Altered States of Context

A bit of an ASOC origin story! In this Episode Nate interviews the Perspectives Retreats crew, which include our very own Brian Pilecki, Jenna LeJeune, Miranda Morris and Temple Morris. The idea for Perspectives Retreats originated in the same place as Altered States of Context- at a psilocybin retreat in Jamaica 6 years ago. Since then the Perspectives crew have worked to develop the most thorough and clinically informed retreat model in the business- and they are here to tell us about it.

Dr. Alex Belser joins us to further discuss EMBARK and how his passion for training psychedelic therapists led to the development of a broadly applicable model that includes all aspects of psychedelic experiences. With the recent rejection of MDMA-assisted therapy by the FDA, we discuss the future role of psychotherapy, in contrast to more minimal psychological support, in future psychedelic medicine. We also discuss how you might get involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy (spoiler alert: there are no clear paths).

Humans are natural storytellers, for better or worse. How can we become more aware of the stories that embed our lives? How do psychedelics help us see the stories that we live inside and help us have more agency about being an author to our stories? Our guest Jennifer Beman is a documentary film editor who has created a method for visual story-telling called BioGraffs. Hear her describe how BioGraffs can be used to get underneath language and serve as a tool for a range of applications including therapy, talking about sex, resolving conflict within couples, and psychedelic integration.

Dr. William Brennan describes EMBARK, a transdiagnostic flexible model of psychedelic facilitation that builds on existing approaches in clinical research of psychedelic-assisted therapy. He describes the six clinical domains and four care cornerstones, and how they can be flexibly applied to a range of conditions and settings. We discuss some of the pros and cons of a unifying model of change in psychedelics, as well as the tension between individualism in psychotherapy with a systemic, contextual understanding of mental health problems.

Gabby Lehigh recently earned her PhD from the Department of Anthropology at the University of South Florida (USF). She holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in anthropology from USF. Her dissertation research focused on transformative psychedelic experiences at music events to understand how psychedelic use in everyday contexts creates meaningful and impactful experiences. She recently accepted a position as a research coordinator at Moffitt Cancer Center, developing novel interventions for smoking cessation among underserved populations. She is passionate about developing and supporting diverse clinical, spiritual, and recreational models of psychedelic (and other drug) use to expand accessibility for harm reduction and benefit enhancement. She believes everyone should have affordable and accessible access to these substances and treatments in the contexts they find most suitable for themselves. Gabby is also the co-founder and Managing Director of Psychedelic Grad, a web-based community for up-and-coming psychedelic professionals. In addition, she hosts the Psychedelic Grad podcast, Curious to Serious, where she interviews students and professionals in the psychedelic space on how they navigated the path from being curious about psychedelics to dedicating their careers to them.LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-lehigh 671b2182PG:https://www.psychedelicgrad.comPodcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/1py4yZ8XY9pYkDoWQxed3B?si=b3cb4322b5a34f2a

New EPISODESAfter a bit of a break, we are back with three new episodes and a new format. Instead of biweekly episodes during a season, we are simply going to release episodes whenever we feel like it! We are hoping that this intermittent schedule of reinforcement works well for all of our loyal listeners, as it makes it much easier for us to keep recording these interesting and in-depth conversations and putting them out, without feeling bound to a schedule. We're excited to keep bringing you thought provoking conversations with leaders in the field, so stay tuned to season infinity!In this particular episode, Nate interviews Brian about the state of Oregon's new supervised psilocybin program, and they discuss what seems to be working, what doesn't, and lessons learned.

Andy Mitchell, author of “Ten Trips,” describes his experience having ten different psychedelic experiences in very different types of contexts ranging from academic settings to indigenous communities. Andy provides a fresh take on psychedelics with a unique perspective of sampling several sub-communities within the larger psychedelic community, including therapists and scientists, psychonauts and inner travelers, and spiritual or religious practitioners. Andy describes how he has come to see how much psychedelics have become a construct that can become what we want them to be based upon our own beliefs and worldviews, and how their trickster qualities tend to obstruct them being confined by any particular framework.. Finally, hear how Andy used the process of writing his book to help integrate his experiences, and how these experiences have changed him.

