Shows
Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersThe Loneliness Epidemic & the Healing Power of Connection | Psychedelic Therapy, Psilocybin & IntegrationSend us a textIn 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a powerful advisory declaring loneliness and social disconnection a public health crisis. Sometimes called the “loneliness epidemic,” it reflects how—even in a hyperconnected, social media world—many of us feel more isolated than ever.In this episode of Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, brought to you by Numinus Network, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison explore:What’s fueling today’s loneliness epidemicHow connection, community, and group therapy can be healingThe role of psychedelic-assisted therapy, integration therapy, and psilocybin therapy in restoring human connectionTh...
2025-10-1446 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersNew research on LSD for generalized anxiety and what’s helpful about a psilocybin experienceSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we discuss a paper recently published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) entitled, “Single Treatment With MM120 (Lysergide) in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” This is a report on the results from Mind Medicine’s phase 2b clinical trial that Reid and I both had the pleasure of working on at Numinus Network’s clinical trial site, Cedar Clinical Research. We discuss what GAD is, a brief history of LSD, why LSD might be helpful for anxiety, the study design, th...
2025-09-2350 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat does “processing emotions” even mean?Send us a textIf you’ve ever listened to a therapist talk–whether in a therapy session, social media, or a podcast–you’ve likely heard them mention processing your emotions. But what does it actually mean to process your emotions? I’m being told I need to feel my feelings or process my trauma, but I don’t know how to do that. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we’re going to explain what it means to process one’s emotions from a few different perspectives and hopefully by the end of the epis...
2025-09-041h 01Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersI’m going through a really hard time. What can I do? (rebroadcast)Send us a textSometimes it seems like life is crumbling around you. Maybe something terrible has happened or the accumulation of stressors is just too much to bear. What do you do when life keeps giving you lemons and you’re just sick of making lemonade? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss tools and strategies for navigating life at its most difficult.For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thaye...
2025-08-2756 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersThe hedonic treadmill: Why happiness can feel so elusiveSend us a textWhy does happiness feel so elusive for so many of us? Maybe you’ve had the experience where you long for a change, believing that once this change occurs then you’ll finally be happy. Then that change happens, but it didn’t deliver lasting happiness. You buy the new thing, take the vacation, achieve the goal, get the promotion and you feel happy for a while but eventually it feels like you’re back where you started. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we explore the phenomenon knows as the...
2025-08-0543 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersPractical tools for understanding and managing stressSend us a textIf you’re human you know what it’s like to be stressed. But what is stress exactly? Is all stress unhealthy or can our stress response help us adapt and build resilience? How does stress affect our mental and physical health? How can we effectively respond to and manage stress? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss these questions and try to give you some useful tips for dealing with life’s inevitable stressors. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedeli...
2025-07-1746 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersPromising new results from psychedelic clinical trialsSend us a textThe path to FDA approved prescribable medicine has been a long and precarious one for psychedelics. However, recent reports by some of the major players in the psychedelic medicine space show promising results from clinical trials involving psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we review the topline data from these recent reports and explore what the future of psychedelic therapies might look like for people struggling with mental health conditions. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is b...
2025-07-0438 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersRecent research on trauma in eating disorders, MDMA and self-compassion, psilocybin vs SSRIs, and more!Send us a textCould psilocybin help people with eating disorders process unconscious trauma? What’s the difference between the effects of psilocybin and SSRIs on depression? How does formulation and route of administration affect a LSD experience? What role does self-compassion play in the treatment of PTSD with MDMA-assisted therapy? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we explore recent research on these topics and more. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus Network and is hosted by Dr. St...
2025-06-1748 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersKetamine vs Spravato | History, risks, and benefits of the anesthetic psychedelicsSend us a textKetamine has been in the news a lot lately and there are a lot of misconceptions about how this medicine is used for the treatment of mental health conditions. Is it safe and effective? Is it addictive? Is it a psychedelic? What’s the difference between ketamine and the FDA approved depression medicine, Spravato? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss the history and clinical applications of these two medicines as we attempt to answer these important questions.For those of you who are new to the s...
2025-06-101h 01Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersZen Master Genpo Roshi | Zen practice meets Western psychotherapy, enlightenment, and psychedelic awakeningsSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we’re talking with Zen Master, Genpo Roshi. Roshi has been one of the pioneers of Zen throughout the U.S. and Europe. He’s known for his development of the Big Mind process, a method that combines Zen practice with Western psychological principles to facilitate personal transformation and insight. We discuss his early life experiences that set him on this path, the concepts of awakening and enlightenment, the nature of the mind, human being vs. doing, the judicious use of psychedelic tools, and th...
2025-06-031h 06Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersPsychedelics and Internal Family Systems (IFS): A partnership in relational healing with Curt KearneySend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we’re talking with psychotherapist, Curt Kearney, about his new book, “Psychedelics and Internal Family Systems (IFS): A partnership in relational healing.” IFS is a powerful therapy model that’s becoming very popular these days. When we talk about which psychotherapy models might pair well with psychedelic tools, IFS is usually somewhere near the top of the list. In his book and in this conversation, Curt draws from his extensive experience with psychedelics and as an IFS practitioner and trainer to walk us through ho...
2025-05-201h 09Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat all effective therapies have in common (part 2)Send us a textWe’re back with part 2 of our 2-part series on what all effective psychotherapies have in common. Last week we introduced you to the common factors research on psychotherapy outcomes, using the work of Dr. Jeffery Smith, MD to help us structure the conversation. We discussed how entrenched maladaptive patterns, fueled by affective avoidance, contribute to mental health conditions and how all good psychotherapy models help people generate awareness around those patterns, make contact with their emotions, and take deliberate steps to change those patterns in durable ways.In today’s episode of t...
2025-05-1344 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersDMT for depression, LSD for ADHD, rats on ayahuasca, and insight driving treatment outcomesSend us a textWhat happens when you give scared rats ayahuasca? Can inhaled DMT treat depression? Does microdosing LSD help with ADHD? How do the insights occasioned by psychedelic experience affect therapeutic outcomes? Can cannabis use in adolescence increase the risk of developing schizophrenia? Does taking Paxil before LSD affect the psychedelic experience? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we dive into recent research exploring these questions and more. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus Network and...
