The Clinical Implications of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Trauma: An In-Depth Look at the Promising Results and the Unanswered Questions
with Bessel van der Kolk, MD; Richard Schwartz, PhD; Michael Mithoefer, MD; Rachel Yehuda, PhD; Gita Vaid, MD; Peter Addy, PhD; Rick Doblin, PhD; Ron Siegel, PsyD; Janis Phelps, PhD; Eboni Webb, PsyD; Megan Schmidt, PsyD; Ruth Buczynski, PhD
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Mary Mahon, Psychology, CA says
Is it contraindicated for certain age groups? Or with another cognitive condition such as early stage dementia or brain injuries?
Peter Addy, Counseling, Portland, OR, USA says
Current evidence does not indicate that psychedelics are contraindicated for cognitive conditions like early dementia or brain injuries. Small preliminary studies have suggested psychedelics may benefit neuroplasticity and cognition in these populations when administered carefully.
Khan, S. M., Carter, G. T., Aggarwal, S. K., & Holland, J. (2021). Psychedelics for Brain Injury: A Mini-Review. Frontiers in neurology, 12, 685085.
Pilozzi, A., Foster, S., Mischoulon, D., Fava, M., & Huang, X. (2023). A Brief Review on the Potential of Psychedelics for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Depression. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(15), 12513.
Vann Jones, S. A., & O’Kelly, A. (2020). Psychedelics as a Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia. Frontiers in synaptic neuroscience, 12, 34.
Meg Stafford, Social Work, Littleton, MA, USA says
So great that these sharp minds are looking at this unusual treatment in a thorough way that can maximize potential and minimize risks. Important advances that can be so helpful to an important population.
Elle, Psychology, Carlsbad, NM, USA says
This was an excellent training. My concern is that people without experience in regards to MDMA, should probably seek supervision when first implementing this type of therapy.
Richard Fletcher, Coach, GB says
(and again from me) it would have been good to know if PAP worked best with adult trauma (single event or multiple) or childhood trauma (whether trauma, abandonment or neglect)
Shayla Riordan, Psychotherapy, IE says
This is all so fascinating and interesting. A really good presentation of how Psychedelics can be useful in the treatment of extreme traumatic events and histories.
However it is so far from being available in my neck of the woods, even as a research trial, it will not be coming in here any time soon!
And of course it is not of benefit to everyone, but I found the stories of the transformations accessed in the clinical trials very moving.
The protocols described in the preparation sessions, the medicine sessions and the integration sessions, and the long long hours involved in the medicine sessions, rinse and repeat 3 times are obviously beyond the scope of any ordinary psychotherapy practice. One would need a team of people to work with the client.
Anyway, not possibles as it is still illegal in most places!
Thank you for making it available for free, as I find the fee for the package beyond my budget. And for the balanced presentation of pros and cons.
It is something that I have wanted to know more about for some time, as it is in the zeitgeist now, and clients talk about it sometimes, so it is good to get the information from a reliable source, such as yourself, Ruth, and these clinicians of considerable experience.
Thanks again.
Shayla
Pam Lester, Teacher, CA says
Someone close to me engaged in an ayahuasca session, supposedly guided by a ‘therapist’ of sorts. Family Constellation work accompanied the weekend experience, as well as community support.
As a result of her ‘revelations,’ she changed the course of her life. Moved her family and her medical practice to a more remote area, and has experienced very devastating results instead of the nirvana she anticipated.
As you mentioned in this session, there is a price to pay for personal exploration that is not guided within the context of a therapeutic relationship.
Alex dB, Another Field, BE says
Hi, happy to share my testimony as a patient.
I have complex PTSD which was undiagnosed at the time i took MDMA several times. I used to take it once a year. It always went well and i enjoyed the benefits of the drug: connection, feeling good, being able to use the restroom like a normal person :-). It was my once-a-year relief from permanent trauma-state (freeze-fawn).
At a certain point however, clinically I developed chronic and acute hyperventilation, (due to my mental health condition being hidden (to myself and the world) and not diagnosed). I noticed that i had problems with my heartbeat and respiratory system during the mdma use as well: after the peak. (The fatigue comes in at that point, so you are more vulnerable). Highly unpleasant.
