The Psychedelic DJ: How Music Guides Healing in Psilocybin Therapy

New Book Release: The Psychedelic DJ – Available Early June 2025

In The Psychedelic DJ: A Practical Guide to Therapeutic Music Curation and Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy, Matt Xavier bridges three decades of professional DJing with 15 years of mental health counseling to reveal music’s transformative role in psychedelic and in his case, psilocybin therapy.

“Music, in its own right, is a powerful medicine that can dramatically shape the course of a journey.”

— Matt Xavier, Gestalt and CADC-II, Certified Psychedelic DJ, Psychedelic Guide, and Author

Drawing from his journey through New York’s underground rave scene to becoming a certified mental health counselor and psychedelic guide, Xavier presents the first comprehensive guide to using music as a co-therapist in healing journeys. His groundbreaking methodology shows practitioners how to create therapeutic soundscapes that guide, support, and amplify the transformative potential of psilocybin therapy and experiences.

The following excerpt from the book explores the fundamental concepts behind music as a therapeutic tool, introducing the idea of DJing as an intuitive healing practice and revealing how carefully curated soundscapes can serve as a powerful co-therapist in psychedelic journeys.

Excerpt from The Psychedelic DJ

From the Dancefloor to the Psilocybin Therapy Room

“My journey into psychedelic therapy began decades ago on dancefloors, in basements, and behind turntables—spaces where music cracked open inner doors and helped people connect in ways words never could. Over time, that path led me into the world of mental health counseling and psychedelic integration work. What began as a love for music became a calling: to explore how sound itself can be used not just for entertainment, but for transformation.

In the world of psychedelic therapy, music has often been overlooked for its potent role as cotherapist, capable of guiding and amplifying emotional and spiritual experiences. While many acknowledge the transformative power of psychedelics themselves, few understand how deeply music can shape the journey, offering both structure and support to the unfolding process. My hope is that this book will illuminate the underappreciated synergy between music and psychedelics and offer helpful insights for those new to the practice of creating a soundtrack for a client’s mind-altering journey, as well as for those seeking to deepen their understanding of this powerful combination.”

DJing as Intuitive Guidance

“At the heart of this synergy lies an intuitive practice that many of us already engage in, often without realizing its full potential: DJing. At its core, DJing is more than a technical skill or a profession—it’s an ancient, intuitive practice of fostering connection through music. While the word DJ might first evoke images of turntables and nightclubs, the essence of DJing has always been about reading the energy of a space, understanding the emotional state of an audience, and creating a musical flow that brings people together.

The act of curating soundscapes is something we all engage in, whether we realize it or not. It’s fascinating how often people, even those unfamiliar with DJ culture, instinctively describe the act of playing music for others as “DJing.” Whether it’s a carefully crafted playlist or live selections during a session, this shorthand captures the transformative power of music to shape an experience.

It’s also a perfect metaphor for the work of a guide in psilocybin therapy. Much like a DJ, a psychedelic guide senses the emotional and spiritual state of the journeyer and uses music to support, uplift, or ground them as needed.

So, in the context of psilocybin therapy, this combined role of DJ and guide takes on even greater importance as music becomes a profound tool for healing, a bridge to deeper states of consciousness, and a path through the peaks and valleys of a journey. Whether it’s through an ambient soundscape, a cathartic swell, or a moment of silence, the right soundtrack holds space for transformation, supporting the journeyer as they navigate their inner world.”

A Personal and Practical Offering

“This book invites you to embrace DJing in its most universal and therapeutic sense: as an intuitive practice of connection and healing. You don’t need to be a professional DJ or know how to beatmatch to engage in this work. If you’ve ever put together a playlist to set a mood, evoke an emotion, or create a meaningful experience, you’ve already practiced a form of DJing. By expanding your understanding of what it means to DJ, this book will empower you to harness the transformative potential of music, no matter your background. Whether you’re a clinician, a guide, or someone seeking to deepen your connection with music in therapeutic spaces, you’ll find practical tools and inspiration for creating soundscapes that heal, guide, and transform.

My own journey into this work reflects this very concept of DJing—an intuitive and organic unfolding that led me from collecting music to curating therapeutic experiences. Similarly, this book didn’t actually begin as a book; it started as a DJ mix, a curated compilation of tracks I’ve used in sessions, drawing from my vast collection of psychedelic ambient, chill-out, and downtempo electronic music. What began as a simple instructional guide to accompany the mix quickly evolved into something much larger as a narrative unfolded about my journey as a DJ, my experiences as a psychedelic guide, and my work as a mental health counselor. The music that fills these sessions is the product of over 30 years of collecting, testing, and refining. Each track mentioned here has been carefully chosen to enhance the therapeutic potential of a journey.”

