You searched for vital psychedelic conversations | Psychedelics Today https://psychedelicstoday.com/ Education and Training for Clinicians and Beyond Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:00:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://psychedelicstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PSY_001-Psychedelics-Logo_v1.2_Spore-Gradient-100x100.png You searched for vital psychedelic conversations | Psychedelics Today https://psychedelicstoday.com/ 32 32 Community, Group Process, and Co-Creation: How to Build a Successful Retreat https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/14/community-group-process-and-co-creation-how-to-build-a-successful-retreat/ https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/14/community-group-process-and-co-creation-how-to-build-a-successful-retreat/#respond Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:46:24 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=24050 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle interviews two Vital graduates: Alice Dommert: certified breathwork facilitator and co-founder of retreat company, The Infinite Center; and Kara Tremain, ACC: somatic practitioner and growth and development coach. A huge part of Vital is the experiential aspect of attending a retreat. Students report that being part of […]

The post Community, Group Process, and Co-Creation: How to Build a Successful Retreat appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/14/community-group-process-and-co-creation-how-to-build-a-successful-retreat/feed/ 0 Exploring Somatic Practices and Psychedelics https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/07/exploring-somatic-practices-and-psychedelics/ https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/07/exploring-somatic-practices-and-psychedelics/#respond Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:03:38 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=23964 In this episode – the first in the 2024 series of Vital Psychedelic Conversations – David interviews Pierre Bouchard, LPC: Vital instructor and lead trainer for the Congregation for Sacred Practices; and Kara Tremain, ACC: recent Vital graduate-turned-instructor, somatic practitioner, and growth and development coach. In this series, we pair up a Vital instructor with […]

The post Exploring Somatic Practices and Psychedelics appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/07/exploring-somatic-practices-and-psychedelics/feed/ 0 The EMBARK Model of Psychedelic Therapy https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/04/the-embark-model-of-psychedelic-therapy/ https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/04/the-embark-model-of-psychedelic-therapy/#respond Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:47:41 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=23954 In this episode, Kyle interviews Alex Belser, Ph.D. and Bill Brennan, Ph.D.: psychologists, psychedelic researchers, authors, and co-creators of the EMBARK model, a framework for psychedelic therapy. When Belser and Brennan worked together at Cybin, they canvassed the field of psychedelic research and saw very little reporting (if any) of the manuals researchers were using. […]

The post The EMBARK Model of Psychedelic Therapy appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/06/04/the-embark-model-of-psychedelic-therapy/feed/ 0 Bicycle Day Reflections, Quantum Mechanics, and the Value in Studying Philosophy to Understand Psychedelic Experiences https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/04/19/lenny-gibson-ph-d/ Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:50:26 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=23344 In this episode, Joe and Kyle interview Lenny Gibson, Ph.D.: philosopher, Grof-certified Holotropic Breathwork® facilitator, 20-year professor of transpersonal psychology at Burlington College, and the reason Joe and Kyle met many years ago. He talks about his early LSD experiences and how his interest in the philosophy of Plato and Alfred North Whitehead provided a […]

The post Bicycle Day Reflections, Quantum Mechanics, and the Value in Studying Philosophy to Understand Psychedelic Experiences appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Rethinking Drug Education: From D.A.R.E. Scare Tactics to an Evidence-Based Approach https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/04/16/joey-lichter-ph-d/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 01:31:09 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=23238 In this episode, Joe interviews Joey Lichter, Ph.D.: professor in the Chemistry & Biochemistry department at Miami’s Florida International University, and one of the few professors in the U.S. teaching a course about psychedelics at the collegiate level. He talks about his path towards the course, the challenge of creating a curriculum that covers everything […]

The post Rethinking Drug Education: From D.A.R.E. Scare Tactics to an Evidence-Based Approach appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Women and Psychedelics, Microdosing, and the Challenges of Psychedelic Parenthood https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/04/05/women-and-psychedelics-microdosing-and-the-challenges-of-psychedelic-parenthood/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:54:30 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=23078 In this episode, Alexa interviews April Pride: creative entrepreneur, veteran of the cannabis space, and now, founder of SetSet, an educational platform and podcast (picking up where The High Guide left off) for women curious about psychedelics. With Alexa about to embark on the journey of motherhood, she asks many of the questions parents working […]

The post Women and Psychedelics, Microdosing, and the Challenges of Psychedelic Parenthood appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT495 – Self-Love, Narrative Therapy, and Post-Traumatic Growth https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/03/15/pt495-dr-1drea-pennington-wasio/ Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:39:24 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=22738 In this episode, David interviews Dr. 1Drea Pennington Wasio: integrative physician, psychedelic-assisted therapy facilitator and psilocybin retreat leader, international speaker, podcaster, and author of several books, including Sacred Medicine: Exploring The Psychedelic Hero’s Journey. She discusses her personal metamorphosis and name change inspired by a powerful ayahuasca experience, and how that moved her into a […]

The post PT495 – Self-Love, Narrative Therapy, and Post-Traumatic Growth appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> The Therapist’s Guide to Working With Psychedelics https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/03/08/the-therapists-guide-to-working-with-psychedelics/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 23:09:36 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=22618 As interest in psychedelic therapy continues to grow, many therapists and wellness practitioners are looking to incorporate these powerful substances into their work. However, working with psychedelics in a practice is a unique and complex field that requires specific knowledge, skills, and experience. Approaching psychedelic work without careful preparation could result in unfavorable and even […]

The post The Therapist’s Guide to Working With Psychedelics appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT493 – Sacred Sites, Ayahuasca, and Connecting With the Rhythms of the Earth https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/03/08/pt493-laura-reeves/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 17:19:42 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=22568 In this episode, Johanna interviews Laura Reeves: Glastonbury-based facilitator and medicine woman trained in craniosacral therapy, somatic experiencing, breathwork, and more, who holds retreats at sacred sites in the U.K. and Peruvian Amazon. She tells of her journey from serendipitously booking a trip to Ecuador just as she first heard about ayahuasca, to the early […]

The post PT493 – Sacred Sites, Ayahuasca, and Connecting With the Rhythms of the Earth appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT480 – Psychedelics and Consent: Power Dynamics, Boundaries, and the Concept of ‘Safe Enough’ https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/01/23/pt480-emma-knighton/ Tue, 23 Jan 2024 18:43:57 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=22180 In this episode, Kyle interviews Emma Knighton: Somatic trauma therapist, Vital instructor, and psychedelic integration therapist focusing on consciousness exploration, complex PTSD from childhood abuse, and queer identity development. This episode is a bit of a masterclass on consent and boundaries within the client/practitioner relationship. She discusses power dynamics: how conflicts arise due to the […]

