Psychedelic therapy for trauma | Chantelle Thomas | #009 Mastering Change

Is it possible that the most profound breakthroughs in trauma therapy come from altered states of consciousness? Healing trauma isn’t just about repair, it’s about reclaiming wholeness and reconnecting with the soul. 

This week on Mastering Change, we welcomed clinical psychologist and trauma healing expert Dr. Chantell Thomas and explored the therapeutic use of psychedelics. 

Dr. Thomas is the executive clinical director of Windrose Recovery – a residential addiction treatment centre that offers detoxification and integrated ketamine-assisted psychotherapy programmes. Over the past decade, she has also worked on clinical trials for other substances including MDMA and psilocybin – work that, she says, ‘helped me become a better therapist’.  

‘Psychedelics are a trauma-reprocessing and resourcing tool’  

Dr. Thomas points to psychedelics’ capacity to help individuals reconnecting with their own internal strength, clarity and healing mechanisms – especially when those inner resources have been depleted or blocked by trauma. 

We discuss

• How psychedelics can disrupt patterns, bump us out of thought loops and reveal something to us from inside. 
• Who is best placed to facilitate psychedelic-assisted journeys – what characteristics, skills and qualifications are important and whether the facilitator needs personal experience with the substance. 
• That it’s often it’s the relationship between the therapist and the patient that really determines the success of the intervention. 
• How true healing is not about “fixing” but about returning to a sense of innate wholeness. 
• The misinformation around the topic of psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy. 
• How follow-up integration work after a psychedelic journey is key for healing. 
• How funding needs to be redirected towards new therapeutic modalities to make them more accessible 

Dr. Thomas is an advocate for the thoughtful, ethical use of ketamine, psilocybin and MDMA in therapeutic settings. She’s witnessed firsthand the relief, hope and possibility psychedelic therapy offers. But she’s also quick to remind us that it shouldn’t be viewed as a silver bullet – as with all forms of therapy, healing is a process that takes time and isn’t always easy.   

Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. 

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