In this episode we take a slight detour from our main topic to discuss Nate's experiences with farming in central Illinois. Hear Nate describe how he got into farming and how his experiences with animals have shaped the way he thinks about everything from diet to psychotherapy. You'll hear Nate defend why he is virulently "pro-savanna" and discuss how living in a sustainable ecosystem allows for regular experiences of abundance, as well as staying close to the cycle of life and death. And yes, we do discuss how sustainable farming does fit neatly within the psychedelic experience.

Join us for a conversation with Franklin King, is a psychiatrist with expertise in neuroscience and psychedelics. Hear him discuss his history of working in a psych ER and his perspectives on how public health interventions can help people attain greater wellness. Dr. King's unique experience in mental health care and research on psychedelic-assisted therapy leads to an engaging discussion about how psychedelic medicine is evolving in our current health care system. Dr. King is a psychiatrist at Mass General Hospital in Boston, were trained in residency and fellowships in Consult-Liaison Psychiatry and a research fellowship with the Cardiac Psychiatry Research Program. He is particularly interested in optimization of therapy paradigms within psychedelic research as well as the use of psychedelic-assisted therapies in disorders at the mind-body interface. Dr. King is currently the Principal Investigator in a pilot study exploring the feasibility of psilocybin-assisted therapy for irritable bowel syndrome and is the study psychiatrist for a neuroimaging study partnering with MAPS examining the effects of MDMA-assisted therapy for fibromyalgia (PI: Vitaly Napadow). He is also co-developing the Harvard Interdisciplinary Program in Psychedelics with friends colleagues at BWH and BIDMC, a program that will provide education and training in psychedelic-assisted therapies for clinicians across the various hospitals in the Harvard Medical School community.

Holotropic breathwork, developed by Stan and Christina Grof, [BP1] was developed as a method to induce altered states of consciousness after LSD was made illegal and therefore no longer available. Christine Calvert is a certified Holotropic Breathwork facilitator who discusses the history and development of holotropic breathwork and how it is related to psychedelic-assisted therapy. With decades of experience, Christine highlights the importance of supporting the inner wisdom of clients and being non-intrusive as a facilitator. We also discuss the importance of doing one's own work before taking on the role of facilitating altered states of consciousness and the value of group formats for collective healing experiences. Notes from episode:The role of preparation. The importance of subtly tuning into the inner healer, the breath as a vehicle for tapping into our innate capacity to heal and to be whole. Why you may never hear the phrase “Happy Birthday” in the same way again. Group formats for altered states of consciousness, the collective inner healer, participate in healing in the collective spaceThe sitter role is simply to witness. The simple experience of being witnessed by another human being. Something happens in the group space that can't happen in the solo place. This is how we used to heal, how our ancestors knew how to do it. As long as we always remember that we are apprenticing to the medicine, to this space, that is a great posture to remind us to always do our own work. If we continue to do our own work, there is at least a relationship with accountability and self honesty, or at least a capacity to stay in relationship with that. Practice: write down everything that I am bringing into the space before doing a facilitator. Helpful to get into right relationship in my body, monitoring my own need for intimacy and connection, etc. “The facilitator is the most important person in the room,and is not important at all.” – Teacher saying“People here not because of us, but in spite of us.”We are the support staff to the inner wisdom, essentially. Christine Calvert (teacher and module facilitator) is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a certified Holotropic Breathwork® facilitator. She is the founder of Tribe, a conscious sober living home for men in Austin, TX, focusing on a transpersonal and Holotropic approach to recovery and healing. In addition to bringing Holotropic Breathwork® and other experiential workshops to mental health and addiction facilities, she is passionate about the ethics and integrity needed in facilitating expanded-state work; supporting the integration of Holotropic and psychedelic sessions through somatic resourcing; and creative expression, personal ritual, and group support. Her own personal healing journey was greatly influenced by the Holotropic perspective and she feels deeply dedicated to sharing this work with those seeking healing. She enjoys finding ways to weave her personal and professional experience of different therapeutic and spiritual systems such as Shamanism, Somatic Experiencing, Jungian psychology, attachment theory, and mindfulness practices into her work with others. Christine is currently studying to become a Naturopathic Doctor and maintains a private counseling and consulting practice in addition to facilitating Holotropic Breathwork® nationally.