I still tried to take my once-a-year moment of relief, but one time, a friend said he had “something better”, a “light form of MDMA”, i would feel nothing but a “little pleasant cloud” etc. etc. This person was a Dr. in law – not a random junkie. I trusted it. It turned out to be eskaline (a strong psychedelic). I had a bad trip. Needless to say this was extremely, extremely traumatising. Friends took me to the emergency, I ripped up all my clothes in the car, was unconscious most of the time, etc. .
I will (obviously) never be able to do drugs again. I am way too afraid the trauma reactions and memory of the bad trip will come back. My system is still dysregulated and unstable, so in any case it’s not a good time.
But I am generally very sorry i won’t ever do them again, because i am convinced that with a profile like mine (CPTSD – no comorbidities), it could be helpful to undergo sessions assisted by therapists.
If I hadn’t had this bad experience, I would want to try ketamine and MDMA in a therapeutic setting, as well as ayahuasca, when ready.
Thank you once more, NICABM team, for your work.
Claudia Vogt, Other, AT says
As a yoga teacher and C-IAYT yoga therapist, every now and then I get asked what I personally and professionally think about the the healing effects of psilocybin and Ayahuasca for people who suffer from trauma.
Though some points made seemed common-sense, others were new to me (e.g. regarding rigid personality types) so that, all in all, this session has helped clarify the topic. It has provided me with enough information to pass on to clients who express an interest in the use of psychedelics and/or psychedelics asssited psychotherapy as a pathway to healing. BTW: In yoga therapy we work a lot towards enhancing a feeling of safety while rediscovering our bodies, sensations and emotions, so we might be able to support people before and after any PA therapy. Thank you for all the work put into this.
srishti nigam, Medicine, CA says
Its important to always remember that after working with the patient who might not be ready at one stage of their life and therapy but later having worked with their therapist, they have experienced a paradigm shift and could be ready Now.So we need to continue to work with PAP clinic or the Psychiatrist all the time ,pre and post state.
Excellent discussion and presentation with Clarity.
Richard Fletcher, Coach, GB says
Would have been useful to have heard of some agreed protocols for preparatory clearance of anti-depressants, esp SSRIs.
Janet Alexander, Other, Loomis, CA, USA says
See my comment below. My highly trained guide’s school required that patients be off all depression meds for 6 months before sessions, so I was flying very low on serotonin by then. That may be why the spike was so glorious. i actually released all shame during the second session, and it has never returned. Profound life change. BUT weeks of subsequent suicidal despair was the price I paid.
Richard Fletcher, Coach, GB says
Thanks, I’ve read this and yours below. Unclear whether in your case it was worth it?! (It sounds like ‘yes’ if one can handle weeks of suicidal despair – during which you may or may not have had adequate support)?
Janet Alexander, Other, Loomis, CA, USA says
I had great support, including integration sessions. At the time I would not have said it was worth it, but today I do. Being free of toxic wells of shame is a tremendous gift. I also gained a greater sense of love in and for the world. I saw that we are indeed all one, even though we rarely know so.
Richard Fletcher, Coach, GB says
Would have been useful to have had some data/statistics on the beneficial versus not so beneficial/harmful deployment of PAP
Janet Alexander, Other, Loomis, CA, USA says
I have to share a caution about MDMA with people whose clinical depression has been helped by SSRI’S. MDMA spikes serotonin, which is why it feels so amazing, but then serotonin crashes and the result can be suicidal depression. If you’ve responded to serotonin drugs you may not be producing enough on your own to recover from the spike and depletion. i was left in utter despair two weeks after both my professional MDMA journeys, and only TMS saved my life. My journeys were transformative, but i can never have another one. I’ve spoken with MAPS researchers, and they admitted they had heard of this disastrous aftereffect.
St. Brigid's Temple holistic sanctum Ireland, Psychology, IE says
Fabulous to hear this modality being met head-on with those experienced in the field.
PAP or entheogenic experiences are like an epidemic …. the irony I observe
is that many of the clients who are transfixed by the idea of this modality
are also fixated on “freedom” from systematic protocols and institutionalised control;
can’t help wondering (without wishing to over-generalise of course) if it isn’t a case
of replacing one “pill” with another. Thank you for presenting this session.