The post PT480 – Psychedelics and Consent: Power Dynamics, Boundaries, and the Concept of ‘Safe Enough’ appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT475 – End-of-Life Care and Psychedelics: The Role of a Death Doula https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/01/05/pt475-christine-caldwell-mary-telliano/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 18:02:50 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=22050 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Christine Caldwell: graduate of the first cohort of Vital and Founder of End of Life Psychedelic Care (EOLPC); and Mary Telliano: end-of-life coach, psychedelic facilitator, and Founder of The Anam Cara Academy, which trains people in the art of end-of-life coaching. Whether we’re comfortable with it […]

The post PT475 – End-of-Life Care and Psychedelics: The Role of a Death Doula appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT474 – The Origin of Psychedelics Today and the Growth of Vital https://psychedelicstoday.com/2024/01/02/pt474-joe-moore-kyle-buller/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 18:19:34 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=21930 In this episode, we toast to the beginning of an exciting and hopefully groundbreaking 2024 by switching things up a bit. Christopher Koddermann, Co-Founder and Chair of Board of the International Therapeutic Psilocybin Rescheduling Initiative (ITPRI) will be conducting some interviews for PT, and in this episode, he does his first – with our Co-Founders, […]

The post PT474 – The Origin of Psychedelics Today and the Growth of Vital appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT470 – Wounded Healers and the Power of Community in the Veteran Space https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/12/19/pt470-angie-leek-lmft-lpc-s-sep-justin-lapree/ Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:11:56 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=21817 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Johanna interviews Angie Leek, LMFT/LPC-S, SEP: Vital instructor, Founder of the Holos Foundation for Transpersonal Healing, and psychotherapist offering KAP through her private practice, Holos Counseling; and Justin LaPree: Vital graduate, decorated Marine, former firefighter, and Founder and President of Heroic Path to Light; a retreat center in […]

The post PT470 – Wounded Healers and the Power of Community in the Veteran Space appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT467 – The Role of Religion, Psychedelic Chaplaincy, and Spiritual Care https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/12/08/pt467-daan-keiman-ma-rabbi-aura-ahuvia-josh-harper/ Fri, 08 Dec 2023 19:24:53 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=21716 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Johanna interviews Daan Keiman, MA: Buddhist, Psychedelic Chaplain, and Co-Founder of the psychedelic think-and-practice tank, Communitas Collective Foundation; Aura Ahuvia: Rabbi who served five years as President of the ALEPH (Alliance for Jewish Renewal) Board and is now the Founder of Psychedelic Rabbi; and Josh Harper: Consciousness Medicine […]

The post PT467 – The Role of Religion, Psychedelic Chaplaincy, and Spiritual Care appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT466 – The Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead: Understanding Reality and the Psychedelic Experience https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/12/05/pt466-john-h-buchanan-ph-d/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:07:26 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=21684 In this episode, Kyle interviews John H. Buchanan, Ph.D.: certified Holotropic Breathwork practitioner; contributing co-editor for Rethinking Consciousness: Extraordinary Challenges for Contemporary Science; and author of the new book, Processing Reality: Finding Meaning in Death, Psychedelics, and Sobriety. Recorded shortly after a week-long philosophy and breathwork conference which they both attended, they mostly dig into […]

The post PT466 – The Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead: Understanding Reality and the Psychedelic Experience appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT461 – Holding Space, Hypnotherapy and Psychedelics, and the Importance of Courage https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/11/17/pt461-vinitha-watson-cht-judson-frost/ Fri, 17 Nov 2023 15:56:21 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=21390 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David speaks with two current Vital students: Certified Depth Hypnosis Practitioner and Founder and Executive Director of Zoo Labs, Vinitha Watson, CHT; and artist and outdoorsman with decades of experience in bodywork, structural integration, and Vipassana meditation: Judson Frost. They talk about their personal paths: Watson’s work educating […]

The post PT461 – Holding Space, Hypnotherapy and Psychedelics, and the Importance of Courage appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT457 – Rites of Passage, Psychedelic History, and Rediscovering Our Hearts https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/11/03/pt457-erika-dyck-jono-remington-hobbs/ Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:01:13 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=21202 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Erika Dyck: Vital instructor, historian, professor, author, and editor of the new book, Expanding Mindscapes: A Global History of Psychedelics; and Jono Remington-Hobbs: graduate of the first cohort of Vital, coach, facilitator, and now, Co-Founder of Kaizn, an experiential wellness company with a strong focus on […]

The post PT457 – Rites of Passage, Psychedelic History, and Rediscovering Our Hearts appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Real Harm Reduction Requires Redistribution of Wealth https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/10/29/real-harm-reduction-requires-redistribution-of-wealth/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 05:05:58 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=21109 Bogdan* is a 43-year-old asylee who lives in New York City. He has a Master’s degree from the University of Sussex. He used to live in student accommodation on the King’s Road near my old house in Brighton on the south coast of the UK, but he is currently homeless and living in what he […]

The post Real Harm Reduction Requires Redistribution of Wealth appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT450 – Dreams, Psychedelics, Symbolism, and Cockroaches https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/10/12/pt450-mackenzie-amara-dr-ido-cohen/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:58:22 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=20914 In this episode, Johanna interviews Jungian analyst-in-training, writer, researcher, 5Rhythms® teacher, and Vital graduate: Mackenzie Amara; and Vital instructor, clinical psychologist, and creator of our new course, “Illuminating the Hidden Self: Navigating the Jungian Shadow with Psychedelics“: Dr. Ido Cohen. This sequel to their fascinating discussion about shadow work earlier this year focuses on dreams, […]

The post PT450 – Dreams, Psychedelics, Symbolism, and Cockroaches appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT446 – Decolonization, Interconnection, and the Medicalization of Mysticism https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/09/29/pt446-jasmine-virdi-tabata-gerk/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:47:16 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=20778 In this episode – with the ​2024 edition of Vital​ announced and applications officially open – we’re launching another series of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, with David hosting Jasmine Virdi: Vital instructor, writer, educator, and activist who works at Synergetic Press and volunteers for Fireside Project; and Tabata Gerk: Vital student, psychotherapist, and facilitator. As always, they […]

