The Psychedelic revolution is here! Although wise healers and many indigenous cultures have been utilizing altered state consciousness healing and plant medicine for a very, very long time, Modern medicine and western cultures have long villainized the medicines as well as the cultures who use them. Much needs to be written and discussed regarding the harm of our prejudice and oppressive laws. As a white woman from the U.S.A., that is something I am learning about and dissecting on a personal level.
With the surge in interest and research, I am hopeful that the era of harm and criminalization has come to an end and that we are witnessing a new paradigm for not just healing but living and overall wellness. I started my training in plant medicine and altered state healing approximately twenty years ago. I have trained with indigenous healers in the Amazon in Peru and studied the use of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting alongside my mentor and teacher, most recently completing training in psychedelic-assisted therapy with MAPS. While I believe altered state healing can occur with any consciousnesses changing technique such as hypnosis, energy psychology, and mediation. I have learned that Psychedelics offer a particularly fast and intense healing experience that may be unique to the medicine ingested.
What does the research say?
Current research is exciting and points to tremendous healing benefits. In a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers, psilocybin relieved major depression disorder symptoms for at least a year. A small study at NYU found excessive drinking was dramatically reduced after therapeutic sessions with psilocybin. Research conducted by MAPS has shown MDMA to be effective in the treatment of PTSD.
An exciting component of psychedelic therapies is that they may be helping to change the brain. Current research is suggesting the therapeutic use of psychedelics may enhance neural plasticity. More research is needed, and as far as I can tell, more research is coming. As a trauma therapist, I am dedicated to continued learning and training in anything I feel could help my clients. While I am weary of anyone suggesting psychedelics are a panacea, I am excited for the de-criminalization and ultimate access and use of these medicines.
What is Psychedelic Assisted Therapy?
The basic idea of the use of psychedelics in therapy is the therapeutic effect is not due simply to the physiological effects of the medicine; rather, it is the result of an interaction between the effects of the medicine, the therapeutic setting, and the mindsets of the participant and the therapists. A huge concept in this approach is set and setting, which means your mindset and the therapeutic environment are of great importance to the overall healing effect.
