The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast

Are you curious about psychedelic medicine for addiction and people in recovery? Today’s guest, Dr. Charles Flores (Vital Puma Integral Recovery), has spent 25 years exploring transpersonal psychology and substance abuse disorders. On the show we discuss how psychedelic medicine can facilitate breakthroughs in addictive patterns. We talk about “process addiction” and the default mode network and we do so through the lens of pornography and internet addiction. Dr. Flores cautions against seeing psychedelics as a silver bullet for substance abuse issues and that the integration process must be longer and more skillful. Dr. Flores is a nationally certified psychotherapist and advanced drug and alcohol counselor. He is a professor of Chemical Dependency Studies at Cal State, East Bay and is also the new Psychedelics and Addictions Fellow for the CIIS Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research. There are no simple answers in addiction treatment, but over the next hour, Dr. Flores helps us better understand the landscape. LINKS Vital Puma Integral Recovery: www.vitalpuma.com TIMESTAMPS :05 - How Dr. Flores’ childhood inspired him to study addiction :11 - What is addiction? :18 - Psychedelics for process addictions - for example addiction to internet pornography. :26 - The default mode network and patterns of addiction :29 - If you remove the trauma do you remove the addiction? :35 - Can psychedelic use itself become an addiction? :44 - Working with addiction requires skill and longer integration practices :50 - Resources for psychedelic therapists working with patients in recovery.

Today I am speaking to a Spiritual Doula, Maria Teresa Chavez. The former Therapeutic Director of Crossroads Ibogaine Treatment Center has gone all in on integration. On the show we talk about her work at Crossroads, which is now closed, and the particular therapeutic qualities of ibogaine (from the west African Tabernanthe iboga plant) and 5-MeO-DMT (from the Sonoran Desert Toad) which were administered at Crossroads in tandem. We discuss Maria’s own story of healing including the psychedelic San Pedro cactus and the purgative kambo frog. Most importantly we talk about the healing power of nature and meditation and the profound importance of integration. Maria is a transformational and spiritual doula, a holistic health coach, and an educator with 16 years of expertise in the metaphysical and holistic lifestyle fields. In addition to her work at Crossroads, she is the founder of Sacred Earth Warriors, a transformational healing event and retreat company. Pairing her Peruvian and Venezuelan heritage and background of shamanic plant medicine work, she brings a reverence for the land and aspects of ceremony into all of her offerings. LINKS Crossroads Ibogaine Treatment Center (now closed): https://crossroadsibogaine.com/ Sacred Earth Warriors: https://www.sacredearthwarriors.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacred_earth_warriors/ TIMESTAMPS :04 - Crossroads Ibogaine Clinic :11 - How Iboga works both neurologically and psychologically to reveal maladaptive coping skills :17 - How nature, meditation, and mindfulness set a foundation for Maria’s future psychedelic healing :22 - Integration and the role of the spiritual doula :38 - Maria’s first experiences with Kambo medicine and Wachuma (San Pedro) the medicine of her Peruvian ancestors :48 - How to be better stewards of the psychedelic renaissance in terms of sustainability and marginalized people. :54 - Maria speaks to psychedelic practitioners

Psychedelic medicine is both a science and an art, and Akoni Anthony, co-founder of Maya Health finds his joy at their intersection. On the podcast we discuss Akoni’s personal relationship to psychedelics including how he connected with his name. We talk about barriers to psychedelic medicine for the Black community and what white healers need to understand to better serve people of color. We talk about measuring the ineffable and why we need to collect data about psychedelic experiences. Finally Akoni emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between science and spirituality. Akoni is the co-founder and Chief Data Officer of Maya Health, a psychedelic software company that presents the Psychedelic Therapy Podcast. He previously worked in the cannabis sector, leading data for Baker Technologies. Akoni has also served as the Chief Technology Officer for Realm of Caring, a nonprofit in cannabinoid education and research helping over 55,000 families world-wide through observational data. Maya Health: https://www.mayahealth.com/ TIMESTAMPS :05 - The origin of the name “Akoni” :18 - How psychedelics entered Akoni’s life :19 - The barriers to approaching psychedelic medicine in the Black community :28 - Why do we need data about psychedelic experiences? :33 - How do we measure the ineffable? :40 - How can white psychedelic healers support the black community? :46 - The balance between science and spirituality