2025-05-0158 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersMaking peace with pain: Mindfulness, psychedelics, and the neuroplastic path to reliefSend us a textPain is an unavoidable feature of life. Some would argue that the desire to avoid or stop pain is a foundational driver of most human behaviors. But what about when pain is chronic? How much does our attitude toward our pain affect our experience of pain? Can psychedelic treatments offer new ways to treat chronic pain conditions? What can mindfulness practices offer to a person in pain?In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss these questions and more as we explore what it means to make peace wi...
2025-04-2236 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersMeditation and mindfulness in psychedelic therapy and everyday lifeSend us a textMeditation as a practice, a life path, or a mindset is central to many ancient wisdom traditions and modern psychotherapies. It’s also a useful tool for preparing for, navigating, and integrating psychedelic experiences. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we explore the definitions, components, and applications of meditation and mindfulness for psychedelic therapy and everyday life. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus Network and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid R...
2025-04-1544 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersCounterintuitive truths and paradoxes about healingSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we’re talking about a few counterintuitive ideas or paradoxes that one might encounter on their personal growth or healing journey. Due to their paradoxical nature, these ideas can be difficult to accept. Ideas like, “only when I accept myself as I am do I then have the freedom to change” can be confusing at first glance. Reid and I attempt to clarify a few of the most common and important paradoxes in today’s episode and we hope you find it useful. For tho...
2025-04-0844 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersBoundaries: How to free up your time and energy for what matters most (Rebroadcast)Send us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, the podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss boundaries. They explore the importance and challenges of setting healthy boundaries, different categories of boundary-setting, clarifying personal values, protecting your time and energy, what leads to unhealthy boundaries, good professional boundaries for helping professionals, and much more.*This episode originally aired 4/26/24Learn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinus.com/training/Learn more about our clinical tr...
2025-04-0147 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersFinishing unfinished businessSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we’re talking about unfinished business. Now I don’t mean “unfinished business” in the hyper-aggressive revenge film kind of way. No, we’re talking about unresolved emotions, memories, or conflicts from the past that intrude on the present causing us to wonder why we keep doing, thinking, and/or feeling things even though it doesn’t serve us. We explore why this happens and what to do about it from a variety of therapeutic perspectives including Gestalt, psychoanalytic, IFS, CBT, and psychedelic-assisted. For those o...
2025-03-2552 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersYou are already freeSend us a textDo you ever feel like something is wrong with you? Like if you were just able to fix the way you think, feel, or behave then you would finally enjoy peace, connection, and freedom? Perhaps you’ve even gone to therapy with this intention and worked hard to heal traumas, challenge negative thinking, and establish healthier habits. But what if you aren’t actually broken? What if you are already whole and free? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we explore Eastern philosophies of non-dual awareness, resistance, attachment, surrend...
2025-03-1842 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersInterpreting dreams, lucid dreaming, and psychedelicsSend us a textSigmund Freud said that dreams are the royal road to a knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we explore this royal road as we discuss the nature of dreams, the neurophysiology of the dreaming brain, the therapeutic utility of dream interpretation, nightmare rescripting, lucid dreaming, and the parallels between dreams states and and the altered states occasioned by psychedelics.For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus Ne...
2025-03-1157 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersUnderstanding insecurities and how to overcome themSend us a textHave you ever been accused of being insecure? It’s something, if we’re being honest with ourselves, nearly all of us struggle with. I’m not smart enough, attractive enough, rich enough, successful enough. It seems like there are an infinite number of rulers that prove how poorly we measure up. But where do these insecurities come from? Why do we often feel so inadequate? And perhaps most importantly, how can we overcome our insecurities? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we try to answer these questions and more...
2025-03-0440 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat is consciousness and what can psychedelics teach us about the nature of conscious awareness?Send us a textWhat is consciousness? Is it unique to humans? Is a bat, a tree, or an AI agent conscious? What does it mean for something to be subconscious or unconscious? What does altering consciousness with psychedelic compounds teach us about its nature? How does understanding consciousness help us improve our mental health? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss these questions and more as we explore the nature of conscious awareness.For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to...
2025-02-2549 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersHow stories, self-narratives, and biases shape our mental healthSend us a textThe human mind is a meaning-making machine. It does its best to make sense out of the constant barrage of information flooding it moment to moment. One of the ways your mind does this is by creating and using filters. These filters go by many names: cognitive bias, heuristics, core beliefs, values, narratives, prejudice, etc. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we explore how these filters work for us and against us and discuss how you can become the author of your own internal story.For those of...
2025-02-1851 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersSleep apnea awareness, 5-MeO-DMT for heavy drinking, LSD for anxiety, and psychedelics for personality disordersSend us a textDo you have one of those fancy wearable devices that tracks your sleep? How reliable are those things? Could they help detect a serious sleep disorder like sleep apnea? How detrimental is sleep apnea on physical and mental health? What are the latest treatment innovations for sleep apnea? Can psychedelics help people with personality disorders? Could 5-MeO-DMT help reduce excessive alcohol consumption? Could LSD be used to treat anxiety? What happens when you let people self-regulate a DMT dose through an IV? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we...
2025-02-041h 08Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersCompounding Growth: How to Invest in Yourself for Lifelong TransformationSend us a textIf you take any beginner’s class in economics or finance you undoubtedly learn about how investments grow over time via compound interest. But what if we apply this concept of investment and compounding growth to personal development? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss a variety of approaches to personal growth, healing, and development using the metaphor of investment and compounding growth. We cover the “imperfectionist” approach, treating the mind like a garden, how to think about failures, dealing with discomfort, the importance of rest, clarifying values, a...
2025-01-281h 00Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersOn creativity, forgiveness, and being an artist without a medium with Haymitch St. StephenSend us a textWhen we describe artists we typically describe them in terms of their medium: a musician, a scuplter, a painter, a poet, etc. But what does it really mean to be an artist or, for that matter, to be creative? Can you be an artist without a medium? How do we think about or describe the creative act? What might life look like if we were to view it as a work of art?In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss these questions and more with special guest, Ha...