In this compelling episode, Nate and Brian are joined by Victor Cabral, a licensed social worker and therapist, who currently serves as the Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Fluence Training. Victor has a passion for equity and justice in relation to drug policies and hopes to emphasize community views, oppression, and harm that has been done in relation to psychedelics and drug policy. Previous to this role, he had worked in the Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Advocacy and Reform; notably, creating the first Racial Day of Healing for Pennsylvania. With his experience in government policy, social work, psychedelic assisted therapy, Nate and Brian take Victor on a deep dive into discussions surrounding decriminalization of psychedelics on federal and state levels, as well as the effects on marginalized communities, looking particularly at the recent legislative changes in Oregon and Colorado.

OSMINDOsmind is the premier platform for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy practices. The all-in-one platform includes purpose-built charting for ketamine, SPRAVATO, psychotherapy and more; as well as patient tools for the therapeutic alliance that include 40+ validated rating scales and a patient app for journaling and secure messaging too. Visit Osmind using our link below:osmind.org/asocEpisode Description:In this episode, we interview Max Wolff. Max Wolff is a psychologist and psychotherapist, and serves as the Head of Psychotherapy Training and Research at the MIND Foundation. We discuss the EPIsoDE psilocybin trial that Max is involved with in Germany, perspectives on how to properly conduct psychedelic therapy, differences between Germany and the United States when it comes to therapy and psychedelics, and more.Show Notes:-4:00 EPIsoDE Study (Clinical Trial):https://episode-study.de/https://mind-foundation.org/research/episode-study/-41:00 Psychotherapy in Germany:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279513/#:~:text=Statutory%20health%20insurers%20cover%20up,part%20of%20group%20therapy%20sessions.-48:30 Insight Conference in Berlin:https://insight-conference.eu/-55:30 MIND Foundation:https://mind-foundation.org/Learning to Let Go journal article:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00005/full

Show Description: In this fascinating episode, Brian is joined by Denise Rue, who is a hypnotherapist, social worker, and experienced psilocybin retreat facilitator. Brian and Denise dive deep into the nature of psychedelic therapy and the retreat experience, from preparation through integration. Denise shares her perspective on the role of a psychedelic therapist and what it takes to successfully facilitate psychedelic experiences for clients with a wide range of goals and backgrounds. The particular utility of group work with psychedelics is explored, as are topics of dealing with challenging psychedelic experiences, “deprogramming” beliefs about psychedelics and mental health, relating to psychedelic medicines as teachers, and the mystical and spiritual impacts psychedelics can have on individuals who choose to work with these medicines. OSMINDOsmind is the premier platform for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy practices. The all-in-one platform includes purpose-built charting for ketamine, SPRAVATO, psychotherapy and more; as well as patient tools for the therapeutic alliance that include 40+ validated rating scales and a patient app for journaling and secure messaging too. Visit Osmind using our link below:osmind.org/asoc

OSMINDOsmind is the premier platform for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy practices. The all-in-one platform includes purpose-built charting for ketamine, SPRAVATO, psychotherapy and more; as well as patient tools for the therapeutic alliance that include 40+ validated rating scales and a patient app for journaling and secure messaging too. Visit Osmind using our link below:osmind.org/asocDid you miss out on Psychedelic Science 2023? Or did you go and want to spend time revisiting some of the highlights? In this episode Brian shares some of his experiences at the conference including learning about the latest science on psychedelics and what it was like to be immersed in a large, diverse psychedelic community of 12,000 people. We critically evaluate the search for the “non-psychedelic psychedelic” and discuss the tension between the hope for a better culture and the need to be cautious. Brian also shares how queerness and psychedelics can both be agents for infusing awe and wonder into our capitalistic flatland culture.