Richard C. Schwartz, is the founder of a style of psychotherapy called Internal Family Systems. IFS is based on the idea that the mind is made up of discrete subpersonalities and that healing occurs when they are brought into harmony. Dick is bullish about psychedelics as a way of accessing and understanding these different subpersonalities or “parts” and believes that IFS can be a helpful topography for anyone doing psychedelic-assisted therapy. On the show we discuss the IFS system and why it’s particularly good for working with trauma. Dick shares his personal experiences with psychedelic medicines and Eamon shares his own spontaneous IFS work during his iboga journey. We talk about how IFS can inform psychedelic-assisted therapy and why a knowledge of parts is important for the therapist. We talk about indigenous wisdom traditions and the spirit guides of the DMT world. As always, we conclude with Dick’s specific advice to the aspiring psychedelic therapist. It is an honor to speak to such an affable and studied luminary in the field of Psychology and we are excited to bring you other perspectives beyond the psychedelic community moving forward. One important note: This podcast, Maya, and I personally support the Black Lives Matter movement. We recognize that the Psychedelic Renaissance has challenges with diversity and we commit to continuing to platform the enormous gifts of BIPOC communities as well as subjects like equal access to psychedelic medicine, healing ancestral trauma, and social justice on this podcast. There are many brilliant melanated voices carrying psychedelic wisdom, if you’d like to nominate a guest for this show, please let us know in the Psychedelic Therapy Facebook group. LINKS IFS Institute: https://ifs-institute.com/ Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D: https://ifs-institute.com/about-us/richard-c-schwartz-phd “MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy: How Different is it from Other Psychotherapy?” By Michael Mithoefer, MD: https://maps.org/news-letters/v23n1/v23n1_p10-14.pdf TIMESTAMPS :09 - Forthcoming Studies with Internal Family Systems and MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine. :12 - What is IFS and why is it so good for dealing with trauma :22 - Dick’s personal experiences with ketamine and MDMA :28 - Eamon shares his spontaneous IFS experience during an iboga journey :33 - The IFS map of parts including protectors, managers, firefighters, and exiles :41 - How a psychedelic therapist can better hold space by being aware of their own parts. :47 - The importance of safety for IFS & psychedelic healing :54 - IFS through the lens of Ayahuasca and other indigenous wisdom traditions :59 - Dick Schwartz’ advice to aspiring psychedelic therapists

Today’s guest is Erica Siegal a co-investigator and psychotherapist for MAPS-sponsored Phase 3 Clinical Trials for MDMA-assisted therapy. On the show we talk about Erica’s background in social work and how someone interested in psychedelic therapy can get started in the field. We discuss the MAPS protocol for MDMA-assisted therapy including the cost for treatment. We discuss psychedelic integration and whether coaching is a viable path to becoming a psychedelic-assisted therapist. Finally we discuss Erica’s work with harm-reduction from her time with the Zendo Project, MAPS psychedelic peer support organization to her current project NEST: the Network of Emotional Support Teams. Erica is a a co-Investigator and psychotherapist with New School Research, a sub-investigator on the MAPS-sponsored Phase 3 Clinical Trials. In addition to her work in harm reduction at events, during the COVID-19 Crisis, she is facilitating psycho-educational workshops on trauma and providing low-income crisis support to first responders and essential workers. LINKS Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - MAPS: https://maps.org/ The Zendo Project: https://zendoproject.org/ NEST Harm Reduction: https://nestharmreduction.com/ TIMESTAMPS :04 Erica’s background in social work and MDMA clinical trials :08 How should someone interested in psychedelic therapy start? :13 The MAPS protocol for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy :25 What integration is offered? Are psychedelic integration coaches helpful? :31 Erica’s experience as a recipient of the MAPS MDMA protocol :39 How do practitioners measure their success with MDMA-assisted therapy? :43 NEST and Erica’s work with harm reduction at events :50 Erica addresses aspiring psychedelic therapists

Today’s guest is Tony Moss, a respected teacher and plant medicine advocate who has been working with Ayahuasca for over 25 years. On the show we discuss the concept of shamanism, as well as issues with ego and integrity that accompany that title. We talk about how someone can become an ayahuasca ceremony leader through apprenticeship and Tony shares his approach to handling “freakouts.” I ask Tony whether it’s better to experience Ayahuasca in the Amazon and we go deep on the importance of integration. Tony is a musician, artist, and founder of I.AM.LIFE, a non-profit event production project focused on interconnectivity. Tony is a public advocate for the decriminalization and responsible use of all plant medicines and is passionate about the synthesis of indigenous and modern world views. Tony Moss has lead enough ceremonies in legal jurisdictions to see the patterns that aspiring facilitators must be aware of. There’s no substitute for practical facilitation experience, no matter how much you’ve studied, which is why we need elders like Tony Moss to continue to guide the movement of psychedelic medicine. Links Tony Moss: https://www.tonymoss.me/ I.AM.LIFE: https://www.iamlifeproject.org/ Timestamps :04 Is Tony a Shaman? :09 Does Tony train other facilitators? :13 Handling freak outs :22 How folks can apprentice with Ayahuasca :27 Is it better to do ayahuasca in the Amazon? :37 Ego and shamanism and the authentic wanting to be seen :46 Why does Tony work with Ayahuasca :56 Without integration you’re just tripping :59 Tony speaks to therapists