The post PT446 – Decolonization, Interconnection, and the Medicalization of Mysticism appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> So, You’ve Become a Psychedelic-Informed Practitioner. Now what? https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/09/29/so-youve-become-a-psychedelic-informed-practitioner-now-what/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:30:32 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=20720 The mental health landscape is undergoing a sea change, in part, due to increased recognition of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a paradigm shift in the field. This new avenue for treatment offers a rare opportunity to address the root cause of trauma – all more quickly than usual approaches primarily oriented to symptoms. As this new […]

The post So, You’ve Become a Psychedelic-Informed Practitioner. Now what? appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Psychedelics Weekly – The Power of Our Breath: A Deep Dive Into Breathwork https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/06/16/psychedelics-weekly-the-power-of-our-breath-a-deep-dive-into-breathwork/ Fri, 16 Jun 2023 23:13:43 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=18652 In this edition of Psychedelics Weekly, Joe and Kyle dedicate the entire episode to one of their biggest passions: breathwork and the power of breath in reaching non-ordinary states of consciousness. What many listeners may not know is that Psychedelics Today was created because of the lack of attention being paid to breathwork, transpersonal psychology, […]

The post Psychedelics Weekly – The Power of Our Breath: A Deep Dive Into Breathwork appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT404 – Clusterbusters: The Horrors of Cluster Headaches and the Miracle of Psilocybin https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/04/11/pt404-bob-wold-and-eileen-brewer/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 20:04:15 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17828 In this episode, Joe lets Court Wing take lead in interviewing two of the leaders behind Clusterbusters: Founder and Executive Director, Bob Wold; and President, Eileen Brewer. A long-time friend of the show, Court Wing has become our resident expert on chronic pain, writing articles about how psilocybin relieved his chronic pain, and hosting Timothy […]

The post PT404 – Clusterbusters: The Horrors of Cluster Headaches and the Miracle of Psilocybin appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Expanding Your Horizons: The Ultimate Guide to Attending a Psychedelic Conference https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/04/05/expanding-your-horizons-the-ultimate-guide-to-attending-a-psychedelic-conference/ Wed, 05 Apr 2023 17:13:09 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17695 Have you attended a psychedelic industry conference over the past few years? Gone are the days of few-and-far-between events, and the lone, massive annual psychedelic happening that one simply must attend if they want to keep up on new research and development. It’s 2023, and the psychedelic conference circuit has become a bonafide industry in […]

The post Expanding Your Horizons: The Ultimate Guide to Attending a Psychedelic Conference appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT403 – Understanding the Brain: Psychedelic Neuroscience Demystified https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/04/04/pt403-melanie-pincus-and-manesh-girn/ Tue, 04 Apr 2023 18:17:39 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17661 In this episode, David interviews neuroscientist, artist, and educator, Melanie Pincus, Ph.D.; and Ph.D. candidate in Neuroscience, lead or co-author on over a dozen scientific publications, and regular contributor to PT, Manesh Girn.  They tell their stories of how they became interested in neuroscience, and stress the importance of staying radically open-minded (or “epistemically naive”) […]

The post PT403 – Understanding the Brain: Psychedelic Neuroscience Demystified appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Psychedelics Weekly – Investors Form REIT for Psychedelic Therapy, Diplo Runs a Marathon on LSD, and Is Cannabis a Psychedelic? https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/03/31/psychedelics-weekly-investors-form-reit-for-psychedelic-therapy-diplo-runs-a-marathon-on-lsd-and-is-cannabis-a-psychedelic/ Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:06:10 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17645 In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, Joe calls in from Los Angeles to cover the week’s news with David.  They review:  -Dr. Julie Holland’s recent appearance on the The Cannabis Investing Podcast, where she discussed the concept of cannabis being a psychedelic; -Vancouver Island University in British Columbia, Canada, planning to establish a Psychedelic Research […]

The post Psychedelics Weekly – Investors Form REIT for Psychedelic Therapy, Diplo Runs a Marathon on LSD, and Is Cannabis a Psychedelic? appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT402 – Magic, Virtual Reality, and Ketamine & Internal Family Systems https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/03/30/pt402-sunny-strasburg/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:51:30 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17616 In this episode, David interviews Sunny Strasburg, LMFT: Clinical Director at TRIPP PsyAssist; psychedelic trainer, consultant, therapist, and writer, specializing in EMDR and Internal Family Systems, and offering ketamine-assisted therapy as well as ketamine therapy retreats (often co-led by Dr. Richard Schwartz).  She talks about her family history with magic, and how the act of […]

The post PT402 – Magic, Virtual Reality, and Ketamine & Internal Family Systems appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT400 – Beckley Retreats: Combining Modern Science, Tradition, and Holistic Wellness https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/03/21/pt400-neil-markey/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 17:35:54 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17526 In this episode, Joe interviews the Co-Founder and CEO of Beckley Retreats, Neil Markey.  Markey describes Beckley Retreats as comprehensive well-being programs, and talks about the importance of holistic wellness – that, while the retreats are centered around two group psilocybin experiences, the true benefits come from complementary factors: the four weeks of online prep […]

The post PT400 – Beckley Retreats: Combining Modern Science, Tradition, and Holistic Wellness appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Psychedelics Weekly – Field Trip Health Closes Five Clinics, Legalization Bills Introduced in VT, and Ketamine Telehealth Uncertainty https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/03/17/psychedelics-weekly-field-trip-health-closes-five-clinics-legalization-bills-introduced-in-vt-and-ketamine-telehealth-uncertainty/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:12:42 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17504 In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, Joe and Kyle join up once again to discuss the news and articles they found the most interesting this week.  They start with the business news everyone is talking about: Field Trip Health & Wellness closing 5 of their clinics due to financial struggles (a deficit of $48.7 million […]

The post Psychedelics Weekly – Field Trip Health Closes Five Clinics, Legalization Bills Introduced in VT, and Ketamine Telehealth Uncertainty appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT399 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/03/16/pt399-vital-psychedelic-conversations-bennet-zelner-and-giles-hayward/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:03:13 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17467 In this episode, David hosts another Vital Psychedelic Conversation, this time with Bennet Zelner, Ph.D.: Vital instructor who teaches economics at the University of Maryland Smith School of Business; and Giles Hayward: Vital student and Co-Founder of Woven Science (a company backing and building psychedelic and wellness tech companies) and El Puente, which focuses on […]