Shayla Riordan, Psychotherapy, IE says
This is all so fascinating and interesting. A really good presentation of how Psychedelics can be useful in the treatment of extreme traumatic events and histories.
However it is so far from being available in my neck of the woods, even as a research trial, it will not be coming in here any time soon!
And of course it is not of benefit to everyone.
It is still illegal in most places!
Thank you for making it available for free, as I find the fee for the package beyond my budget.
It is something that I have wanted to know more about for some time, as it is in the zeitgeist now, so it is good to get the information from a reliable source, such as yourself, Ruth.
Thanks again.
Shayla
Richard Fletcher, Coach, GB says
The ‘preparation’ is self-evidently necessary, but I was struck how essential proper ‘integration’ was. Difficult to see how scalable this could be
Dymphi van Zoggel, Teacher, NL says
Very interesting although I am very surprised that Stanislav Grof’s work is not mentioned. He has been working for decades on non-ordinary states of consciousness
Joanne C, Counseling, San Diego, CA, USA says
yes, without drugs.
Jeanne Teleia, Marriage/Family Therapy, FR says
This session confirmed my impressions that this sort of therapy is not useful to very many and is a fad in the psychotherapy field. If you have to ‘resource’ your clients with the same coping skills they need to actually deal with their trauma in order to be able to handle the drug safely, not to mention all the ways it can go sideways for a large majority of the clinical population, I can’t imagine why anyone would do this. No thank you! There are many other somatic and other energy psychology methods that work well and don’t come with the risks.
Richard Fletcher, Coach, GB says
Wise words!
Al Inchausti, Another Field, BR says
It seems to me that you are, unfortunately, taking away a lot of misimpressions that, perchance, you might have sought to confirm to begin with. Key words that I’d recommend reassessing sometime in the future: fad, large majority of the clinical population, the risks.
Of course, time will tell but my impressions and experience is that this is going to be either a game-changer or, at very least, point to a direction we wouldn’t have looked to otherwise.
Birgit Eriksen, Nutrition, IS says
Thank you again for an enlightening session. I am a trauma survivor, suffering from adverse childhood experiences from emotional neglect and generaional trauma all the way from a pre language age, no sexual abuse involved. I have been diagnosed with you name it many conditions, except what I have learned through your excellent education is complex PTSD. I see that I am not ready for psychedelic assisted therapy, which is not offered in IS anyway, however very grateful for understanding that it is not the way to go for me as of today. With no treatment or understanding until the age of 20, and then with 36 years (turning 56 years in a couple of weeks) of “treatment”, mostly CBT and ongoing medication, I am still very unregulated, with outbursts of anger with following regret and shame, frozen the point of not being able to move, shut down and terrified of life. There is no way CBT is going to work when you don’t know how you feel. No professional practitionor has been telling me face- to- face that I am a trauma survivor. I was stuggeling with anorexia nervosa (a.n.), devoloping into bulimia from the age of 12 to well into my forties, maybe even today. One of my sisters has a.n., still marked by it at 66 years old. A few years ago I was introduced to mindfulness. Practising mindfulness has made me feel some relief. That was a game changer for me as I came over literature saying l that mindfulness could be helpful for PTSD, maybe PTSD was the correct but missed diagnosis for me? Yes, I do belive so. Today I am getting help from professionals in Vancover, Canada, hopefully I will feel alive again 🙏. Your work is so important.
If someone is still reading, thank you for listening. It feels good to share my thoughts. Thank you.
St. Brigid's Temple holistic sanctum Ireland, Counseling, IE says
Thank you so much for sharing your story.
What an achievement to voice what in the past has perhaps had a “frozen” effect on one.
The very best wishes on your continuing journey.
Beth Paransky, M.A. Clinical and Community Psychology (conferred 2020)., Student, Pittsburgh, PA, USA says
It sounds like you are well-grounded on what you need. Hang in there. Stay with the professionals who you can relate to and feel safe with (validate) and accept your experiences of complex post traumatic stress and are willing to help you heal. Very proud of your disclosure. Wishing you the sense of freedom that I am confident arises for many if not most survivors who stay in engaging, safe therapeutic relationships with well-educated and experienced trauma professionals. Your nutritional expertise will also provide increased comfort along your journey to healing! Best regards, Beth Paransky, M.A.