This Episode's SponsorOSMINDOsmind is the premier platform for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy practices. The all-in-one platform includes purpose-built charting for ketamine, SPRAVATO, psychotherapy and more; as well as patient tools for the therapeutic alliance that include 40+ validated rating scales and a patient app for journaling and secure messaging too. Visit Osmind using our link below: osmind.org/asocIn this episode, we speak with Jon Dennis. Jon is a lawyer by training, and has played an integral role in the development of Measure 109 in Oregon. He also serves as the Executive Director of a pending facilitator training program. We discuss the development of policy surrounding psychedelics in the United States, including making space for community use, safety considerations, populism vs elitism, accessibility, and more. 12 states are currently in the process of developing legislation surrounding psychedelics, and we discuss how states can build on and learn from one another throughout this process.Guest Biography:Jon Dennis is a lawyer, activist, and entrepreneur in the psychedelics ecosystem. He is the executive director of Vital Oregon, a psilocybin facilitator training program by Psychedelics Today, and the co-host of the “Eyes on Oregon” podcast from Psychedelics Today. Jon is a member of the Chacruna Institute's Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants. He is a member of the Psychedelics Bar Association and sits on its Religious Use Committee. Jon serves on the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Practice Section on Cannabis and Psychedelics and is a founding member of the Entheogenic Practitioners Council of Oregon.Show Notes:Article about Measure 109 not being psilocybin-assisted therapy: https://chacruna.net/oregon-legalized-psilocybin-supported-adult-use/Story about boy who died: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/federal-judge-dismisses-ayahuasca-churchs-request-overturn-dea-decision/DA3FHCYUP5GMJNW26NY7WHWX6U/Measure 109, Measure 110:Oregon Psilocybin Services (Measure 109): https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/preventionwellness/pages/oregon-psilocybin-services.aspxMeasure 110: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hsd/amh/pages/measure110.aspxIllinois legislation:https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=1&GAID=17&SessionID=112&LegID=14183Graham Boyd Horizons Northwest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UTWxaW7edkNatural Medicine Health Act:

Brian and I wrap things up for season two and lay the groundwork for season 3.

Dr. Rosalind Watts discusses her work in applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to psychedelic-assisted therapy. Dr. Watts shares about how her own challenging psychedelic experiences have provided her with valuable insight and perspective in working with depressed clients, as well as the value in opening up to our pain in helping us become more engaged in our lives. Dr. Watts emphasizes the importance of integration and describes it as a lifelong process of growth. She also shares about her new project, ACER integration, which is a 12-month program that combines her work in ACT with an explicit focus on nature to provide a framework for psychedelic integration. Dr. Watts emphasizes the importance of a peer model of psychedelic use and the need to evolve beyond the current medical model to meet the needs of people who are in crisis and suffering. https://www.drrosalindwatts.com/ (https://www.drrosalindwatts.com/)

Zach Haigney is the author of the Trip Report, a weekly newsletter that synthesizes psychedelic news in the areas of medicine, science, and policy. Looking at the big picture, we discuss where the field is at and where it is going. We review the hype cycle and identify why psychedelics tend to be aggrandized, and Zach discusses his view of how the psychedelic space is an ecosystem filled with checks and balances that is incredibly complex and unique in our culture. We talk about why the DEA doesn't seem to want to mess with entheogenic churches, and what that means for the public in terms of access. Finally, Zach shares his perspective on the role of capitalistic influences on the emerging field of psychedelic therapy, including Big Pharma, patents, and psychedelics that don't have psychedelic effects. What does that mean? Come listen and find out the latest news and get caught up on what is happening in psychedelics!   https://thetripreport.substack.com/ (https://thetripreport.substack.com/)  https://thetripreport.substack.com/p/psychedelic-hype-cycle-employer-kap#footnote-1 (https://thetripreport.substack.com/p/psychedelic-hype-cycle-employer-kap#footnote-1)