The post PT399 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Psychedelics Weekly – Drug-Free Digital Trips, The Prevalence of Challenging Experiences, and the End of Synthesis Institute https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/03/10/psychedelics-weekly-drug-free-digital-trips-the-prevalence-of-challenging-experiences-and-the-end-of-synthesis-institute/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:29:58 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17387 In this episode of Psychedelics Weekly, David is joined by Kyle, who is finally home after a lot of traveling, to talk shop and dig into the articles they found the most interesting this week.  They begin with the news that Paul Stamets now has a species of mushroom named after him (Psilocybe stametsii), then […]

The post Psychedelics Weekly – Drug-Free Digital Trips, The Prevalence of Challenging Experiences, and the End of Synthesis Institute appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT397 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/03/09/pt397-dr-devon-christie-and-emefa-boamah/ Thu, 09 Mar 2023 18:39:44 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=17352 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Vital instructor, Dr. Devon Christie: Senior Lead of Psychedelic Programs at Numinus, MAPS-certified MDMA therapist, and now four-time guest; and Vital student, Emefa Boamah: coach, facilitator, and trauma-informed intuitive guide specializing in embodiment.  We’ve all heard the trope, “It’s all in your mind,” but it’s also […]

The post PT397 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT392 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/02/23/pt392/ Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:32:04 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=16986 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle interviews Carla Kieffer: psychedelic educator, Certified Psychedelic Facilitator, Community Liaison at Maya Health, and Founder of Kairos Integration, a company offering psychedelic training, preparation, facilitation, integration, and microdosing support. This episode was recorded in-person, in between the first and second psilocybin retreats at Atman Retreat in Jamaica, […]

The post PT392 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT391 – MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy For Fibromyalgia and Other Central Sensitization Syndromes https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/02/21/pt391/ Tue, 21 Feb 2023 19:43:59 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=16844 In this episode, Joe interviews Dr. Devon Christie: Senior Lead of Psychedelic Programs at Numinus, educator at CIIS and Vital, and MAPS-certified MDMA therapist; and Dr. Pamela Kryskow, MD: founding board member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada and Medical Lead of the nonprofit, Roots To Thrive. Christie and Kryskow recently co-authored one of the […]

The post PT391 – MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy For Fibromyalgia and Other Central Sensitization Syndromes appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT390 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/02/16/pt390/ Thu, 16 Feb 2023 19:01:34 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=16722 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Johanna takes the helm for the first time, hosting a conversation with Jungian analyst-in-training, writer, researcher, 5Rhythms® teacher, and Vital student: Mackenzie Amara; and clinical psychologist, long time PT collaborator, and Vital instructor: Dr. Ido Cohen. As this episode features three huge fans of Jung (Johanna wrote her Master’s […]

The post PT390 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT388 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/02/09/pt388/ Thu, 09 Feb 2023 17:36:18 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=16595 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, we do something a little different: instead of interviewing a teacher and student to hear their different perspectives, Kyle (Vital’s main creator/developer) has a conversation with Johanna Hilla (our Coordinator of Education and Training), with the two basically interviewing each other.  Johanna is originally from Finland but now […]

The post PT388 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT386 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/02/02/pt386/ Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:03:55 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=16355 In this episode, David once again interviews a teacher and student from Vital, speaking with Grof-certified Holotropic Breathwork® practitioner, author, and developer of InnerEthics®: Kylea Taylor: M.S., LMFT; and therapist and Lead Consultant of psychological therapists at NEU: Shabina Hale.  This Vital Psychedelic Conversation is largely centered around ethics: how practitioners and facilitators define ethics; […]

The post PT386 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT385 – Relationships, Conviviality, and The Strength of Empathic Attunement https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/01/31/pt385/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 22:22:22 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=16287 In this episode, Joe interviews Portland, OR-based licensed marriage and family therapist, ketamine-assisted therapist at Rainfall Medicine, lead educator at InnerTrek, and speaker at our upcoming Convergence conference: Gina Gratza, MS, LMFT. She talks about how she decided she wanted to become a therapist and when she knew psychedelics were the next step; meeting Rick […]

The post PT385 – Relationships, Conviviality, and The Strength of Empathic Attunement appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT384 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2023/01/26/pt384/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 17:58:48 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=16202 In this episode, David interviews two people from different sides of Vital: clinical psychologist, adjunct professor, Co-Founder of the Psychedelics R2R nonprofit, and Vital instructor, Dr. Dominique Morisano, CPsych (the teacher); and writer, psychedelic-assisted medicine facilitator, integration coach, and Women On Psychedelics Co-Founder, Jessika Lagarde (the student).  With the 2023-24 edition of Vital set to […]

The post PT384 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT374 – Personalizing Psychedelic Integration https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/11/22/pt374/ Tue, 22 Nov 2022 18:36:26 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=15314 In this episode, Kyle interviews psychologist, psychotherapist, author, and certified Holotropic Breathwork® facilitator: Marc Aixalà. Aixalà is part of the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service (ICEERS), offering integration psychotherapy sessions, developing theoretical models of intervention, and training and supervising therapists. He is also the writer of the recently released, Psychedelic Integration: Psychotherapy […]

The post PT374 – Personalizing Psychedelic Integration appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT365 – KAP: Self-Agency Through Intention, Titration, and Ceremony https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/10/18/pt365/ Tue, 18 Oct 2022 15:35:41 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=13773 In this episode, Kyle Buller interviews Dr. Jennifer Montjoy: psychiatric nurse practitioner with a private practice specializing in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and Medical & Research Director at TRIPP (Transpersonal Research Institute of Psychotherapeutic Psychedelics); a 501(c)(3) organization that provides psychedelic training and research opportunities largely for female and BIPOC scientists. She talks about her protocol, the self-transcendent scale she’s using with clients pre- and post- induction, how ketamine can help people get over past trauma through shifts in emotional memory, and what she sees most in successful cases: a gradual shift toward self-agency. She also discusses how integral titration is in her process; how ACE (adverse childhood experience) scores work; how dissociation can help with childhood trauma; how clients often naturally fall into using Internal Family Systems to describe their process; and how physicians and therapists shouldn't be afraid of the concept of ceremony.

