The Decibel Happy Enough: Can psychedelics improve your mental health?
Jan 24, 2026
Monnica Williams, clinical psychologist and Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Disparities, explores psychedelics and mental health. She explains different substances and Indigenous roots. She discusses how psychedelics may change the brain, therapeutic uses versus daily meds, access and legal questions, and the risks of unregulated retreats.
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Psychedelics Create Non‑Ordinary Consciousness
- Psychedelics produce non-ordinary states of consciousness that can be therapeutic.
- Examples include LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, peyote and ayahuasca from different cultural sources.
Indigenous Roots Shape Modern Use
- Indigenous cultures and traditions inform modern psychedelic medicine and therapeutic use.
- Current illegal status drives underground and retreat-based use for trauma, depression, anxiety, and spiritual growth.
From Skeptic To Psychedelic Researcher
- Monnica Williams described first encountering MAPS and skeptical initial reaction to their outreach.
- She changed her mind after reviewing research and videos showing rapid improvements in PTSD patients.