Serena Thody, Coach, Rocbester, NY, USA says
Hi – not a professional, but just wanted to say I am so happy for you that you finally found the right ‘diagnosis’ and expert help. Diagnosis of C-PTSD was a real lightbulb moment for me and finally getting to work with a therapist who is specifically trained in trauma treatments, including EMDR, absolutely is changing my life.
Keep going even on days when it seems hard – only receiving acknowledgement (let alone the right treatment) later in one’s life rather than as a child, can make it seem like a long road back and like you have a step forwards and then stumble again but it keeps getting better and better overall. I can attest to that after several years of treatment with a trauma therapist. – I too had a lot of CBT and could never understand why I was trying SO hard to do the things suggested but could never make any real change to my emotional responses even if I understood things intellectually. I even think some of the traditional CBT therapy set me back by triggering trauma responses to ‘failing’ when desperately trying to please or appease people and do things ‘right’ when told to.
EMDR and trauma therapy in general is so different and I fully agree with you – how can you change thoughts and feelings when you don’t even know what those are.
I hope your journey forwards to yourself continues – I have gradually started to experience true joy in my life, being able to enjoy things while fully in the moment and in my body rather than always being on guard in some way and hyper vigilant for potential danger. It’s slow but I cherish every moment that I experience where the trauma doesn’t interfere.
You deserve acknowledgement as a survivor of the traumas you have been though and I wish you more and more moments of freedom as you keep doing the work.
Best wishes.
Frema Engel, Psychotherapy, CA says
The session was an eye-opener for me, so thanks for this informative module about MMDA Assisted Psychotherapy. I appreciate that, in every module there is an integration of research, practical treatment applications and case examples weaved into the presentation/ discussion. Lots of material to process – so I look forward to seeing the session transcript. I will check out Psychedelic treatments options in my area and see what the possibilities are. I use EMDR and other treatment methods with PTSD clients with good results. A big question is the viability of this treatment. As your speakers/experts made clear, it takes a huge investment of time, money and resources (e.g. medical and psychotherapist, facilities and institutions). We have very limited resources as it is, with long waiting lists to even get an appointment with a psychotherapist and even longer to get to see a psychiatrist. It’s hard to imagine how this treatment can be a practical option on a large scale. Still, I’m happy to learn about this treatment approach and the research you are all doing and how it is helping people who suffer from debilitating trauma.
Elle Hanilton, Another Field, CA says
After decades of traditional therapies with many professionals, I tried a Ketamine experience with all the proper protocols (education, preparation sessions, mindset, setting, integration sessions) with a psychologist, who was experienced in Ketamine sessions, sitting at my side, talking me through what we had prepared and what came up. Spent thousands of dollars. The experience gave me no additional insight and did not lessen the burdens of my mental health conditions. I didn’t expect a miraculous recovery, but had hoped for something helpful. It was quite disappointing. Just wanted to note my own experience, for those of you who have not ventured into this realm.
St. Brigid's Temple holistic sanctum Ireland, Counseling, IE says
Thank you so much for sharing! Really appreciate your direct first-hand experience.
and … sorry for the disappointing results, but on the other hand, it seems to show
(in my perspective anyway), that you have been doing great work off your own bat
all along. Now you are even sharing your triumphs, “losses”, and learnings;
that takes a healthy constitution and resilience to do so.
Best wishes!
Thomasina Bates, Counseling, GB says
Very interesting, yes, not everything works for everybody, thats why we need so many different avenues of treatment and creative ideas for working with patients. It really struck me that the reality is that trauma work can be difficult, long term and nuanced and that clients parts may be very much in conflict with each other and these drugs could exacerbate this. It was interesting to hear about the risks and what to talk to clients about, when they want to “go it alone” with psychedelics in order to mitigate any risks. I know what psychedelics are like and have enjoyed them, but in the Uk they are illegal so I don’t suppose i’ll be using them with patients any time soon! But hopefully this will change.
Also I noted how it was explained that patients need to begin at some point to do their self care and continue healing outside of sessions, be it mindfulness, meditation, body work, exercise, creativity etc (making themselves and their health a priority). Helping clients to take that proactive stance and responsibility towards getting better. It struck me I could do more to encourage clients to take this on board (whichever way I am working with them).