2025-01-211h 07Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersAncient wisdom for modern problemsSend us a textHow relevant are the teachings of ancient philosophers for modern problems? Marcus Arelius didn’t have social media. The Buddha never got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. At first glance the stressors of modern life seem so different from what humans had to deal with a few hundred or especially a few thousand years ago.In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss how and why the principles taught by ancient philosophers are relevant and helpful for addressing our uniquely modern problems. We also explore a few modern philosophies and...
2025-01-141h 01Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersMake new year’s resolutions that matterSend us a textLast episode we talked about taking time as a new year approaches to reflect on the previous year. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss how to make new year’s resolutions that really matter to you. We explore why we struggle to accomplish new year’s resolutions, the difference between goals and values, the importance of self-compassion when trying to make changes, learning from life’s challenges, avoiding toxic positivity, actionable systems for habit change, and much more.For those of you who are new to the show...
2025-01-0751 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersReflecting on the year: Learning, appreciating, and growingSend us a text2024 is coming to a close. Before we give too much thought to resolutions and intentions for the new year, it can be helpful to reflect on the past year. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss what can be gleaned from a yearly reflection practice, review some notable developments in the psychedelic therapy space, and do some reflecting ourselves. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr...
2024-12-3144 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersGrist for the mill: Ram Dass Legacy Retreat report with Jeremy Robison and John PattersonSend us a textReid has recently returned from the Ram Das Legacy Retreat in Maui run by the Love Serve Remember Foundation. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we sat down for a trip report with Reid’s brother, Jeremy Robison, and our friend, John Patterson, who also attended the retreat. We discuss the theme of the retreat (“grist for the mill”), their motives for going, their experiences at the retreat, the healing power of music, aversions to gurus, how life’s challenges can become our guru, the life of Ram Dass, psychedeli...
2024-12-261h 00Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersUnderstanding legacy and ancestral burdens and giftsSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we’re exploring legacy (or sometimes called ancestral) burdens and gifts. This is the idea that beliefs, interpersonal patterns, narratives, emotions, unresolved trauma, and/or pain from previous generations can be passed down to descendants, influencing their psychological, emotional, and even physical well-being. We discuss how this is possible from psychological, developmental, psychospiritual, and biological perspectives; how one might heal the burdens; and how one might benefit from the gifts. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Thera...
2024-12-1953 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWill AI replace therapists?Send us a textIf an artificial intelligence (AI) therapist was available, would you use it? Could an AI program replace your therapist? What are the potential opportunities and risks of using AI for help with your mental health? What might the future hold as this technology advances? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we explore the revolutionary, exciting, and sometimes frightening world of AI in mental health care.For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hos...
2024-12-1040 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersPsychotic disorders, psychedelics, and cannabisSend us a textDoes using cannabis put you at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia? Is it safe to use psychedelic-assisted therapy for psychotic disorders? Is there a difference between the psychotic experience and the psychedelic experience?In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we discuss these questions as we explore the fascinating topic of psychosis.For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison.Learn more ab...
2024-11-2641 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersResearch roundup: How psychedelics affect personality traits, empathy, depression, and moreSend us a textDo psychedelics make people more empathic? Does coming off antidepressants before psychedelic therapy affect outcomes? Can MDMA change your personality? Can a psychedelic medicine without the “trip” still help with depression? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss recent studies that seek to answer these questions and much more. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison.Learn more about our podcast...
2024-11-1951 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersMeasuring the psychedelic experienceSend us a textWe’ve spent a lot of time on this show talking about the potential mental health risks and benefits of experiences occasioned by psychedelic medicines. But how do scientists and clinicians know if and to what extent a psychedelic experience is helpful or harmful? Well, we measure it. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss the various ways that scientists and clinicians measure the psychedelic experience and the mental health outcomes of such an experience. We review a few popular questionnaires, discuss brain imaging studies, explore the limit...
2024-11-1254 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat you need to know about narcissismSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss what narcissism is, the difference between narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic traits, some theories on why narcissism develops, why we might want to have compassion for someone with narcissistic traits, therapies for narcissism, how to protect yourself if you find yourself in relationship with someone with narcissistic traits, whether or not psychedelics could be a remedy for narcissism, and much more. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Num...
2024-11-0548 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersSocial anxiety disorder: Am I just really shy?Send us a textYou’ve probably been given the advice at some point in your life that you shouldn’t care about what other people think of you. For some of you this might feel pretty easy. For others it’s a challenge. And for some of you the threat of negative social judgment and embarrassment is absolutely terrifying. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss social anxiety disorder. We talk about how this mental health condition is different than being shy, introverted, or nervous about public performance. We also explore s...
2024-10-2946 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersI’m going through a really hard time. What can I do?Send us a textSometimes it seems like life is crumbling around you. Maybe something terrible has happened or the accumulation of stressors is just too much to bear. What do you do when life keeps giving you lemons and you’re just sick of making lemonade? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss tools and strategies for navigating life at its most difficult.For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thaye...
2024-10-2256 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat happens at an ayahuasca retreat with Sam Believ from LaWayraSend us a textHave you ever wondered what happens at an ayahuasca retreat? How do you know if out-of-country retreat centers are safe? Why would anyone voluntarily drink a tea that makes them vomit? What benefits do people report experiencing after participating in an ayahuasca ceremony? What are the dangers of ayahuasca? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we explore these questions and more with founder and CEO of the LaWayra Ayahuasca retreat center in Colombia, Sam Believ. Sam is also the host of the Ayahuasca Podcast where he interviews experts in...
2024-10-161h 01Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhy you need angerSend us a textDo you think anger is a negative emotion? Have you ever been told that you need to control your anger? What’s the difference between healthy and unhealthy expressions of anger? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we’re exploring this often misunderstood emotion and the strategies for processing and expressing anger in a healthy, adaptive way.For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison...