Fusing Music, Medicine, and Practice

“My intention with this book is to highlight the transformative capacity of weaving together psychedelic medicine, music curation, and both clinical and shamanic counseling practices. However, this book does not dive heavily into the scientific evidence; it instead focuses on how the use of music for the purpose of psychedelic counseling informs the healing potential of our psychology. The product of many years of clinical and experiential practice, this book explores how integrating music with psychedelics has impacted the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual lives of the clients I’ve worked with.

There is also detailed information on setting that provides suggestions on how to curate an environment that ensures a safe and supportive container. Though for our purposes here, the most important element will be the curation of a nonverbal musical soundtrack that elicits thoughts, memories, visions, and emotions, it is just as important to remember to properly address the other four senses. This includes providing comfortable bedding, soft lighting, and artwork, and pleasant scents.”

Music as Medicine

“However, in my practice, I’ve found that music is not just an element of the setting—it is often the most vital component. Each track should be carefully selected to support the unfolding journey, whether that means guiding a client through moments of emotional intensity or helping them settle into a place of introspection. The music I use in sessions spans various electronic subgenres such as ambient, chill-out, neoclassical, downtempo, and, on rare occasions, house, techno, trance, or drum and bass.

I’ve curated these selections from tens of thousands of compositions, continuously testing them in both altered and nonaltered states of consciousness. Over time, I’ve learned to map out which tracks work best for the different stages of a journey, blending them into a continuous set that evolves with each client’s needs. Musical curation thus becomes a powerful tool for guiding clients through their inner landscapes, amplifying the therapeutic potential of each session.

Music, in its own right, is a powerful medicine that can dramatically shape the course of a journey. Understanding how and when to present music with the least amount of disruption is crucial to creating a safe and transformative environment for healing. It is this understanding that I hope to share with you, drawing on the knowledge I’ve gained through many years of curating music, DJing events, guiding clients, and integrating ancient traditions with modern therapeutic practices.”

In this no-holds-barred account, Alex demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit. He shows us how psychedelics offer us the powerful gift of spiritual alchemy. Transcending one’s pain and transforming it into love is the greatest mystery of all.

Discover the Full Story Behind the Soundtrack

If you found this excerpt meaningful, we encourage you to explore The Psychedelic DJ, Matt Xavier’s practical guide to therapeutic music curation and psilocybin therapy. This groundbreaking book blends clinical wisdom with DJ experience to help readers understand how music can act as a co-therapist in altered states. With guidance on crafting session-ready playlists, understanding the arc of a psychedelic journey, and tuning into the emotional nuances of sound, Matt offers a valuable resource for professionals and explorers alike.

To read more or purchase the book, visit: Integrated Psychedelics.

About the Author

Matt Xavier is a pioneering figure at the intersection of electronic music and therapeutic healing, bringing over three decades of experience in the music industry to his innovative practice as a psychedelic-assisted therapist and Gestalt experiential counselor. Beginning his journey in the early 1990s as co-founder of New York City’s groundbreaking psychedelic trance company Tsunami Productions, he evolved through various musical incarnations—from his techno and house productions under “Gruvhaus” to founding the international label Railyard Recordings—performing at legendary venues and festivals including Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, and clubs across NYC, LA, and Berlin.

After earning his CADC-II certification from Loyola Marymount University in 2010, Matt transitioned into addiction counseling, where he spent years helping clients navigate mental health challenges and substance use disorders. His practice uniquely synthesizes his lifelong passion for music with evidence-based therapeutic modalities, including Gestalt Therapy, Reichian Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing, offering clients guided music meditations and psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions that harness the transformative power of carefully curated soundscapes to facilitate deep healing and personal growth.

Book Details

The Psychedelic DJ by Matt Xavier is available on Amazon.

• Genre: Music, Psychedelic Therapy, and Psychotherapy
• Publisher: Integrated Psychedelics
• Publication date:
  • Paperback & Hardcover: May 29, 2025
  • Kindle: June 9, 2025
• Language: English
• Print length: ‎240 pages (Paperback & Hardcover) 297 pages (Kindle)
• ISBN-13:
  • Paperback: 979-8998680618
  • Kindle: 979-8998680601
  • Hardcover: 979-8998680625
• List Price: $22 (Paperback) $9.99 (Kindle) $33.00 (Hardcover)