Embodied Informed Consent: A Somatic Approach to Ethical Psychedelic Therapy

This article is not legal or medical advice

Ensuring ethical, informed consent remains a vital yet often overlooked aspect of client care in psychedelic healing spaces. At the Psychedelic Society of Utah Conference, Autumn Kunz, co-founder of Rabbit Hole Wellness, explored the embodied approach to informed consent and the importance of somatic awareness in therapeutic settings. With over 15 years of experience in yoga therapy and somatic healing, Autumn advocates for bridging gaps in traditional mental health systems through conscious embodiment practices.

Autumn Kunz Embodied Informed Consent

What is Embodied Consent?

Consent is more than just signing a waiver—it’s about ensuring clients have the capacity and autonomy to make decisions that align with their true needs. However, as Autumn explained, many people say “yes” when they mean “no”, often due to societal conditioning, power dynamics, or nervous system dysregulation.

“Who here has ever said yes when they meant no?” she asked the audience. “Exactly. This is a widespread issue, especially for vulnerable clients in therapy.”

Key Factors That Impact Consent

Autumn identified several factors that influence whether a client can truly give informed consent:

• Pressure and persuasion – Marketing tactics, social pressure, or therapist influence can lead to coerced decisions.

• Comprehension and confidence – Many clients struggle to fully grasp technical jargon or therapeutic expectations.

• Power dynamics – The authority of a therapist can subconsciously impact a client’s willingness to refuse or question treatment.

• Nervous system state – Clients in dysregulated states (e.g., trauma, addiction, crisis) may not have the emotional stability to make clear, self-guided choices.

Bridging the Gap: Somatic Therapy and Informed Consent

A core takeaway from Autumn’s presentation was that informed consent must be embodied, meaning a client feels their “yes” in their body rather than being pressured into it cognitively. She emphasized that nervous system regulation is a prerequisite for true consent, stating:

“If a client is in crisis or survival mode, they’re not making empowered decisions—they’re making desperate ones.”

To help clients cultivate embodied consent, therapists should:

• Slow down the intake process – Ensure clients have the space to reflect before committing to treatments.

• Incorporate body awareness practices – Techniques such as breathwork, yoga therapy, and somatic experiencing can help clients reconnect with their intuitive yes/no responses.

• Provide alternative treatment options – Clients should always be informed of non-psychedelic alternatives to ensure their decision is fully autonomous.

• Regularly re-evaluate consent – Just because a client agrees to treatment initially doesn’t mean their consent is permanent.

The Ethical Risks of Assumed Consent

Autumn shared real-world examples of clients who had experienced harm due to a lack of true informed consent, including cases of:

• Psychedelic misuse in vulnerable clients – Individuals who felt pressured into psychedelic treatments due to desperation rather than informed choice.

• Overuse of ketamine therapy – A young client underwent 60 ketamine sessions in two years without seeing improvement, highlighting the dangers of unchecked treatment.

• Unethical marketing tactics – Some facilitators market to the client’s shadow rather than their conscious, embodied awareness, leading to misguided therapeutic decisions.

“We assume a yes when we should be assuming a no,” Autumn warned. “Clients must actively reclaim their right to say no—even to treatments we believe could help them.”

A Call for Ethical Psychedelic Therapy

In closing, Autumn urged therapists and facilitators to shift their approach to consent, making it a continuous process rather than a one-time agreement. “The more embodied a client’s yes, the more effective, ethical, and sustainable their healing journey will be,” she stated.

For therapists interested in deepening their understanding of somatic consent practices, Rabbit Hole Wellness offers trainings and consultations. More information can be found on their website.

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