2024-10-081h 07Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersCombining psychedelics, DMT for meditators, public opinion of psychedelic medicine, and moreSend us a textWhat do mental healthcare practitioners think of psychedelics? Does combining MDMA and psilocybin/LDS have therapeutic potential? Can DMT enhance the practice of experienced meditators? What can we learn from recurring dreams? Can your ADHD medication cause psychosis? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we’re exploring a wide range of new research on these topics and others. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robi...
2024-10-0248 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat 73 high-dose LSD sessions taught Christopher Bache, PhD, about the nature of reality and the next phase of human evolution (Rebroadcast)Send us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Dr. Christopher Bache, PhD. Chris is professor emeritus in the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University, adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies, Emeritus Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and on the Advisory Council of Grof Legacy Training. He’s the author of several books, but the one that prompted this interview is LSD and the Mind of the Universe—an account of what Chris experienced and...
2024-09-241h 32Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersMaster the skill of deep listeningSend us a textHave you ever had someone really listen to you? What does that feel like when somebody gives you their undivided, compassionate, and validating attention? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we’re exploring the concept of deep listening. We discuss the difference between deep listening and simply hearing, improving relationships by listening well, the specific skill set required for deep listening, how to listen to people you don’t agree with, how to listen to yourself, and much more. For those of you who are new to the show...
2024-09-1744 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersBinge eating disorder: diagnosis, treatment, HAES, and psychedelicsSend us a textBinge eating disorder is the newest addition to the eating disorder diagnostic category in the DSM. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we’re exploring this condition, including its etiology, how it’s diagnosed, prevalence rates, recent research, available treatments, the potential of psychedelic treatments, and much more. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison.Learn more about our podcast at https://numinus...
2024-09-1050 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersIs meditation dangerous?Send us a textIs meditation dangerous? It might seem like a silly question. Many people would put meditation on the short list of practices that are essential for good mental and spiritual health. Indeed, we’ve recommended meditation many times on this show as a powerful tool to use in psychedelic-assisted therapy.In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we’re exploring the situations in which meditation could do more harm than good. We discuss different kinds of meditation, personal and contextual risk factors that could put the meditation practitioner in harm’s way, w...
2024-09-0351 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersMaking peace with every part of you: IFS, parts work, and psychedelic therapySend us a textHave you ever felt conflicted about something–like there was a war going on in your head between parts of you with different agendas? Do you ever get frustrated with yourself for behaving in self-defeating ways only to find yourself repeating that same behavior over and over again? Well you, my friend, might have a mind comprised of many different parts, each with their own origin story, attachments, aversions, duties, and burdens. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we’re revisiting the concept of intrapsychic multiplicity or “parts” through the...
2024-08-2758 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersStaying sane in an insane worldSend us a textDo you ever feel like the world is going crazy around you? War, political polarization, cultural clashes, exploitation, all fed to your brain through a steady stream of addictive social media posts. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we’re going to discuss this modern predicament and how one might maintain their sanity in this increasingly insane world we live in. Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison.Learn more about our podcast at ht...
2024-08-1352 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersCan you change your personality? Temperament, personality, and personality disordersSend us a textCan you change your personality? What even is a “personality” anyway? Is my boyfriend a narcissist? What’s borderline personality disorder? We human beings are complex creatures with a drive to understand ourselves. In that quest to understand ourselves, we’ve noticed some patterns. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we’re going to discuss these patterns through the lens of personality theory. Expect to learn what the term personality means, how personality differs from temperament, whether or not personalities can change, advantages and disadvantages of certain personality types, what a perso...
2024-07-3157 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersPsychedelic studies, interpreting results, and the future of psychedelic researchSend us a textThere is a lot of exciting research going on right now in the world of psychedelic medicine. So much, in fact, that it can be difficult to keep track of it all. Where do you go for reliable information? How do you interpret results? How is it that studies with similar hypotheses can have contradictory findings? In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we’re going to discuss these questions while we walk you through a few studies that Reid and I found interesting. Expect to learn what psilocybin does to t...
2024-07-231h 09Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat is shadow work?Send us a textHas there ever been a time when you didn’t feel like yourself? Maybe somebody did or said something to you and you overreacted in a way that left you feeling embarrassed or confused? Well, today we’re going to examine experiences like this through the lens of what Swiss psychotherapist, Carl Jung, called the shadow. You’re listening to Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers–the podcast devoted to exploring the frontiers of psychedelic medicine and what it takes to cultivate a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus...
2024-07-1752 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersPsychedelic therapy training, embodied inquiry, therapeutic lineage, and psychedelic regulation with Reilly Capps from HealingMapsSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Reilly Capps. Reilly is the Editorial Director at HealingMaps, an organization and website that helps people find access to psychedelic treatments and retreats. Reilly has written about psychedelics for The Washington Post, The Telluride Daily Planet, LucidNews, 5280, Chacruna, The Third Wave, and the MAPS Bulletin. His reporting for Rooster, a Colorado magazine, helped catalyze the world’s first psychedelic decriminalization vote in Denver in 2019. Reilly is also a recent graduate of the Numinus Fundamentals of...
2023-12-191h 23Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersNuminus CEO, Payton Nyquvest, on chronic pain, community, training, and the future of psychedelic therapySend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Numinus CEO, Payton Nyquvest. Payton share’s his personal experience with psychedelic healing and reveals how his desire to pay forward his healing experience resulted in the formation of Numinus. They talk about the importance of community in the psychedelic therapy context, explore some of the challenges that psychedelic therapy clinics currently face, discuss the importance of good training for psychedelic therapists, (especially experiential training), and much more.Learn more about our po...
2023-10-241h 00Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersHow ketamine-assisted therapy helped Tanner Yarro conquer fears, overcome anxiety, and reclaim his lifeSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Tanner Yarro. Tanner is a Numinus client who agreed to come on the show to share his personal experience of how ketamine-assisted therapy helped him overcome crippling anxiety, face existential fears, and ultimately reclaim his life. Tanner shares his perspective on combating the stigma around psychedelic therapy specifically and psychotherapy generally. They also explore how he navigates being a nonconformist in his culture of religious faith and how playing Dungeons & Dragons can be good...
