The Brave New World of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies: Promises and Pitfalls

For the first time in over four decades, researchers have returned to examining the therapeutic benefits of mind-altering substances, including MDMA (ecstasy), psilocybin (mushrooms), and ketamine. In the 1970s the study of all psychedelics was criminalized in the US, despite emerging evidence of their medical value. Over the past decade, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Research (MAPS) has helped to revive psychedelic research, sponsoring studies across the United States and around the world, including MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, and end-of-life anxiety. The results have been very positive, lasting over 72 months of follow-up, with few adverse effects. Our Boston based team of researchers has played a central role in this process and, in this workshop, will present both our scientific data, and our clinical experiences with MDMA and ketamine. Our research clearly shows that psychedelics can promote a deepening and acceleration of psychotherapeutic processes. During therapy, people often are able to access and find peace with disavowed, “exiled” parts of themselves. In this workshop, we will discuss outcomes and processes. and the Boston MDMA study team will discuss clinical experiences and applications. Psychedelic medicines, when dosed correctly in the appropriate context, can act as powerful catalytic tools for healing, repair and new growth potentials moving healing paradigms towards wellness, resilience, and self-actualization.