The post PT365 – KAP: Self-Agency Through Intention, Titration, and Ceremony appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Indigenous Medicine: Appreciation vs. Appropriation https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/10/12/indigenous-medicine-appreciation-vs-appropriation/ Wed, 12 Oct 2022 11:13:28 +0000 https://live-psychedelics-today.pantheonsite.io/?p=13870 Join us for “Appreciation vs. Appropriation,” part one of a two-part webinar series in collaboration with the Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund (IMC Fund). The IMC Fund was co-created for the sovereign protection and regeneration of the medicines, ecologies & traditional knowledge Indigenous communities have honored for thousands of years. In this webinar series, we will […]

The post Indigenous Medicine: Appreciation vs. Appropriation appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT358 – Contexts of Use: Exploring the Various Paradigms of Psychedelics https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/09/23/pt358/ Fri, 23 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=13458 In this episode, Kyle Buller interviews Clinical Psychologist and Founder of the Psychedelic Society of Vermont, Dr. Rick Barnett, PsyD. This episode was recorded shortly after the Psychedelic Science & Spirituality Summit (which was hosted by Barnett’s Psychedelic Society of Vermont), so they reflect a bit on the conference, but most of their conversation revolves around exploring the various contexts of use around psychedelics – how our current paradigm of a heavy focus on medicalization and treatment of disorders misses a huge portion of real-world use: self-improvement, ceremonial, celebratory/recreational, and to even help with addictions. They discuss MAPS and MDMA use for PTSD; psilocybin for end-of-life depression and alcohol use disorder; ibogaine for getting off opiates; Chris Bache, high dose LSD sessions, and preparing for death; Jon Dennis’ fight for religious use of psychedelics; decriminalization vs. legalization; how there's really no wrong door when it comes to how one uses psychedelics (as long as safe and respectful), and more!

The post PT358 – Contexts of Use: Exploring the Various Paradigms of Psychedelics appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT353 – Psychedelics and Creativity https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/09/06/pt353/ Tue, 06 Sep 2022 18:59:50 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=13284 In this episode, Kyle Buller interviews three past guests: Dr. James Fadiman, Dr. Sam Gandy; and Dr. David Luke. Gandy and Luke recently co-wrote a paper called "Psychedelics as potential catalysts of scientific creativity and insight," and they wanted to pick the mind of one of the early researchers of psychedelics and creativity: James Fadiman. They discuss the differences between artistic and scientific creativity; how the psychedelic experience is similar to dreaming and the hypnagogic state; microdosing; DMT entity encounters and problem-solving; society's lost interest in divination; pluralistic perspectivism; why the West's scientism obsession hurts research; how science has too few mystics and too many technicians; "pseudo-delics"; and the serotonin/depression conundrum.

The post PT353 – Psychedelics and Creativity appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT352 – HOLOS: Returning to Wholeness Through Nature and Community https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/09/02/pt352/ Fri, 02 Sep 2022 19:09:40 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=13092 In this episode, Joe Moore interviews Alex Enchin & Ian-Michael Hébert, MA; Co-Founders of HOLOS, a company building hospitality wellness centers with a strong focus on community, reconnection to nature, and a return to wholeness. HOLOS wants to be the place where the biggest psychedelic figureheads visit to relax, commune, and do their own work; to then spread that energy to their individual communities. And, as there isn't much of an entry point to psychedelic medicine, their next step is to develop a boutique, hotel-like wellness center for those who may not yet be ready for a psychedelic experience; to either prepare them for the next step, or to show that nature and community may be all they really need. They talk about our need for community and how HOLOS was born; viewing wellness centers and scalability differently; Stan Grof’s perinatal matrices; consciousness; transpersonal psychology; nondualism; how viewing Mount Denali can be a psychedelic experience; and what "returning to wholeness" really means.

The post PT352 – HOLOS: Returning to Wholeness Through Nature and Community appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT348 – Cannabis and Psychedelics: Industry, Consciousness, Justice, and Joy https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/08/19/pt348/ Fri, 19 Aug 2022 15:27:56 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=13002 In this episode, David Drapkin interviews globally-recognized cannabis activist, author, entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and “father of the legal cannabis industry,” Steve DeAngelo. DeAngelo was integral in the beginning of cannabis legalization in California, playing a role in the passage of Prop 64 and co-founding one of the first six dispensaries licensed in the US (Harborside). He talks about why the DEA is the way that it is; how cannabis feels to many like a (much needed) female energy; the default mode network and the endocannabinoid system; the concept of "the stoner epiphany"; decriminalization; how we've removed the divine from everything; and how the lessons psychedelics and cannabis are telling us are slowly changing society into one that cares about the environment and is more open, loving, and empathetic. DeAngelo is currently in Jamaica, working to help people (specifically Rastafarians) get involved in the legal cannabis industry, and heading up The Last Prisoner Project, which fights for the release of people in prison for cannabis offenses.

The post PT348 – Cannabis and Psychedelics: Industry, Consciousness, Justice, and Joy appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT345 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/08/09/pt345/ Tue, 09 Aug 2022 14:46:24 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=12894 In this episode of the podcast, Kyle Buller returns with another episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations – this time with past guest Steve Thayer: clinical psychologist, Clinical Director of Education & Training at Novamind, and co-host (with Dr. Reid Robison) of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast. He talks a lot about integration and what psychedelic-assisted therapy really means, pointing out that much of integration work is just general good mental hygiene. He talks about how clients need to be open to where the experience takes them, but remember why they sought it out in the first place: What change are they looking for? He also discusses the main pillars of therapy and the essential domains of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy; his theoretical orientations (parts work, emotion-focused therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy); the importance of trusting the inner healer (but with some structure); the unique communal aspects of group work; mindful awareness; cognitive fusion; and how psychedelics make us comfortable with not knowing.

The post PT345 – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT344 – Epigenetics, Resilience, and Remembering https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/08/05/pt344/ Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=12923 In this episode, David Drapkin interviews Susan Beaulieu: Anishinaabe citizen of the Red Lake Nation, Ph.D. student, podcaster, and Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota Extension. She works with Indigenous communities primarily around intergenerational trauma and strengthening community resilience. She talks about how language shapes reality and the risk of losing Indigenous language, how psychedelics could help her community remember its traditions, and the need to insert important aspects of their culture into the healing process. She wonders: How do they create pathways beyond what is being explored in our current Western model that tribal leaders would be on board with? Does tribal sovereignty mean they have a legal right to try these new medicines? She also discusses mind-body medicine and soft belly breathing; the interconnectedness of all of our parts; the importance of truly feeling your "bad" emotions; and how culture is not just what you do, but how (and why) you do it.