My guest today is Ian-Michael Hébert, co-founder Holos, an organization of holistic healing centers and communities, launching first in Costa Rica. On the show we discuss a holistic approach to psychedelic medicine. We talk about the retreat model and Ian-Michael’s recommendations globally. He shares his perspective on psychedelic ethics and why it’s so important to be in integrity with local communities. Born in Alaska, Ian-Michael is the former Director of Projects at Esalen Institute at Big Sur, he holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and he is co-founder and CEO of Holos. Psychedelic healing is holistic. Let’s take this movement forward in a way that best honors the places, people, plants, and practices that make this work possible. Links Ian-Michael Hébert’s Website Holos Esalen Institute CIIS Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research:  The Canadian Psychedelic Association Retreat Guru The Temple of the Way of Light Nihue Rao Synthesis: Legal Psilocybin Retreat in Amsterdam Timestamps :04 Buckminster Fuller’s "trim tab" and Stan Grof’s Holotropic Paradigm :12 Ian-Michael’s Alaska upbringing :16 Are personal psychedelic experiences necessary to be a psychedelic therapist? :21 Ian-Michael's training in psychedelic psychotherapy and where he sees his own blind spots :27 Where does Ian-Michael go to get answers to his questions about psychedelic medicines? :34 Why he chose the retreat model and other retreat centers he recommends :39 Which jurisdictions are amenable to psychedelic medicine :44 What challenges does Ian-Michael face as a retreat leader and for individual therapists? :49 The importance of working with local communities :58 How can people work with Ian-Michael and Holos

My guest today is Irina Alexander, co-founder of Sage Institute for Integrative Health, a new psychedelic-assisted therapy clinic and training center that prioritizes equal access to psychedelic therapy. On the show we discuss the Sage model which provides access to psychedelic medicine for underserved communities, training for therapists from diverse backgrounds, and psychedelic research. We discuss Sage’s perspective on psychedelic ethics, and how to orient oneself towards social justice. Finally, Irina explains the journey of recruiting Sage interns- from community outreach in the Bay Area, to how you, the listener, might apply to the next cohort (applications are due May 15th). Irina has a background in drug policy reform and harm reduction as Chair of the Board of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and supervisor in psychedelic peer support with the Zendo Project. She is also an adherence rater for the MAPS Phase 3 MDMA clinical trials. She studied Marriage and Family Therapy at University of San Francisco and is now a therapist at the Harm Reduction Therapy Center and at Sage Institute which she co-founded with Genesee Herzberg, Heather Valdez, and Shanna and Jason Butler. If psychedelic healing gives advantages in life and it’s only available to the most fortunate, then this powerful movement of healing might only serve to increase inequality. Sage is on a mission to make sure that doesn’t happen. Links Sage Institute for Integrative Health The Zendo Project Harm Reduction Therapy Center SSDP | Students Sensible Drug Policy‎ Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - MAPS Blinded by the White We Will Call It Pala Timestamps :04 Irina’s background in drug policy reform through the Zendo Project to Sage Institute :11 Sage Institute: Therapy, Training, and Research :16 Additional barriers to access and how Sage addresses them :20 How Sage recruits from different communities :23 Sage’s philosophy of psychedelic ethics :37 So you want to be a psychedelic intern? :46 Irina’s personal orientation towards social justice :52 Irina addresses the psychedelic therapist

My guest today is Dr. David Rabin, a psychiatrist, PhD neuroscientist, inventor, and avid proponent of psychedelic medicine. On the show we discuss the neuroscience behind the inner healer and how in the correct setting, psychedelics can help to repattern trauma. We talk about how the attachment to an identity of depression can actually create depressive symptoms. Dr. Rabin shares his work with Modern Spirit who is helping to organize the largest epigenetic study of psychedelics, and we go deep on the default mode network. In addition to his psychiatric practice, Dr. Rabin is the chief innovation officer, co-founder and co-inventor at Apollo Neuroscience, a scientifically-validated wearable system to improve focus, sleep and access to meditative states. He is helping to organize one of the largest epigenetic studies of psychedelic medicines in collaboration with colleagues at Yale, USC, Mt. Sinai, Modern Spirit, and MAPS. He is also the co-founder and executive director of the Board of Medicine, a nonprofit focused on improving the safety and effectiveness of medication-based treatments for patients and healthcare providers. If you want support your client’s inner healer, the most important thing is to make them feel safe. Listen in, as Dr. Rabin shows us how. Links Dr. David Rabin's Website Apollo Neuroscience Modern Spirit Timestamps :06 When Dr. Rabin first became aware of the healing power of psychedelics :12 How psychedelics work to repatterning trauma :16 Creating a set and setting of safety which allows the inner healer to work :24 Techniques does Dr. Rabin use to create safety for his patients :36 How attachment to an identity of depression creates depressive symptoms :43 Default mode network :47 Dr. Rabin and Modern Spirit’s epigenetic psychedelic study :55 Dr. Rabin addresses psychedelic therapists