Dr. Ingmar Gorman discusses the current state of psychedelic training programs and how Fluence, the organization that he helped co-found, is attempting to meet the training needs of mental health professionals. He also discusses the little known history of psychedelics in the Czech Republic and Europe, and describes what it was like for psychedelics to flourish in a conservative region of the world decades ago. We also discuss various metaphors for psychedelic-assisted therapy, including emphasizing the disrupting effect of psychedelics that, for better or worse, can lead to dramatic change. Dr. Gorman brings his expertise in developing therapy portions of psychedelic-assisted therapy for drug sponsors and describes his transtheoretical model of psychedelic harm reduction and integration.

Psychedelics are known for their ability to shake up one's existing belief system and provoke new ways of seeing the world. Several studies show that people often become more spiritual or religious after a powerful psychedelic experience. There is a trend in moving away from physical or materialistic worldviews into non-physical, fatalistic, or nondual worldviews. In this episode we discussion the function of a worldview in providing a sense of predictability in the world and bring a skeptic's eye to explaining the increase in spiritual beliefs- is this just human's proclivity to engage in pattern recognition and meaning-making? We use nerdy terms such as“ontological shock” and “ecstatic literacy”, and describe how the openness created after a deep psychedelic experience can be used for good or evil. Studies discussed in this episode include: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01209-2 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01209-2) https://psyarxiv.com/rdzmy/ (https://psyarxiv.com/rdzmy/) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32461241/ (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32461241/) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345112/ (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345112/)

Dr. Rachel Harris shares her work in investigating the ceremonial use of ayahuasca and how understanding indigenous cultures can help inform the Westernized medical framework of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Dr. Harris also discusses her upcoming book about the work of female underground guides and elders, and why the voices of women have been largely underrepresented in the modern history of psychedelics. She highlights the role of different options for interfacing with psychedelics, and shares her personal journey of being called into medicine work. Book: Listening to Ayahuasca https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5P1RqUkzws&t=6s (Referenced YouTube Video)

Much of the current discussion around psychedelic drugs center on their therapeutic effects. Clinical conversations, promotion, hype, controversy- who controls them, who are they good for, how can they be used for maximum benefit, who's getting paid... A little something has gotten a bit lost in the mix- FUN. Psychedelics can be a real, real good time. In this Episode, Brian and Nate discuss why conversations so often steers towards the perhaps socially acceptable terrain of the therapeutic and away from good old-fashioned fun- and how there is a great deal of value to be had in "fun". Duh. Also Nate shows his true (tie-died) colors.

Dr. Chris Stauffer talks about his research investigating the use of group-administered psilocybin and MDMA. The advantages of group administration are discussed, including the opportunity to increase social connection and deepen capacities to be vulnerable with others. Dr. Stauffer also highlights how group psychedelic-assisted therapy needs to be adapted to the identities of the participants, sharing about his experiences in working with the veteran population and a study with transgender and gender non-conforming participants. Chris also discusses his work on oxytocin and how that influences the way the thinks about increased social connection as a process of change involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Mentioned in the show: Rat Park Study: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/what-does-rat-park-teach-us-about-addiction MDMA and Critical Periods: https://hub.jhu.edu/2019/04/04/mdma-opens-critical-period-for-social-behavior/ https://www.chrisstauffermd.com/

In this edition of ASOC, we had the opportunity for a long, in-depth conversation with the one and only Dr. Steven C. Hayes. In this fun and wide-ranging conversation, Steve talks about how his personal experiences with psychedelics contributed to the development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and his understanding of the role of language in human suffering. He shares about his involvement in the psychedelic movement of the 60's and how he is excited about the potential for the modern psychedelic renaissance. We discuss the role of the psychological flexibility model in understanding the psychedelic experience and the application of ACT in integration therapy. Dr. Hayes emphasizes how psychedelics can help us reconnect with parts of ourselves that are ordinarily filtered away by our sensory processing systems, and how psychedelic experiences can help us connect to a deeply human experience of being a social animal.

