Addiction is not the core problem, it is an invitation to look deeper.  The abstinence only model keeps us bound to a model where relapse and shame become barriers to getting help.  Psychedelic therapies invites a broader scope of contemplation around the driving forces behind our behaviors and allow us to see ourselves with a greater sense of compassion and curiosity.   Therapeutic use of psychedelics can allow us to change the way we view addiction and recovery and help us come up with language that better suits the process.  Neglect and developmental trauma are present in a significant number of adolescents and adults struggling with addiction. These lead to the development of survival skills that are maladaptive in adult society as we know it.  Trauma in and of itself [...]

We are in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance exploring transformational healing with different tools. Western  psychopharmacology has developed to reduce symptomatology— as we minimize and mask symptoms we become less connected from the messages the symptoms are trying to share with us.     Our progress driven society encourages striving for peak performance-but at what cost? It seems we have lost our sense of connection to culture, to body,  to nature and our own innate healing wisdom. The art and science of psychedelic healing is being integrated into our current mental health system through the use of psychotherapy and integration with MDMA, Ketamine, psilocybin.   The most prominently researched diagnoses that have been addressed are PTSD, addiction, major depressive disorder and reactive anxiety in late stage cancer diagnosis.     This [...]