesn’t come from suppressing or bypassing discomfort. It comes from relaxing the rigid systems that have held us in place and creating the conditions for something new to emerge. Psychedelics and bodywork, together, offer a way to do just that.

For those living with chronic pain, this approach provides more than temporary relief—it offers a chance to rewrite the story entirely. By addressing the neural, emotional, and physical patterns that keep us stuck, we invite a sense of openness and possibility into the forest of our lives.

As we continue to explore these integrative approaches, let’s hold the same spirit of curiosity and humility that psychedelics themselves invite. The body, just like the mind, holds its own wisdom. Together, they guide us back to a fuller, more connected sense of self.

To explore the REBUS model in greater depth, read Carhart-Harris and Friston’s work: REBUS and the Anarchic Brain.