The post PT344 – Epigenetics, Resilience, and Remembering appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT335 – Christopher Dawson & Andrew Galloway – Modernizing Traditional Plant Medicine With Neuroscience and Luxury https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/07/08/pt335/ Fri, 08 Jul 2022 16:14:08 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=12693 In this episode, Joe Moore interviews Christopher Dawson & Andrew Galloway: Co-Founders and CEO and COO, respectively, of Dimensions; a Canadian-based company creating retreats that blend traditional plant ceremonies with neuroscience and a luxurious, five-star environment. They each tell their story and how it led to the beginnings of Dimensions, where they worked for a year with a "Dreamlab" team of MDs, psychiatrists, practitioners from different fields, and even a design agency to create different programs for different substances – all with a focus on true set and setting and integrating perfectly with nature. They talk about Health Canada and the country’s trajectory towards legal psychedelics; critiques of traditional addiction treatment and the efficacy of 12-step programs; the tension between the psychedelic space and traditional healing space; investing in biotech; the polyvagal theory; how animals deal with trauma (and how we don't); and the concept of integration: If you're just taking a pill and not doing the work, are you missing the point entirely?

The post PT335 – Christopher Dawson & Andrew Galloway – Modernizing Traditional Plant Medicine With Neuroscience and Luxury appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT323 – Dr. Reid Robison & Steve Thayer, Ph.D. – Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Therapist Burnout, and LSD for Anxiety https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/05/31/pt323/ Tue, 31 May 2022 13:42:40 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=12300 In this episode of the podcast, Kyle Buller interviews Dr. Reid Robison and Steve Thayer, Ph.D. of Novamind, and hosts of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast. Robison and Thayer talk about their work with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP); their combined efforts with Numinus Wellness to scale psychedelic therapy accessibility; the nuance of ketamine treatment; how ketamine can be used for therapist burnout; the benefits of group ketamine sessions; the inner healer; and the platform of standards and training they are currently building at Novamind.

The post PT323 – Dr. Reid Robison & Steve Thayer, Ph.D. – Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Therapist Burnout, and LSD for Anxiety appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT316 – Lenny Gibson, Ph.D. – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/05/06/pt316/ Fri, 06 May 2022 13:39:41 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=12074 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David Drapkin interviews philosopher, clinical psychologist, Grof-certified Holotropic Breathwork® facilitator, and Co-Founder of Dreamshadow Group: Lenny Gibson, Ph.D. They talk about shamanism, Greek mythology, tribal cultures, and the importance of rediscovering the lineages of wisdom found throughout them. Gibson discusses the “dying before dying” that took place at Eleusis; how practices like meditation and breathwork can help us in recovering what in Zen is called “original mind;” achieving mystical enlightenment by studying mathematics; and the philosophical parallels between Plato, Kurt Vonnegut, Alfred North Whitehead, and the ancient Greeks.

The post PT316 – Lenny Gibson, Ph.D. – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT314 – Daniel McQueen, MA – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/04/29/pt314/ Fri, 29 Apr 2022 13:51:22 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=12028 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle Buller interviews Daniel McQueen, MA: author of “Psychedelic Cannabis: Therapeutic Methods and Unique Blends to Treat Trauma and Transform Consciousness” and Executive Director of the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness in Boulder, CO. McQueen discusses how the clinical model is too limited in perspective for psychedelics, how transformational being a guide for others can be, the importance of practitioners practicing self-care, and how cannabis can be as powerful a psychedelic as DMT.

The post PT314 – Daniel McQueen, MA – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Psychedelics Today Has Hit 3 Million Downloads! https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/04/27/psychedelics-today-has-hit-3-million-downloads/ Wed, 27 Apr 2022 22:59:17 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11925 This week, we celebrated a humbling achievement at Psychedelics Today: three million unique downloads of the Psychedelics Today podcast! This milestone couldn’t come at a more fitting time. It seems like the stars are aligning and shining a spotlight on progress in psychedelics, with Bicycle Day and the kickoff of our new, 12-month practitioner training […]

The post Psychedelics Today Has Hit 3 Million Downloads! appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT310 – Omar Thomas – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/04/15/pt310/ Fri, 15 Apr 2022 14:03:10 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11806 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David Drapkin interviews Omar Thomas: certified death doula and founder of Jamaica’s Diaspora Psychedelic Society. Thomas discusses his work at DPS; how Jamaica is shaping its framework as a psychedelic health & wellness destination; the importance of openness within the home about psychedelics; the value of creating a sacred, intentional approach to death; re-thinking waste and wealth in Jamaica; how psychedelics relate to death; and how observation and self-directed growth lead to lasting change.

The post PT310 – Omar Thomas – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT308 – Dr. Ido Cohen, PsyD – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/04/08/pt308/ Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:57:25 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11725 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle Buller interviews Dr. Ido Cohen, PsyD.
Dr. Cohen is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of The Integration Circle: A San Francisco based organization focused on encouraging psycho-spiritual growth for individuals, couples and groups. This discussion unpacks all the nuance of integration, its importance, and how commitment to ourselves through the process can lead to long-lasting, sustainable change.

The post PT308 – Dr. Ido Cohen, PsyD – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Canada’s SAP Expansion Signals a Step Forward for Psychedelics https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/04/01/canadas-sap-expansion-signals-a-step-forward-for-psychedelics/ Fri, 01 Apr 2022 18:28:42 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11636 Health Canada’s recent SAP revision brings a new opportunity for patients and a clear responsibility for prescribers. Health Canada’s recent decision to include psychedelic medicines in its Special Access Program (SAP) was met with a lot of fanfare. The SAP amendment brings good news for certain patients – specifically, treatment-resistant patients suffering from serious mental […]

The post Canada’s SAP Expansion Signals a Step Forward for Psychedelics appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT306 – Dr. Devon Christie – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/04/01/pt306/ Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11653 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle Buller interviews Dr. Devon Christie: Senior Lead of Psychedelic Programs with Numinus Wellness, clinical instructor, counselor, and Co-Investigator and study therapist for a Canadian MAPS-sponsored trial investigating MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. She talks about the importance of biomedical ethics and the unique considerations of psychedelic-assisted therapy: how psychedelics enhance the vulnerability and suggestibility in a well-established power dynamic, and how being aware of your power and biases is of the utmost importance towards not influencing your patient's experience. And she talks about the complications of touch and establishing (and honoring) informed consent; how true mindfulness can cultivate a greater capacity for self-regulation; how to handle situations where the client wants to know if a memory is real or not; the idea of psychedelics as placebos; and other therapeutic concepts like harm of neglect, undue influence, making pleasure a virtue, cultivating agency, combating physician burnout, and the expectation effect.