Should psychedelic therapists have their own experiences with psychedelics? While the answer to this question may at first seem obvious, this episode explores some of the nuances in this issue. For example, if personal experience is necessary, who gets to decide how much and under what conditions? Furthermore, we explore how personal experiences may inform one's work as a psychedelic therapist and discuss precedence in the field for requiring therapists to have personal experience in therapy. Article: https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/2/2/article-p64.xml (The influence of therapists' first-hand experience with psychedelics on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research and therapist training)

In this episode, Nate interviews Dr. Albert Garcia Romeu of Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. First, we discuss the state of diversity within psychedelic research, both in terms of the research subjects and the researchers themselves. We pointed out how this may be particularly problematic in psychedelic science, as it tests many deep assumptions about culture and context that a homogenous group (such as monocultural White, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic- WEIRD- researchers) might not take broad enough perspectives on. Additionally we discuss the cool study on psilocybin that has led to a big NIH grant, and how psilocybin may be able to help people struggling to quit smoking.

What are bad trips and why do they happen? What are the different ways that things can go wrong? In this episode we explore various sub-types of psychedelic experiences and debate the differences between challenging  trips and bad trips, and how difficult experiences can often lead to healing and growth with the right support. We dismantle the idea that “there is no such thing as a bad trip” and talk about ways to mitigate difficult experiences when taking psychedelics. Nate also opens up about a difficult psychedelic experience that he had and what he learned from it, including the importance of support and integration.

ACT has already been used to inform the psychotherapy portions of psilocybin-assisted therapy in several clinical trials. Dr. Jordan Sloshower shares about his experiences working on a clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression. He discusses why his team chose ACT from among several potential therapy models, as well as his views on ACT's strengths and weaknesses in preparation, dosing, and integration sessions involved in psilocybin-assisted therapy. We discuss how the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy challenges current paradigms in mental health treatment and may lead us to a more holistic model of understanding and treating mental health problems.

Season two begins with a summary of recent news in psychedelics, including developments in decriminalization efforts by several states, an update on Oregon's measure 109 and psilocybin services, and the recent dissolving of Mindcure and what that means for big money players in the psychedelic space. Nate and Brian also speculate on various potential models of psychedelic-assisted therapy and the potential future of novel psychedelic substances currently being researched.

We're Back! Well, not quite. We are releasing this FULL EPISODE now because it's timely, and because we ARE coming back, and soon! New episodes will be coming back at you every other week starting at the end of March. We've been hard at work and have numerous interviews recorded and queued up for the editing bay. We're very excited to share them with you. This interview is with the fantastic Jean Lacy, founder of World Tree Sanctuary, the Illinois Psychedelic Society and all-around go getter. She's also a farmer and fellow (to Nate) central Illinoisan. We talk about her work with ceremonial and religious use at World Tree Sanctuary and about the process of crafting the Illinois Compassionate Use of Natural Plants and Fungi act. The act, which is a mouthful, has a legislative sponsor in Illinois, Representative LaShawn Ford, and is still in draft form- but is taking shape. Learn more: https://www.worldtreesanctuary.org/ (World Tree Sanctuary) https://www.illinoispsychedelicsociety.org/ (Illinois Psychedelic Society) https://www.illinoispsychedelicsociety.org/ilpsychedelicpolicy (Illinois Compassionate Use of Natural Plants and Fungi) https://trippingwithnate.substack.com/p/five-principles-for-reform?utm_source=url (Five Principles for Psychedelic Reform) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-and-psychedelics-tickets-271093486917 (Brian and Nate's ACT and Psychedelics Training)

Wrapping up the year, we highlight some of the major developments in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and identify current trends in the psychedelic zeitgeist. While we discuss encouraging and positive news, we also identify some potential pitfalls and dangers in the future of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Additionally we share news regarding the future of Altered States of Context. We'd like to thank our audience and encourage you to contact us with feedback or ideas for future episodes. pilecki@gmail.com nathan@spoonrivercounseling.com) Also check out Nate's newsletter, and SUBSCRIBE trippingwithnate.substack.com Mentioned in the show: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.733185/full (Right-Wing Psychedelia: Case Studies in Cultural Plasticity and Political Pluripotency) https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/cover-story-power-trip (Cover Story: Power Trip) https://www.vice.com/en/article/dypzxj/the-false-promise-of-psychedelic-utopia (The False Promise of Psychedelic Utopia)  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01209-2 (Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs)