2023-10-171h 01Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersHow to become a psychedelic therapistSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss the various pathways that lead to a profession in psychedelic-assisted therapy. They talk about the twists and turns of their own paths to this profession, why people might want to pursue this speciality and why they might not, different training opportunities including those associated with clinical trials, the Numinus psychedelic therapy certification pathway, the how different licensed professionals can get involved, non-licensed paths to psychedelic work, and much more. Learn more about our podcast a...
2023-10-1053 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersPsychedelics and the pursuit of human flourishing with Jonathan RosembergSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Jonathan Rosemberg to discuss his recent paper entitled, “Psychedelics and the Pursuit of Human Flourishing: An Examination of Research and Potential Psychological Mechanisms”. Jon is a consultant for Numinus and recently defended this paper as his capstone project for his masters of applied positive psychology at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania. Jon helps Reid and Steve explore the concept of human flourishing, self-transcendence, self-distancing, spiritual intelligence, meaning-making, compassion, beginner’s mind, and several other topics...
2023-09-261h 13Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersSwimming in the Sacred and wisdom from the psychedelic underground with Dr. Rachel HarrisSend us a textIn today’s episode of Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Dr. Rachel Harris to discuss her new book, Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom From the Psychedelic Underground. Rachel is a psychologist with a 40-year history as a therapist, researcher, and author. Today she walks us through the insights she’s gleaned from interviewing women who have been practicing as guides in the psychedelic underground for decades.Come and attend the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference, Numinus is offering an exclusive 20% discount code to our PTF...
2023-06-201h 07Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersParts work, IFS, and working with parts in psychedelic therapySend us a textIn today’s episode of Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss the concept of parts work, particularly through the lens of internal family systems or IFS. They explore the concept of internal parts, how this so-called symphony of selves operates, how parts work can help us live well and flourish, how parts manifest during psychedelic experiences, and much more.Come and attend the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference, Numinus is offering an exclusive 20% discount code to our PTF Podcast listeners. To get 20% off the registration price, click thi...
2023-06-1349 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersLSD for anxiety and psychedelic clinical trials with MindMed CMO, Dr. Daniel KarlinSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Dr. Dan Karlin. Dan is Board Certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Clinical Informatics. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of MindMed, a drug development company striving to deliver on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics to address unmet patient needs in psychiatry, addiction, pain, and neurology. Numinus is a trial site for MindMed’s MM-120 or LSD dose-finding study for the treatment of anxiety symptoms, so they discuss that study and what...
2023-06-0655 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat makes group therapy so special?Send us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss what makes group therapy so special. They explore the unique advantages of groups, both psychedelic and non-psychedelic, and discuss some of the potential drawbacks of group work.Come and attend the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference, Numinus is offering an exclusive 20% discount code to our PTF Podcast listeners. To get 20% off the registration price, click this link (https://bit.ly/3kzoofk) and use the code NWI20 at checkout.Learn more abo...
2023-05-3035 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersMasculine and feminine polaritiesSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss masculine and feminine polarities. They talk about the way these energetic types manifest in each of us, in relationship dynamics, and in therapy.Come and attend the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference, Numinus is offering an exclusive 20% discount code to our PTF Podcast listeners. To get 20% off the registration price, click this link (https://bit.ly/3kzoofk) and use the code NWI20 at checkout.Learn more about our psychedelic training pro...
2023-05-2347 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersAttachment styles and using psychedelics to heal attachment woundsSend us a textIn today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss attachment styles and how psychedelic therapy might be used to address issues related to attachment wounding.Come and attend the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference, Numinus is offering an exclusive 20% discount code to our PTF Podcast listeners. To get 20% off the registration price, click this link (https://bit.ly/3kzoofk) and use the code NWI20 at checkout.Learn more about our psychedelic training programs at HERE and use code PTF10 at...
2023-05-1650 minPsychedelic Therapy Frontiers100 episodes and the stoic approach to life and psychedelicsSend us a textWelcome to the 100th episode of Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, the podcast devoted to exploring the frontiers of psychedelic medicine and what it takes to cultivate a healthy mind, body, and spirit. In today’s episode, Reid and Steve reflect on the last 100 episodes, then dive into today’s topic: Stoicism. They discuss the overlap between stoic philosophy and other popular philosophies. They talk about how stoicism influenced modern psychotherapy. They reveal how stoic practices have improved their lives and explore how such practices might enhance the psychedelic therapy experience.Come and atte...
2023-05-091h 15Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersPsychedelic neurology, functional seizures, faith healing, and neuroplasticity with Dr. Evan LewisSend us a textOn this episode of Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Dr. Evan Lewis. Evan is a Neurologist and Clinical Neurophysiologist with expertise in pediatric neurology and epilepsy. At Numinus he’s the VP of Psychedelic Neurology and the medical director of our Toronto clinic. Evan has extensive clinical and research experience using medical cannabis and psychedelics to treat neurological disorders in adults and children. Link to Evan’s full bio HERE.We have a wide-ranging conversation today.. We talk about the potential for psychedelics to t...
2023-05-021h 06Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersTrauma-informed psychedelic therapy, training, and chronic pain with Dr. Devon ChristieSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Dr. Devon Christie. Devon is the senior lead of psychedelic programs at Numinus and one of the primary architects of our psychedelic therapy training programs. She teaches for the California Institute of Integral Studies Certificate Program in Psychedelic Therapy and Research, the Integrative Psychiatry Institute Certificate Program in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy, and Psychedelics Today’s VITAL program, among others. She’s a busy woman. She has expertise in mindfulness based stress reduction, relational somatic ther...
2023-04-251h 09Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersHow to hold space for others, yourself, and in psychedelic therapySend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison talk about holding space. They discuss what it means to hold space for others, why holding space is a gift when done well, how to hold space for yourself, and they explore the power that skillful space-holding has in a psychedelic therapy session.Come and attend the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference, Numinus is offering an exclusive 20% discount code to our PTF Podcast listeners. To get 20% off the registration price, click this link (https://bit.ly/3k...
