What is Psychedelic Therapy?

We are in the middle of a “psychedelic renaissance” occurring in the mental health field. Scientists, journalists, and mental health advocates are publishing remarkable discoveries at a rapid rate about the potential of psychedelics to aid in the recovery from a plethora of mental health issues. Perhaps you’ve heard about the therapeutic potential of these substances when utilized skillfully in changing our minds, getting to the root of core issues, resolving PTSD, or how plant medicines can facilitate deeper contact with ourselves, our lineage, and what we are doing here on this planet. The research is showing that psychedelic therapy can enhance “empathy, improved relatedness, and increase capacity for social connection” through a “foundational reorganization of psychological structures and capacities” (Vaid & Walker, 2022), promoting self-integration and holistic health. With the potential FDA approval for the therapeutic use of MDMA in August of 2024 and widespread decriminalization and legalization reforms on ballots throughout the country, it is clear: We are standing on the precipice of a paradigm shift in mental health care.

Although psychedelics have only been a part of psychotherapy for the last 80 or so years (in restricted and limited ways), these substances have been a part of sacred cultural practices worldwide for hundreds and likely even thousands of years. Modern research is now proving that psychedelics use and rituals have been with us since the dawn of ancient societies. In The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name Brian C. Muraresku shines a light on how mystical ritual with a psychoactive beverage very likely created our sense of current reality in Western culture, and likely spawned the framework for religion and modern society through the Eleusinian Mysteries, dating back to 1500 BC. Many indigenous cultures throughout the world have used psychoactive compounds with reverence to assist in healing psychological and physical ailments, mark rites of passage, activate spiritual growth and help people connect with their ancestral lineage.

Unlike the traditional western pharmaceutical approach of “managing” our mental health with various medications that suppress symptoms and mute emotional capacity, psychedelics are amplifiers of what is already within the human psyche. In other words, psychedelics have the unique power to illuminate and unlock what previously has remained unseen into consciousness, such as awareness of deeply ingrained historical patterns and discovering revelatory insights. These compounds can bring symptoms and unprocessed material to the surface where they can be acknowledged, felt and integrated through lasting shifts in perspective and lifestyle changes. For many, this process can be cathartic, uncomfortable, revelatory and transformational.

Recent research and clinical trials have shown promising results using psychedelics with participants experiencing existential distress in palliative and cancer care, MDMA for PTSD (including Complex PTSD), treatment-resistant depression, and those diagnosed with autism.

Recently, there has been widespread decriminalization efforts in many cities to ensure that people can explore these compounds without legal repercussions. This has resulted in more people using psychedelics with an increased need for harm-reduction, preparation, and integration support.