Love is a word that is often left out in traditional psychotherapy, though love remains perhaps the most central aspect of being human. Dr. Adele Lafrance discusses reasons why the concept of love is such a controversial topic and emphasizes the need to reincorporate love into psychotherapy. She discusses how experiences of love and our obstacles to feeling love are such as an important part of the healing process in psychedelic-assisted therapy. We discuss different types of love including love between people, love for ourselves, and the idea of being love. Additionally, we talk about self-care, working with eating disorders, and the emotional toll of living in a world in which social change feels like a necessity.

Stigma about psychedelics remains a problem and can cause harm when psychedelic users encounter judgment or other negative consequences in social contexts. Rooted in decades of misinformation and the failed war on drugs, there is a need for greater public education about the actual risks and benefits of psychedelics. In this episode we discuss a recent study that surveyed psychologists' attitudes about the use of psychedelics and discuss findings that demonstrate evidence of stigma. We discuss our personal experiences of stigma and how cultural and other identities can impact one's readiness to be assertive when encountering stigma in professional contexts. For more information about the study that was mentioned see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34468293/ (Attitudes and Beliefs about the Therapeutic Use of Psychedelic Drugs among Psychologists in the United States)

We can't talk enough about integration on this show. To help broaden this conversation, Ryan Westrum, author of the “Psychedelic Integration Handbook”, joins us to talk about psychedelic integration and the importance of embodied action following psychedelic experiences. Ryan brings his expertise as a psychologist working in the areas of sexuality, addiction, and psychedelic integration.   We discuss common pitfalls in psychedelic integration such as not being an active participant in change and the danger of unrealistic expectations. We also discuss the importance of being mindful about sharing psychedelic experiences with others due to the potential for stigma and judgment.

During psychedelic experiences people are vulnerable and more at risk to abuses of power in relationships. In this episode we discuss the prevalence of power imbalances in mental health care in general, how the are traditionally dealt with, and the need for greater awareness around the potential for emotional or sexual abuse by therapists in psychedelic-assisted therapy. We highlight a recent https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00221678211045265 (study) that interviewed underground guides and summarized challenges in working with clients during psychedelic sessions such as increased emotional intensity and attunement to therapist behaviors. We discuss the role of touch in psychedelic-assisted therapy and emphasize the importance of therapists “doing the work” themselves. For more information about the history of sexual abuse in psychedelic spaces, see: https://www.madinamerica.com/2021/09/ending-silence-psychedelic-therapy-abuse/ (Ending The Silence Around Psychedelic Therapy Abuse) https://qz.com/1809184/psychedelic-therapy-has-a-sexual-abuse-problem-3/ (Psychedelic Therapy Has A Sexual Abuse Problem)

In this show we interview Henry Whitfield, an ACBS peer reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy trainer who has also conducted legal psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands. We have the opportunity here to discuss applying ACT, not only in preparation and integration sessions, but in the course of a psychedelic journey itself. We talk about many of the useful aspects of an ACT-oriented perspective when making sense of and integrating the psychedelic space and talk about the ins and outs of actually running a psychedelic retreat.

In this episode Brian and Nate interview Eric Osborne. Eric is a Kentucky native and cofounder of Psanctuary, a 508(c)(1)(A) faith-based organization, which is a constitutionally protected church utilizing psilocybin containing mushrooms as a sacrament. Additionally, he is the founder of Mycomeditations, a group based psychedelic retreat center in Jamaica. Eric has a unique and very interesting perspective, as one with a front row seat for the developing "psychedelic renaissance" while also remaining outside the dominant therapeutic/medical/research institutions. In this conversation we cover a range of topics, from the importance of group work, popular misunderstandings regarding the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, religious contexts and much more. Once again, thanks for listening. If you are enjoying our show, please consider leaving a review in Apple podcasts or wherever you prefer to listen to podcasts.