The post PT306 – Dr. Devon Christie – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT304 – Jerry B. Brown, Ph.D. – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/03/25/pt304/ Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:03:42 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11595 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle interviews professor of anthropology, author, and historian, Jerry B. Brown, Ph.D. Together with his wife, Julie M. Brown, MA, he co-authored the book, The Psychedelic Gospels: The Secret History of Hallucinogens in Christianity, where they present compelling anthropological arguments through early Christian frescoes and iconography of the major religion’s long-forgotten entheogenic history. Brown discusses the historical and cultural use of entheogens, the major universities currently conducting clinical research, the importance of ethics in this space, the question of 'will psychedelics survive success (in business)?', the future of these substances in the fields of medicine and mental health, and rides on the back of giant bengal tigers up volcanoes during LSD journeys. He breaks down why it’s important to understand the role of psychedelics in religion and how they can play a large role in the returning of faiths to their mystical roots, and he highlights two important areas professionals ought to be well-versed in: the establishment of trust between the therapist and client, and the technique of guided imagery – evoking mental images and symbols to facilitate deep healing.

The post PT304 – Jerry B. Brown, Ph.D. – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT302 – Dr. Adele Lafrance – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/03/18/pt302/ Fri, 18 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11496 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle Buller interviews clinical psychologist, author, researcher, and developer of Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT): Dr. Adele Lafrance. EFFT involves teaching family and significant others emotion-processing and behavioral support skills, how to make therapeutic apologies, how to not react in a knee-jerk way, and how to find problematic caregiving problems where families accommodate for mental health issues (and therefore perpetuate them). She also discusses the idea of healthy anger; the Hoffman Process; emotion coaching; the power of validation; similarities between EFFT and Internal Family Systems; rolling with resistance; tips to incorporate family into therapy more; the concept of a shame hangover and checking in on "tomorrow you"; and that even with all the preparation in the world, there's no way to adequately prepare someone for the vast array of possibilities within (and after) a psychedelic experience.

The post PT302 – Dr. Adele Lafrance – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT300 – Dr. Richard C. Schwartz – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/03/11/pt300/ Fri, 11 Mar 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11399 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle Buller and David Drapkin interview the author of “No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model,” and the creator of the IFS model itself: Dr. Richard C. Schwartz. Schwartz discusses how IFS came about and what it entails; how he views the Self; how IFS relates to the body; the 8 Cs of self-leadership qualities; how to address the actions of one's different parts; and how often people in psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions find themselves naturally thinking within the IFC framework. He also talks about the importance of preparation and facilitators knowing their own parts; his psychedelic history and why he's no longer afraid of death; what he strives for in integration work; the 5 Ps facilitators need; Sandra Watanabe's concept of a "cast of characters"; soul retrieval; starling murmuration; and the Pixar movie, "Inside Out."

The post PT300 – Dr. Richard C. Schwartz – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT298 – Michael Sapiro, PsyD – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/03/04/pt298/ Fri, 04 Mar 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11343 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle Buller interviews Michael Sapiro, PsyD: clinical psychologist, writer, meditation researcher, integrative coach, former Buddhist monk, Vital teacher, and now 3-time podcast guest. He discusses the idea of bringing psychedelics to prisons; his mental time travel work with The Institute for Love and Time (TILT); rebuilding trust in the medical community; and the difference between a diploma and real-world experience and proper training. And he talks about the complicated dynamics involved in what many see as a fantasy career; how he knows when to intervene; how he views "doing your own work"; whether or not the work can be gentle or joyous; the idea of joking during a session; his work with combat veterans and the intensity of 5-MeO-DMT; mainstreaming mysticism; and trusting that the universe has our backs.

The post PT298 – Michael Sapiro, PsyD – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT296 – Dr. David Luke – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/02/25/pt296/ Fri, 25 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11271 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle Buller interviews researcher, author, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Greenwich, and Co-Founder and Director of the Breaking Convention conference: Dr. David Luke. Luke talks about the importance of understanding the full range of psychedelic experiences; the difficulty in defining and measuring the transpersonal, how science has pathologized (and religion has demonized) the weird; and the need for counselors to be open minded to the reality (and after effects) of their clients' experiences. And he talks about DMT and entity encounters: Why do people who have these experiences have such massive shifts in belief afterward? What are these entities? While he can't answer these questions, he shares a few stories of his own that led to prolonged, incremental ontological shock in his own life.

The post PT296 – Dr. David Luke – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT294 – Andrew Tatarsky, Ph.D. & Juliana Mulligan – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/02/18/pt294/ Fri, 18 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11153 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David Drapkin interviews Andrew Tatarsky, Ph.D.; author and developer of Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, and Juliana Mulligan; writer and head of Inner Vision Ibogaine. Both are part of The Center for Optimal Living in NYC (CFOL); Tatarsky as the Founder and Director, and Mulligan as the Psychedelic Program Coordinator. They talk about reframing addiction, the ways society divides us by accepted behaviors, how being taught to doubt ourselves as children creates trauma, the idea of the "disease narrative" and self-demonization, how research studies support the idea of the quick fix, and harm reduction as a pathway to a better self.

The post PT294 – Andrew Tatarsky, Ph.D. & Juliana Mulligan – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT292 – Sam Gandy – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/02/11/pt292/ Fri, 11 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=11061 In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle Buller interviews Sam Gandy: researcher, science writer, Ph.D. ecologist, and collaborator with the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London who is most interested in the capacity of psychedelics to amplify or ignite our relationship with nature. He talks about David Luke's study on nature interconnectedness after psychedelic experiences and ways to add nature into the integration and prep stages, from VR to planting seeds to even just looking at pictures or videos. He talks about the challenge of maximizing the benefits of the psychedelic experience and the need for more knowledge on how to integrate, asking how we can also use psychedelics intentionally as creativity-enhancing agents (analyzing James Fadiman and Willis Harman’s 1966 "Selective Enhancement of Specific Capacities Through Psychedelic Training" study).

The post PT292 – Sam Gandy – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT290 – Kylea Taylor, M.S., LMFT – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/02/04/pt290/ Fri, 04 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=10996 In this episode of the podcast (and episode 3 of Vital Psychedelic Conversations), Kyle Buller interviews Kylea Taylor: M.S.; LMFT; Grof-certified Holotropic Breathwork® practitioner; and author of several books, including her newest: The Ethics of Caring: Finding Right Relationship with Clients.
She talks about learning breathwork from the Grofs at Esalen, working through her 5-year spiritual emergency, her work bringing breathwork to a residential substance abuse recovery program, and her InnerEthics® program.
They also discuss how much the psychedelic community undervalues the reciprocity and knowledge one can gain from sitting for someone else; how our multiple selves complicate already-complicated relationships, having dreams about taking psychedelics; and three tools likely not yet mentioned in this podcast: Angie Arrien’s naming ceremony, SoulCollage®, and Brainspotting.