2023-04-1847 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat is happiness?Send us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison ask the question, “what is happiness?”. They try to define the term, explore ancient wisdom and modern research on happiness, and talk about why the pursuit of happiness kind of defeats the purpose. They also dip into how psychedelic experiences effect happiness, and even reveal some of the details behind their own personal struggles with happiness.Come and attend the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference, Numinus is offering an exclusive 20% discount code to our PTF Podcast list...
2023-04-111h 00Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersEast Forest on the power of music in psychedelic therapySend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr Reid Robison, Numinus CEO Payton Nyquvest, and East Forest are at SXSW, and talk about the many facets of music and the importance it plays in the psychedelic therapy process.(2:19) SXSW psychedelic track and panel recap(9:37) East Forest music in the yoga community and psychedelic origins(13:51) Origin of East Forest(27:21) Recording and visiting with Ram Dass(33:28) Payton on seeking and finding(38:30) Music as a tool(49:50) The arc of the journey(54:34) Music during ketamine vs...
2023-03-281h 05Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersLegal status of psychedelic therapy: 2023 status updateSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss the current legal status of psychedelic therapy in the US and other countries and the various challenges related to legalization and/or decriminalization of psychedelics. (1:50) Legalization vs decriminalization of psychedelics (3:30) The War on Drugs(6:37) Psychedelics Today Podcast episode with Kathryn L. Tucker, JD and the difference between federal and state legalization (8:06) Decriminalization in Denver(10:32) FDA approval and rescheduling psilocybin and MDMA(14:46) Psilocybin legalization in Oregon (18:21) Training requirements and...
2023-02-2854 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat you need to know about ketamine-assisted therapySend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss what you need to know about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. (1:43) Ram Dass's family dinner (4:27) What is ketamine?(7:05) What does ketamine feel like?(11:29) Ketamine as a psychotomimetic (12:53) Ego dissociation as a therapy (14:54) The limitations of ketamine therapy(16:00) The different approaches to ketamine therapy(23:10) Ketamine dosing strategies (27:05) Psychedelic, psycholytic, and psychiatric uses of ketamine (28:30) The advantages of combining ketamine and psychotherapy(33:17) Typical course of ketamine treatment (37:20) Spravato and the...
2023-01-0346 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersA good death, living well, and psychedelic therapy in palliative care with Anthony Back, M.D.Send us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Joe Flanders interviews Dr. Anthony Back, M.D. Dr. Back is a co-founder of VitalTalk, a national nonprofit that provides innovative, interactive clinician and faculty development courses to improve communication skills on an individual and institutional level. Dr. Back is a professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Dr. Back earned his MD at Harvard University. He is triple-board certified in hospice and palliative medicine, medical oncology, and general internal medicine. In his...
2022-12-271h 13Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersManifesting, the placebo effect, and how beliefs shape your lifeSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss the power of belief, the placebo effect, manifesting and the law of attraction, and how these things are relevant for psychedelic-assisted therapy and life. (0:52) Childhood fears and scary movies (4:00) The conflict between rational thought and felt sense(5:08) Why do people believe what they believe?(7:22) How beliefs are related to mental illness (9:45) Cognitive biases and the scientific method(13:45) Evolutionary basis of beliefs(16:36) The placebo effect(27:30) Manifesting and the law...
2022-12-2050 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersControl vs surrender in psychedelic therapy and in lifeSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss the paradox of control and surrender in psychedelic assisted therapy and in life. (1:45) A poem about control vs surrender written by an AI chat bot(4:24) The Serenity Prayer(5:50) Avoidance and our attachments to control are at the root of many types of suffering(9:29) Allowing and the wisdom to know when to stop(13:29) Radical Acceptance, by Tara Brach (14:19) Acceptance, the comfort zone, and struggle(17:41) Ceremony as a way to...
2022-12-1351 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersPsychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy with Saj RazviSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Joe Flanders interviews Saj Razvi. Saj is the Director of Education at the Psychedelic Somatic Institute (PSI) and one of the primary developers of the Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) modality. He is a psychotherapist and former clinical researcher in the MAPS Phase 2 trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. He is faculty at Mind Medicine Australia and taught PTSD studies at the University of Denver. Learn more about Saj on the PSI website. (3:52) Saj's background (6:50) The power of cannabis to help with...
2022-12-061h 54Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersHow to set boundaries for better relationships and better mental healthSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss how to set healthy boundaries so your relationships can be energizing and your mental health can flourish. (2:00) Boundaries are important in many facets of life(4:00) Our basic need for belonging(4:40) Transcend, by Scott Barry Kaufman(7:21) Don't take on what isn't yours(10:25) Setting boundaries isn't the same as selfishness (13:55) Boundaries allow you to be generous (15:51) The challenges of changing your boundaries (21:08) Types of boundaries(22:55) Borderline personality disorder
2022-11-2957 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersSelf-care strategies for the psychedelic therapistSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss self-care strategies for the psychedelic therapist. (1:30) Self-care vs self-indulgence (3:02) Why is self-care a necessity for therapists(6:05) The therapist is an important part of the setting(8:45) Managing the long sessions typical of psychedelic therapy sessions(11:40) How much of this work can a therapist handle?(13:18) Staying attuned when the client is still and quiet(15:00) Modeling good self-care for clients(17:45) Logistical support for the psychedelic therapist (19:19) What Reid and S...
2022-11-2243 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersMusic as medicineSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer, Dr. Reid Robison, and Dr. Joe Flanders discuss the healing power of music. They share their personal journeys with and connections to music, childhood piano lessons, the powerful effect music has on emotion, how they use music in psychedelic therapy, and much, much more. (1:55) Reid's music journey(4:00) Steve's music journey(7:05) Joe's music journey(10:00) Why we pair music with psychedelic therapy(13:52) What kind of music pairs well with psychedelic therapy(16:20) East Forest and Trevor Hall...