Linda Tuyn, Nursing, Panacea, FL, USA says
This session was excellent: so informative and easy to follow with evidenced-based information and practical suggestions. I am a retired psychiatric nurse practitioner and like to keep up on current practices, and answer questions that friends/family often ask about topics like this one. I recently spent some time at a meditation workshop at Esalen and attended an open educational session on PAP that was HORRIBLE, ending with PhD presenter (introduced as an expert) responding to question from audience member asking how to pursue this for himself by telling him it would be best to just “grab several friends and lots of snacks and just go into the woods w/ psilocybin” as preferable to having the guidance of a therapist who “doesn’t know you as well.” So uninformed and irresponsible! I just had to get that off my chest, lol, but thank you, I will consider today’s presenters as the people I will read and listen to for more information on the topic. I especially liked the suggestion of grounding the useful aspects of one’s psychedelic experience with health enhancing practices such as meditation. Back in the 70s and 80s, I used pot, mushrooms, and LSD recreationally/occasionally and am glad to have experienced that w/ no lasting ill effects, but now daily yoga and meditation are the practices I use to deepen and expand our natural human ability to connect with the mystical and act in more compassionate ways. Thank you again.
Raffaella Cava, Other, IL says
The session today was really good. It confirmed what I have felt intuitively: the vital importance of recognising the complexity of trauma and the individuality of each patient. I agree that if the patients are drawn to support their healing with psychedelics, they should first become more self-regulated and more “comfortable” with their individual trauma through an ongoing assisted therapeutic process before, during and after.
I loved the openess of participants to psychedelics blended with cautiousness, attention to the individual needs as well as their mental and emotional existing state. The balanced alternating of the experiencing of emotional, trauma-based pain and taking a break from it while being supported in the therapy framework by one’s own therapist, particularly appealed to me.
Thank you very much.
Raffaella Cava
trained as a clinical hypnotherapist
Amy Conno, Another Field, Austin, TX, USA says
Thank you for these modules. As a young (19 yo f) person in the 60’s I experimented with psilocibin and LSD. I created my own intention to grow emotionally and psychologically from these experiences. I knew that I felt trapped in my own skin beforehand. I came from a very abusive and neglectful background. Probably, looking at my family members, no one would have thought I could handle psychedelics. Yet, I have always had a different makeup than my family. These times of using LSD and psilocibin were profound game changers for me. I became more flexible, happier, and I connected to my own body and to other people in a way that was described today, as some of the ways that MDMA affects people. I have always had a flexible aspect to my personality and also awareness that I have trauma stemming from my childhood. I have had recollection (vivid) of trauma from infancy on. For 15 years I worked in an Abuse Neglect Hotline where I learned the language to describe my toxic beginnings. I love that the field of psychotherapy is becoming more compassionate in theory and in practice. (I have a nursing license and my practice is as a Reiki Master). Many thanks for this program
Franca Lane, Psychotherapy, GB says
Thank you for the very generous, informative and illuminating webinar.
I take with me that being an effective therapist is a highly important aspect of preparing for the psychedelic experience. As Dr Janice Phelps said, the importance of the client learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable. To be realistic about the use of psychedelic and that there is preparation and a processes to be integrated. In some ways there are parallels between Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and any effective process of therapy. Only that with psychedelic therapies, we have the possibility of potentializing self-love, change and growth.
A sincere thank you for sharing knowledge and experience with such kindness!
Jim Hopkins, Psychotherapy, Glenside, PA, USA says
I found the presentation to be helpful and important for laying the ground work for the therapy.
However I was curious about how much psychedelic work the therapist did for themselves and do they continue to use it at times and for what kinds of situations?
Garbo W, Nursing, GB says
I know of people who were forever changed (not in a good way) after unregulated use of psychoactive substances. I had a hunch that this was because the experience had brought repressed trauma to the surface, before they were resourced enough to deal with it. Looks like I was correct!
Thank you for this very rich summary, I shall definitely keep looking into this very exciting area of clinical practice 🙏🏾
Nikki Fedele, Psychology, Wayland, MA, USA says
I have a client who is very informed about psychotherapy and has been looking into places to have psychedelic treatment. This has been helpful to assist her in finding a suitable clinic and making decisions about this form of treatment. As a senior clinician, I basically used the same ideas as presented in our work, but to have them explicitly defined is very useful to me. As there is increasing interest in this form of treatment, I feel better informed in speaking to clients, colleagues and students. I also appreciate the specific information on each type of PAP.