The post PT290 – Kylea Taylor, M.S., LMFT – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Religious Practice Under Oregon Measure 109 https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/02/03/religious-practice-under-oregon-measure-109/ Thu, 03 Feb 2022 22:23:14 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=10957 Jon Dennis, Esq. looks closely at what Oregon's Measure 109 really says, and provides a possible framework for the fair treatment of religious-use sacrament.

The post Religious Practice Under Oregon Measure 109 appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT288 – Annie & Michael Mithoefer – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/01/28/pt288/ Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=10894 In this episode of the podcast, Kyle sits down for the 2nd edition of Vital Psychedelic Conversations; this week with Annie & Michael Mithoefer, who are best known for groundbreaking trials they've been involved in, including two MAPS-sponsored Phase II trials studying MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, a study providing MDMA-assisted sessions to therapists completing the MAPS therapist training, and a pilot study treating couples with MDMA-assisted therapy combined with Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy. They discuss why they connected so much with breathwork; what trusting the process means (for the patient and facilitator); the concept of inner healing capacity; how the communal, group process aspect of breathwork is inspiring ideas for group MDMA sessions; updates on new trials for 2022; their best advice and biggest takeaways they've learned from decades in the field, and more!

The post PT288 – Annie & Michael Mithoefer – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Horizons: Grounds for Collective Effervescence https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/01/21/the-horizons-conference-as-grounds-for-collective-effervescence/ Sat, 22 Jan 2022 01:13:11 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=10763 Gathering as professionals in psychedelics has taken on new meaning. It’s more – a lot more – than just networking now. In early December, Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics (an annual conference often referred to just as ‘Horizons’) re-emerged from the proverbial ashes of COVID-19; a pandemic that led to the dismantling of social connectivity and […]

The post Horizons: Grounds for Collective Effervescence appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> PT286 – Joe Tafur, MD – Vital Psychedelic Conversations https://psychedelicstoday.com/2022/01/21/pt286/ Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=10746 In this episode of the podcast, Kyle Buller sits down with Joe Tafur, MD, for the first episode in our new weekly series, "Vital Psychedelic Conversations." Vital is the name of our new 12-month certificate program launching in April, and each episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations will feature one of the teachers we've been honored to be able to include in the program. Joe Tafur, MD, is a family physician and author who was trained in ayahuasca curanderismo at the Nihue Rao Centro Espiritual in Peru, and is a co-founder of the Church of the Eagle and the Condor, which is currently pursuing legal protection for ceremonial ayahuasca use. He discusses the frustrating application process for the church; the idea of the substance only being a part of the experience; how a truly transpersonal moment seems to make people start asking about the sacred; the scientific community's struggles with the transpersonal; and he makes an argument for allowing religious tokens in therapeutic containers. He also talks about what we can learn from Indigenous tradition and their holistic and health-focused mindset, connection to nature, relationship with substances, and embrace of spirituality.

The post PT286 – Joe Tafur, MD – Vital Psychedelic Conversations appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Addressing Abuse in Psychedelic Spaces https://psychedelicstoday.com/2021/10/28/addressing-abuse-in-psychedelic-spaces/ Thu, 28 Oct 2021 22:20:22 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=10027 Commentary from Psychedelics Today co-founder, Joe Moore, about the recent accusations by Will Hall against Aharon Grossbard and Francoise Bourzat.

The post Addressing Abuse in Psychedelic Spaces appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Meet Microdosing TikTok—And Why the Community Matters https://psychedelicstoday.com/2021/09/22/meet-microdosing-tiktok-why-the-community-matters/ Wed, 22 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=9630 Original Illustration by Martin Clarke Microdosing TikTok is a vibrant community of everyday people researching and experimenting with microdosing for mental health, and finding support in the process. What if I told you that the microdosing movement has taken TikTok by storm? Or that TikTok wasn’t just a place for dancing or kids, but a […]

The post Meet Microdosing TikTok—And Why the Community Matters appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Accountability & Transformative Justice in the Psychedelic Space: A Roadmap for Change https://psychedelicstoday.com/2021/06/09/accountability-transformative-justice-in-the-psychedelic-space-a-roadmap-for-change/ Wed, 09 Jun 2021 17:06:31 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=8494 By Rebecca Martinez The psychedelic space has an abuse problem, but how do we resolve it? Community accountability and transformative justice can help. In the past few years, the global psychedelic community has weathered countless ruptures as patterns of problematic behavior have come to light. While calls for accountability have been increasing, we have yet […]

The post Accountability & Transformative Justice in the Psychedelic Space: A Roadmap for Change appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Exploring Oregon’s Measure 110 and The Future of Drug Policy Reform https://psychedelicstoday.com/2021/05/12/exploring-oregons-measure-110-and-the-future-of-drug-policy-reform/ Wed, 12 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=8197 Taking a deep look at what Measure 110 did and didn’t do in Oregon, and speaking with one of the measure’s Chief Petitioners, Anthony Johnson, on the future of drug policy reform.

The post Exploring Oregon’s Measure 110 and The Future of Drug Policy Reform appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> What do Alien Abduction and Psychedelic Experiences have in Common? Let Dr. John E. Mack’s Work Explain https://psychedelicstoday.com/2021/01/04/what-do-alien-abduction-and-psychedelic-experiences-have-in-common-let-dr-john-e-macks-work-explain/ Mon, 04 Jan 2021 14:00:06 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=6934 By Michelle Janikian The story of John Mack, the Harvard psychiatrist who wanted to believe—and ended up introducing the entire culture to the possibility of transpersonal experiences. “At their core Carlos’s encounters have brought about a profound spiritual opening, bringing him in contact with a divine light or energy, what he calls “Home,” which is […]

The post What do Alien Abduction and Psychedelic Experiences have in Common? Let Dr. John E. Mack’s Work Explain appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]> Psychedelics and the Default Mode Network https://psychedelicstoday.com/2020/02/04/psychedelics-and-the-default-mode-network/ Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:48:38 +0000 https://psychedelicstoday.com/?p=4615 by Jasmine Virdi  Modern neuroscience has demonstrated that psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, as well as ayahuasca operate to significantly reduce activity in the brain’s default mode network (DMN). This reduction in DMN activity functions as a kind of ‘rebooting’ of the brain, and is thought to be linked […]

The post Psychedelics and the Default Mode Network appeared first on Psychedelics Today.

]]>