2022-11-1556 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersMusic for psychedelic therapy with Jon HopkinsSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers Podcast, Dr. Joe Flanders interviews musician & producer, Jon Hopkins. Jon has been producing music for over 20 years. He's written six studio albums and has produced albums for Coldplay & Brian Eno. His album Singularity received a Grammy nomination for best electronic dance album in 2018. His latest album, Music for Psychedelic Therapy, was written as a soundtrack for ketamine experiences. Joe and Jon discuss Jon's motivation to write the album, as well as his meditation practice, the role of music in psychedelic therapy, and the Ram Dass...
2022-11-081h 07Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersNuminus Presents Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers with Steve, Reid, and JoeSend us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast we announce that Numinus will officially adopt and produce the show and we welcome Dr. Joe Flanders to the podcast team. Joe is a licensed psychologist, with an active practice in psychotherapy and psychedelic-assisted therapy. He has previously served as a co-therapist for a MAPS MDMA-assisted therapy clinical trial and provided psilocybin-assisted therapy through Health Canada’s Special Access Program, in addition to his ongoing ketamine-assisted therapy work at Numinus clinics. He is also currently the Regional Psychotherapy Director (Quebec) and clinical lead of Pr...
2022-11-011h 09Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersHow to prepare for a psychedelic journeySend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss how to prepare for a psychedelic journey.(2:35) Terminology: harm reduction vs. conscious preparation(4:00) Preparation might be the most overlooked aspect of the psychedelic experience(4:30) Importance of long-term, intermediate, and short-term prep(6:45) Physical preparation: contraindications, the potential need to taper off medications, nutrition…(8:00) Reid’s story of the Buddha doing yoga before starting on his path in order to be able to sit still long enough to actually attain enlightened states...
2022-10-2545 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersCan psychedelics make you more psychologically flexible?Send us a textIn this episode of Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison explore how psychedelic medicine might make one more psychologically flexible. They discuss what psychological or cognitive flexibility means, how it’s implicated in mental health, how psychedelics influence it, the concept of entropy applied to the brain, and much more. (1:29) Strength and flexibility (3:29) The REBUS model and entropic brain theory (4:04) Neuroplasticity (8:38) The transdiagnostic benefits of psychedelics (9:28) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)(11:14) Mindfulness and equanimity (17:14) Resistance leads to suffering(19:20) Living Untethered, by...
2022-10-1935 min
Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat is a MAPS MDMA therapist training retreat like?Send us a textSteve recently returned from the MAPS MDMA therapist training retreat, so we thought we would discuss his experience and Reid’s MAPS training a few year back. We discus the differences between the live and zoom versions of this training, some of the challenges MAPS is facing with therapist training, accessibility & feasibility, and other post-FDA approval considerations.(1:45) Steve introduces his trip report(2:23) MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)(5:51) Colorado is a hub for spirituality(8:57) Training model(14:45) Predictable future of the clinical trials(17:18) Proactive MAPS studies and th...
2022-10-1137 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersComing home to yourself: Hannah & Reid on embodiment and psychedelicsSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Hannah Cross, LCSW and Dr. Reid Robison talk about embodiment and psychedelics, and what it means to come home to oneself.(2:27) Kundalini as psychedelic yoga(2:42) Gabor Mate & compassionate inquiry(2:58) Sat Dharam Kaur, kundalini teacher in Canada(6:25) Yoga, breathwork, and other body-based practices as gateways to our inner worlds.(7:52) Hannah’s Holotropic breathwork story, and how breathwork can be such a somatically activating practice using deep rhythmic breathing to attain altered states.(10:58) Using the body for healing and gr...
2022-10-0448 min
Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersMescaline: history, uses, and researchSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison talk about the history, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic applications of the psychedelic Mescaline. (4:11) Introduction to the topic(7:35) Why we started the podcast(8:05) Yoga tangent (12:30) What is mescaline?(14:25) History of mescaline(16:02) Psychedelic dog study(28:29) Mescaline research(36:23) Aldous Huxley's trip description(38:48) Subjective effects survey(42:51) Humans are evolutionally wired for survival Email us questions and feedback at psychfrontiers@novamind.ca Learn more about our podcast at ht...
2022-09-2748 min
Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersMDMA-Assisted Therapy: indications, research, and practiceSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss MDMA-assisted therapy. They explore the following topics: (2:00) Making this year the best year yet(3:57) The early history of MDMA with Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin and Merck (7:00) The pioneering work of Sasha and Ann Shulgin(9:32) Why MDMA became illegal and the repercussions (10:23) MDMA study with couples(11:00) Chemical structure and mechanisms of action in the brain(13:20) Why does MDMA help with PTSD and post-traumatic growth(19:40) Is MDMA the same as ecst...
2022-09-2052 min
Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersIbogaine: psychedelic treatment for substance use disorders with Dr. Bruno RasmussenSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Dr. Bruno Rasmussen MD to talk about the psychedelic, ibogaine. Bruno is an internal medicine physician, gastroenterologist, and the CMO of Beneva Clinics in São Paulo, Brazil. Bruno has spent the last 20 years working with ibogaine to treat substance use disorders with incredible success.Beneva Clinics website: https://clinicabeneva.com/en/Beneva Clinics Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benevaclinics/(1:55) Bruno introduces himself and to how ibogaine is used i...
2022-09-131h 10Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersBurnout and the wounded healerSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Dr. Paul Theilking, MD. Paul is a psychiatrist, zen practitioner, and Chief Scientific Officer at Novamind. They discuss healthcare provider burnout and other unique challenges of being in the helping/healing professions. (1:20) Paul introduces himself (3:11) What is burnout? (10:00) Connection is key to preventing and/or coping with burnout(11:39) What does a psycholytic ketamine therapy session look like?(11:11) Reducing the stigma of seeking mental healthcare among healthcare workers(14:08...
2021-09-211h 06Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhat is psycholytic ketamine-assisted psychotherapy?Send us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by returning guest, Vhari Macbeth, CSW, to discuss psycholytic ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). They cover the following topics:(1:49) Some differences between psycholytic and psychedelic(4:26) Psychedelics assist the therapy process, but don't do the work for you(9:00) Different skills required for psycholytic vs psychedelic-assisted therapy and the importance of the therapeutic relationship(11:39) What does a psycholytic ketamine therapy session look like?(12:10) The advantages and power of group therapy(16:10) The Huberman...
