What is Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy? What You Need to Know
What is psychedelic-assisted therapy? That’s the first question people ask when they come across the very concept of using psychedelic drugs for medical or scientific purposes.
When many people think of psychedelic drugs, they may think of recreational drug use. Their imaginations conjure stereotypes of the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Many of us knew people who experimented with psychedelic drugs in high school or college. And we often see pop culture queues in music, movies, books, and video games.
So it’s perfectly understandable that the concept of using psychedelic drugs can trigger strong reactions rooted in stereotypes. But it’s not at all how people should view the very serious realm of psychedelic-assisted therapy, otherwise known as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
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What is psychedelic-assisted therapy?
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is a therapeutic model where psychedelic substances — hallucinogenic drugs — are administered as a treatment in a controlled, supervised, clinical setting by medical and mental health professionals.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy can be useful for a very broad range of applications, with their use being studied for palliative care, end-of-life care, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Alzheimer’s disease, and for treatment-resistant anxiety and depression.
It should be noted that psychedelic-assisted therapy isn’t something a person should attempt on their own. In fact, self-prescribing psychedelic drugs or attempting treatments without the assistance of properly licensed experts is as dangerous as it is illegal. But in a medical setting with proper clinical procedures, psychedelic-assisted therapy is showing significant promise for patients struggling with a broad range of psychological conditions and traits.
How does psychedelic-assisted therapy work?
The clinical use of psychedelic drugs helps patients confront repressed memories, emotions, and thoughts. The patient is in an altered state of consciousness, where they’re able to reach deeper levels of introspection and process their emotions more clearly.
The process typically involves preparatory therapy sessions where the patient is clinically evaluated for need and suitability, and where strategies are developed for potential emotional challenges along the way.
One or more dosing sessions then follow, where professionals administer carefully-measured doses in a safe, calm, and comfortable environment. These sessions can last several hours, during which therapists remain present to provide safety and support.
After the dosing sessions, patients are involved in talk therapy sessions. At this stage, the focus is on processing the experience and on experience integration.
Which psychedelic drugs are used?
Currently, psilocybin and MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine; commonly referred to as “ecstasy” or “molly”) are used in trials for psychedelic-assisted therapy. Ketamine, another psychedelic substance, is also used in psychedelic-assisted therapy, though it's more commonly associated with anesthetic use.
Australia approved both psilocybin and MDMA for use in psychiatric treatments in 2023, making them the first country to do so. In the United States, psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD are classified as schedule I controlled substances.
The FDA has given both psilocybin and MDMA “breakthrough therapy” designations to help expedite research. And some cities, including Oakland, California and Denver, Colorado, have decriminalized their use.
HHCM is helping clinicians pioneer breakthroughs
Healing Hearts, Changing Minds is a dedicated nonprofit aiming to demystify psychedelic-assisted therapy, and broaden access to its transformative healing potential. We identify community needs and opportunities and engage with leaders. And we issue targeted RFPs to help fund innovations in this exciting emerging field.
Looking to get involved? Please consider making a donation or volunteering with HHCM. Your contributions can help transform lives while carving a path toward the future of mental health treatment.