

Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers
Numinus Network
The psychedelic renaissance is here! Join Dr. Steve Thayer, Dr. Reid Robison, and special guests as they explore the frontiers of psychedelic medicine and what it takes to cultivate a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Our hosts draw from their extensive knowledge and experience with psychedelic therapy research and treatment to discuss the science, practice, and art of psychedelic healing. If you are a helping professional, therapist, clinician, guide, healer, psychedelic enthusiast, or simply curious about mental, physical, and spiritual health, this is the podcast for you!
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 27, 2025 • 1h 17min
Bad trip: Can psychedelic experiences be traumatic? (Rebroadcast)
Send us a textOn this episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison discuss "bad trips". They talk about the difference between bad trips and challenging experiences; the factors during prep, facilitation, and integration that can prevent bad trips or turn them into useful challenging experiences; the prevalence of triggered psychosis and HPPD among psychedelic users; how to pick the right psychedelic therapist/guide/facilitator; and much more. *This episode originally aired 3/21/23(1:35) Are bad trips possible?(4:00) What is the difference between a bad trip vs a challenging experience?(7:00) How preparation affects the psychedelic experience(9:58) The importance of supportive community(14:05) What does informed consent in psychedelic-assisted therapy really mean?(16:00) How prevalent are challenging psychedelic experiences?(19:18) How the therapist/guide affects the psychedelic experience(24:28) Be discerning and take it slow(27:25) Emotional breakthrough, catharsis, and abreaction(36:32) The Happiness Hypothesis, by Jonathan Haidt(40:22) Understanding the psychodrama that can happen in a psychedelic experience(46:50) Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) and psychedelic flashbacks(51:01) Dream interpretation(55:14) How to integrate and make meaning of a psychedelic experience(59:23) After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, by Jack Kornfield(01:01:31) How to navigate a bad trip(01:10:07) Using "trip stoppers" like benzodiazepinesLearn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

May 20, 2025 • 1h 10min
Psychedelics and Internal Family Systems (IFS): A partnership in relational healing with Curt Kearney
Send 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 how one might use IFS with psychedelic tools in a synergistic and relational way. Links to Curt’s website and his book are in the show notes.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 Robison.https://www.curtkearney.com/Learn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

May 13, 2025 • 44min
What 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 the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we continue the conversation by diving a little deeper into memory reconsolidation, exposure-based therapies, the corrective emotional experience, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and other topics.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 Robison.https://www.howtherapyworks.com/storeLearn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

May 8, 2025 • 37min
What all effective therapies have in common (part 1)
Send us a textHave you ever looked for a new therapist and been overwhelmed by all the different kinds of therapy out there? Acronyms like CBT, ACT, EMDR, REBT, IFS, or confusing names like somatic experiencing or psychoanalysis–it can leave you wondering which one is best for the problems you’re experiencing. In today’s episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we’ll try to reassure you a little bit by exploring what nearly all effective therapies have in common. This is a 2-part episode so be sure to tune in next week for part 2.Learn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

May 1, 2025 • 58min
DMT for depression, LSD for ADHD, rats on ayahuasca, and insight driving treatment outcomes
Send 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 is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison.Learn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

Apr 22, 2025 • 36min
Making peace with pain: Mindfulness, psychedelics, and the neuroplastic path to relief
Send 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 with physical pain. 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 Robison.Learn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

Apr 15, 2025 • 44min
Meditation and mindfulness in psychedelic therapy and everyday life
Send 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 Robison.Learn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

Apr 8, 2025 • 44min
Counterintuitive truths and paradoxes about healing
Send 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 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 Robison.Learn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

Apr 1, 2025 • 47min
Boundaries: 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 trials at https://www.numinus.com/clinical-trialsLearn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.comFollow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/Learn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

Mar 25, 2025 • 52min
Finishing unfinished business
Send 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 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 Robison.Learn more about our podcast at https://numinusnetwork.com/learn/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinusnetwork.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinusnetwork.com/researchLearn more about Numinus at https://numinusnetwork.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/