Integration is a concept getting plenty of love in conversations about psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. It seems to be universally regarded as important, but what does it mean? In this episode, Brian and Nate offer a definition of integration, discuss its importance within psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, and talk briefly about what might be useful to aid in integration.

How long have psychedelics been around? How were they used by older cultures? What lessons from the past can we apply to the present? In this episode Nate and Brian zoom through thousands of years of history in about an hour, covering a range of historical facts, oddities, and tidbits. With a focus on the last century, we discuss how psychedelics have mostly existed outside of mainstream culture and are currently in transition to become more sanctioned by Western medicine. From the Eleusinian Mysteries to St. Anthony's Fire, we cover some of the most interesting case examples of how psychedelics have held a long-standing prominent role in human history.

In this episode we share our interview with Dr. Gregory Wells, a clinician and researcher with Ketamine and MDMA based in San Francisco. We talk about clinical research, being in the room with a client on MDMA, and making sense of psychedelic medicine. Gregory Wells (he/him/queer) is a licensed psychologist based in San Francisco. He is a clinician and researcher in the field of psychedelic medicine and a supporter of cognitive liberty and decriminalization. He obtained his doctorate degree from UT-Austin and also holds a post-doctoral degree in clinical psychopharmacology. He currently works as a principal investigator and therapist on the MAPS-sponsored Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy to treat PTSD. He was one of the founding members of Polaris Insight Center, a cutting-edge ketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinic in San Francisco where he served as CEO and CFO. Gregory has a long-standing interest in and deep respect for plant medicines, entheogens, and indigenous wisdom and healing practices. He is eternally grateful for the lineage of elders, ancestors, healers, and teachers who came before him, who taught him, and who make this work possible.

ACT is an ideal psychotherapy model that is useful in understanding the psychedelic experience. ACT is a transdiagnostic model of human suffering that includes six core processes relevant to the manifestation of mental health issues. ACT aims to promote psychological flexibility and living a values-based life. In this episode, we review the ACT model and discuss the processes of values and committed action.

ACT is an ideal psychotherapy model that is useful in understanding the psychedelic experience. ACT is a transdiagnostic model of human suffering that includes six core processes relevant to the manifestation of mental health issues. ACT aims to promote psychological flexibility and living a values-based life. In this episode, we review the ACT model and discuss the processes of contact with the present moment, self-as-context, acceptance, and cognitive defusion. We discuss how psychedelics are helpful in reducing rigidity around these processes and increasing psychological flexibility.

Research on psychedelics has proliferated over the last ten years confirming that psychedelic-assisted therapy is an effective treatment for certain mental health conditions. In this episode we interview Jason Luoma and provide an overview of the most rigorous recent studies, as well as touch on some of the history of psychedelic research and common issues in studying the psychedelic experience.

What use are language and theory in making sense of psychedelic experiences? The role of Contextual Behavioral Science is discussed in preparation, dosing, and integration aspects of psychedelics. We highlight why this theory of language and human suffering is such a compatible framework for working with psychedelic spaces. We discuss how psychedelics can break down language in both helpful and harmful ways, and how psychotherapy can provide a container for maximizing the benefits of this potential.

Psychedelics, psychotherapy, and science: a podcast about new frontiers in mental health with an abundance of heart and a dash of weirdness. Meet hosts Nathan Gates and Brian Pilecki as they describe their own personal journeys and share their passion for the use of psychedelics and psychedelic assisted therapy in healing and transformation. This introductory episode will outline the purpose of this podcast including exploring the synergy between psychotherapy and psychedelics, taking a critical approach to the ongoing developments and news in psychedelic medicine, and the need to include more of a multicultural perspective in a field that is overrepresented by white men.

A short teaser for the upcoming Altered States of Context podcast with Brian Pilecki and Nathan Gates