Mike Wallace, Counseling, Monroe, CT, USA says
This session made me aware of indications and contraindications for psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. a big takeaway was the notion of complementary treatments like meditation and hypnosis as complementary or preparatory treatments. I would like to see a course focusing solely on this topic to go in more depth. Thank you.
Mike W, LPC, CT
Malcolm Learmonth, Psychotherapy, GB says
I am a British Art Psychotherapist, and it was an affirming joy to have the point made towards the end of this useful traininbg that the arts sit beautifully into these spaces. Ironic though that Art Psychotherapy, which is actually far more strongly regulated in the UK than almost any other approach, isn’t included as a profession in the drop down!
For the 35 years I have been a therapist I have known that psychadelics were the great lost opportnuity, and its lovely to have stuck around long enough to see that wheel come around.
Asha Lightbearer, Other, Woodstock, GA, USA says
I’ve been doing Alchemical Healing protocols with clients for decades using altered-states and creative healing techniques. It was wonderful to hear these speakers talking about the profound healing available through creativity and imagination, altered-state reframing and re-experiencing, speaking with the passed loved-ones or friends, activating the inner-healer, and more. This stuff is life changing for people! Glad it is finally catching on. And if psychedelic assistance is required for some people to embrace it/access it, so be it.
B Corley, Other, Prosperity, SC, USA says
My heartfelt thanks to you all for making this available for anyone to watch. You ARE helping to change civilizations. Best to you!
E Slade, Another Field, Columbia, SC, USA says
I used LSD in the 1960s. At some point it became very frightening. This presentation offers some people great potential and opportunities for inner healing. As I reflect back on those early irresponsible choices, I can still say an Amen to the value of altered states in reframing one’s life experience.
Thank you
Kumru Uzunkaya-Sharma, Student, AT says
Eyeopening that one trauma which I consider mainly as a monstrous experience is replaced through another overwhelming experience
Pamela J. Clements, Psychotherapy, Scotts Valley, CA, USA says
Thank you very much for this heartfelt and information-rich presentation. I have taken one prior course on PAP, yet this session helped me to assess clients’ readiness and/or appropriateness for this modality. I also appreciated the reminder that any modality that can help clients to access a non-ordinary state of consciousness that promotes safe access to the subconscious can achieve the same or similar results. I continue to be very curious to learn more. Unfortunately, my finances to not currently allow me to sign up for the Gold Package, even with the 50% discount. I look forward to future opportunities. Thank you again,
Pamela J. Clements, LMFT
Lindsey Krogh, LCSW, Social Work, Newport Beach, CA, USA says
I really appreciated this presentation on an area that is newer to me in clinical practice. I would like to hear more about the research studies they referenced and what populations participated including age, gender and cultural/ethnic identity. I’m wondering if this type of treatment would be accessible to individuals who have insurance and cannot pay additional fees for intensive treatment. It would be wonderful to see this accessible to our communities.
Pamela J. Clements, Psychotherapy, Scotts Valley, CA, USA says
Thank you, Lindsey, for bringing up the matter of financial accessibility. I was wondering the same thing at one point while listening. I see many clients on MediCal, and look forward to a time when PAP may qualify for reimbursement or coverage.
Renee Murphy-Hughes, Counseling, Kenosha , WI, USA says
I missed the webinar because I didn’t convert the time to central time. I was really excited about this.
Will you have a replay I can watch?
Thank you.
Char Vas, Counseling, MT says
I just finished watching the 2nd run for the day there are an other 2 taking place today. Click on the same link for the times.
first bame last name, Student, City, CA, USA says
This was really well put together. I thought it was going to be many hours, but it seems I misread the information about the broadcast being repeated several times.
Still, I really appreciated the structure and repetition, the presences of closed captioning, and the perspectives on the emerging research of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Thank you to everyone who contributed!