2021-09-1459 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersTreating trauma with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapySend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Hannah Cross, LCSW, to discuss how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is used to treat trauma. They cover the following topics:(1:00) Hannah introduces herself. Wild Sunflower Counseling (1:45) How is trauma defined? (3:25) "Little t" vs. "Big T" trauma(8:35) How trauma affects the mind, nervous system, and body. The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. (12:12) The three E's of trauma(12:28) Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement D...
2021-09-071h 03Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersTreating eating disorders with ketamine-assisted psychotherapySend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is used to treat eating disorders. They cover the following topics:(1:00) The combination of nature and nurture that leads to the development of disordered eating and eating disorders (2:55) Holy Anorexia, by Rudolph M. Bell(4:00) Center for Change eating disorder clinic(4:41) "Manorexia"-- eating disorders in males are under-recognized (7:45) Biological underpinnings of eating disorders(11:26) Environmental pressures and unnatural foods contribute to disordered eating (14:20) The Molecule of M...
2021-08-3157 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersPairing ketamine with EMDR & other therapy methodsSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison are joined by Bob Mcnutt, LCSW, to discuss the how ketamine is combined with a variety of psychotherapy modalities, particularly EMDR. They cover the following topics:(1:50) Bob introduces himself and explains his interest in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. becoming a ketamine therapist. (4:20) What is psycholytic vs psychedelic psychotherapy?(9:25) An brief introduction to EMDR(11:03) EMDRIA training for EMDR(11:55) The role of exposure in EMDR(17:00) Somatic Experiencing by Peter Levine(18:45) Ketamine helps with t...
2021-08-241h 07Psychedelic Therapy FrontiersPsychedelics, psychosis, & the abuse potential of ketamineSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison talk about the relationship between psychedelics and psychosis and discuss the abuse potential of ketamine. They cover the following topics:(0:51) Should we be worried that psychedelics will cause or exacerbate psychosis? (4:00) Psychedelic research is getting more comfortable studying psychedelic treatment for certain psychotic conditions (5:00) Differing views on the nature and needs of a psychotic episode from an ayahuasca ceremony (7:25) Ketamine treatment for dissociative identity disorder (9:38) More research is needed so that we c...
2021-08-1730 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersConsciousness, meaning, and the search for selfSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer, Dr. Reid Robison, and Vhari Macbeth, CSW, discuss the concept of the self, multiple "selves", and how we work with "selfhood" in psychedelic medicine. They cover the following topics:(1:50) The hosts talk about their personal quests for meaning and selfhood (4:10) Self-awareness from an evolutionary perspective (6:00) The fear associated with loss of or disconnection from sense of self(6:31) Similarities and differences between psychosis and psychedelic experience(7:41) How a "death" experience can lead to insight and self-awareness
2021-08-1036 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersWhy do we self-sabotage?Send us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer, Vhari Macbeth, CSW, and Derick Moody, PA-C, explore the curious phenomenon of self-sabotage. They cover the following topics:(1:30) The various ways we are self-defeating(3:29) The inner healing intelligence and looking internally for answers(4:14) We aren't programmed for success, we're programmed for safety(8:22) Culture influences the hedonic avoidance of pain and pleasure seeking(9:40) How to "practice discomfort" to become more resilient(11:15) Self-sabotage and identity (18:40) Social influences on and aspects of self-sabotage(24:20) Secondary gain...
2021-08-0359 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersThe art and science of psychedelic trip-sittingSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Reid Robison, Dr. Steve Thayer, and Derick Moody, PA-C, discuss the art and science of psychedelic trip-sitting. They cover the following topics:(1:24) The distinctions between psychedelic trip-sitting, guiding, and harm reduction. (2:48) Zendo Project (10:20) When you would want a psychedelic guide vs. a trip-sitter(12:45) Skillset for psychedelic guides and trip-sitters(14:46) Holding space and co-regulation(19:08) The Huberman Lab Podcast (21:00) You don't have to be perfect to be a trip-sitter, therapist, or guide.(21:48) Should trip-sitters, therapists, or g...
2021-07-2751 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersShadow work, unconscious contracts, & unearned wisdomSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Reid Robison and Dr. Steve Thayer explore several aspects of the unconscious mind. They cover the following topics:(1:00) What is the unconscious mind?(2:01) The shadow and unconscious contracts(2:50) How a person's growth can be disruptive to those around them(6:15) Intergenerational trauma, healing, and work with ayahuasca(10:42) Consciousness is like a 3-layered cake (The Science of Enlightenment: Teachings and Meditations for Awakening Through Self-Investigation, by Shinzen Young)(12:15) Carl Jung - "Bewared of unearned wisdom"(13:45) Working with...
2021-07-2023 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersYou have to feel it to heal itSend us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Reid Robison and Dr. Steve Thayer discuss the many facets of human emotion and how we work with it in psychotherapy. They cover the following topics:(1:14) What are feelings?(2:02) How emotions show up in the body.(2:43) Primary vs secondary emotions.(3:55) Are there bad emotions?(4:55) The repression of feelings.(5:15) Healthy expression of anger.(6:38) Emotional triggers are friends to follow.(8:00) When it's hysterical it's historical.(9:06) What to do when emotionally triggered. Learn more a...
2021-07-1312 minPsychedelic Therapy FrontiersIs the mystical experience necessary for psychedelic healing?Send us a textIn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Reid Robison, Dr. Steve Thayer, and Derick Moody, PA-C discuss whether or not the mystical experience caused by many psychedelic medicines is a necessary factor for the healing they promote. They cover the following topics:(1:10) Nature article about non-psychoactive psychedelics.(4:00) What do we mean by "mystical experience"?(10:07) The entropic brain theory of mental illness (chaos vs order).(12:40) How psychedelics help a mind that is either too chaotic or too controlled.(13:35) The mystical experience and stages of change.
2021-07-0749 min