Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapies

A Paradigm Shift in Mental Health Care

The recent re-emerging psychedelic renaissance has offered a number of promising medical benefits for patients suffering of mental health conditions. Most notably, there have been research developments in the use of MDMA, cannabis, ketamine, psilocybin, and ayahuasca, among other substances in therapeutic settings. Read more to learn about which modalities are being offered at the Behavioral Wellness Clinic.

• Ketamine
• MDMA
• Psilocybin
• Ayahuasca

Ketamine

Ketamine is a medication originally used for starting and maintaining anesthesia. However, ketamine also has major therapeutic benefits when used in a clinical setting, with research showing clear benefits for depression and suicidality. Ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) has been can be helpful for helping people explore and process challenging emotional injuries, and it can produce new insights and perspectives surrounding these pain points. With the guidance of a trained therapist, KAP can aid clients in addressing thought processes which hold them back to develop new, healthier ones that can help them move forward with their lives as happier and healthier individuals.

More about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at BWC »

MDMA

MDMA, which is the main component of ecstasy, is a synthetic drug known to alter mood and perception. MDMA has similar effects in a clinical setting as ketamine, but with some differences. MDMA provides a more heart-opening feeling of connection to the world and even other individuals. MDMA is good for building trust and would be especially useful for people who might have trouble connecting and opening up to therapists about painful emotional experiences. MDMA also fosters feelings of love, joy, and connectedness to the world.

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Psilocybin

Psilocybin is the active ingredient in psychedelic "magic" mushrooms, and typically elicits a heightened emotional and sensory experience. In the presence of an experienced clinician and a supportive setting, psilocybin can lead to long-term positive effects in patients. Psilocybi allows for entry into deep emotions, memories, and insights that are more difficult to access in a typical therapy setting. In recent years, studies conducted at Johns Hopkins and Yale University have explored the efficacy of this drug. Although it is still in trial phases and not yet available to the public, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy shows a great deal of promise to help patients suffering from anxiety, OCD, depression, and emotional trauma.

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Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a powerful traditional medicine from the Amazon that can improve mental health. While not legal in most settings, ayahuasca can be used for religious purposes. People all over the world make pilgrimages to Central and South America to legally access this sacred plant medicine in its natural environment for help and healing, in conjunction with traditional healers.

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Therapists at BWC help clients to integrate and resolve psychedelic experiences or other experiences involving non-ordinary states of consciousness.

In the Media: Red Table Talk and Psychedelic Medicine

Other Psychedelic Options

Clinical research and early usage in some clinics continues to showcase the healing properties of a number of psychedelic medicines. However, they are most effectively used as tools in conjunction with skilled and integrative psychotherapy to produce lasting effects. Although psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine have been the substances most recently investigated for therapeutic use, there are still many other medicines currently not used in the US due to legal and political barriers. For example, some studies suggest LSD can be effective for depression and anxiety relief, and ibogaine can be used to curb drug addiction. In the US, LSD and ibogaine are currently illegal. Regardless, with continued work, the modern science movement will bring many of these medicines to the forefront for future clinical use.

Learn about our psychedelic integration services that are are available to assist people who are working to integrate and resolve psychedelic experiences or other experiences involving non-ordinary states of consciousness.