Oriole Song, Another Field, CA says
Thank you. Very informative. If only patient directed psychotherapy of this intensity, scholarship and detail were publicly funded so that people could get such help.,
Lilith Aquilla, Clergy, Yelm, WA, USA says
Yes! 👏🏻
Jane Oxenbury, Psychology, CA says
Excellent information and overview of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy. Thanks for the overview and specific information for me to be able to inform my clients about this type of psychotherapy if they are interested and to help me determine if they are candidates for this.
Jane Oxenbury, Psychologist
O A, Psychotherapy, GB says
I don’t know if I’ll ever support a client to undergo PAP in a clinic, but now I feel more informed and able to discuss it with them with some evidence based knowledge behind me. Thank you.
צביה שינדלר, Another Field, IL says
Thank you so much for a clear still full of information module.
Is there a way for me to watch the first two modules that I missed?
Lilith Aquilla, Clergy, Yelm, WA, USA says
As a somatic therapy facilitator, I appreciated this session so much. Many in my local community are working with plant and nature based medicines. I do see so many benefits to complimentary practice and am grateful for professional acceptance of same.
Aida del Valle, Another Field, San Rafael, CA, USA says
Profound and important session. So much care needed in this area as psychedelics explode on the scene. Thank you❣️
D'ri Jones, Counseling, Denver, CO, USA says
You referenced providing education for clients who are determined to use psychedelics. Do you have a recommendation for this education? I want clients to have a reliable resource. Thank you.
Peter Addy, Counseling, Portland, OR, USA says
They don’t want us posting links or advertising products here, but I can probably safely mention some names.
DanceSafe
Fireside Project
Psymposia
Psychedelic Support
Psychedelic Affirming Clinical Education (that’s me)
Iain Marin, Psychotherapy, GB says
Thank you for this really helpful module. Not an area I am familiar with at all – so quite an eye-opener for other ways of helping clients process trauma.
barry burton, Psychotherapy, GB says
Very useful. i feel better able to give some answers to patients enquiries.
Margot Freedman, Psychology, ZA says
The empathic, thoughtful, sensible approach taken – totally not one size fitting all, but based on the individual psychic structure, trauma and needs. Very hepful – many thanks.
Luk Moir, Student, GB says
I have found this session unbalanced as it was focused mostly on the benefits of psychedelics. For various reasons, I do not like chemicals, especially when there are non-chemical alternatives with the same if not better results, such as holotropic breathwork.
Daria Lvova, Counseling, RU says
Almost half of the session was dedicated to the risks, contraindications and precautions.
Holotropic breathwork is also very risky. And, in my case, it didn’t help me at all, because I was to afraid to let go of control. My defences are too strong.
Lilith Aquilla, Clergy, Yelm, WA, USA says
While I can agree with you that there are so many non chemical alternatives, this session was quite needed as psychedelics have become “the new thing”. Patients are going to utilize these with or without therapeutic guidance or recommendation so we best be well versed in them.
Pamela J. Clements, Psychotherapy, Scotts Valley, CA, USA says
I found the presentation to be very balanced. Of course the majority of the time was spent on benefits. A presentation would not be given if the modality were not proving to be highly helpful for many clients/patients. At the same time, there was extensive and clear information on the potential risks of PAP, on a variety of clinical presentations that would reveal PAP to be contraindicated for certain individuals, as well as on how to provide support through difficulty experiences. There can be risks to many psychological treatment modalities. One of the currently most popular is a great example: EMDR. When practiced incorrectly, it can retraumatize clients, and I have heard from a few clients that they have had this experience. One came to me to receive help to heal from their EMDR-induced trauma experience. The difference is a matter of the quality of education and supervision in preparing candidates to practice any particular treatment modality. I have also experienced holotropic breath work, as mentioned by Daria Lvova. The therapist did not prepare me well, I experienced anxiety as a result of her rushed approach (I do not have a tendency towards anxiety, but rather towards groundedness and calm), and I experienced no benefit. This presentation clearly made the point that individuals will experience different modalities idiosyncratically.
Janet Alexander, Other, Loomis , CA, USA says
Breathwork can’t hold a candle to the transformation possible with psychedelics. Having experienced both, it’s like comparing a Volkswagen to a Ferrari.
Reg Morrow Robinson, Counseling, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA says
I appreciate how you share what we are about to learn, tell us, then review of what was just said.
I also appreciate the variety of voices and perspectives provided.