Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers

Send 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 the psychotherapy process(9:00) Psychedelic therapy is complex and an art form(13:25) The trauma roots of treatment-resistant mental health conditions(15:39) PSIP vs insight-oriented therapies (24:18) Psychedelics and working at the somatic level(27:55) White paper on PSIP(29:24) The default mod network and entropic brain(36:38) How the nervous system self-corrects the effects of trauma through a 5-stage defense cascade (53:30) Avoidance and shame(57:30) Selective inhibition (01:08:44) Inside and outside the window of tolerance (01:12:20) Working with trauma is about relationship/attachment(01:16:45) Joe's experience with PSIP(01:26:25) Adaptive vs maladaptive responses to stress(01:36:00) Cannabis and working with dissociation in trauma therapy (01:43:35) "Cracking open" stuckness in psychedelic therapy(01:46:20) Cannabis vs ketamineLearn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/joeflanders/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/

Send 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(24:27) Vulnerability, intimacy, and safety (30:40) Touch boundaries in psychedelic therapy sessions(32:38) Cognitive and affective empathy(33:04) Validate and listen first(42:25) Setting boundaries around your time(44:38) Let me Google that for you(45:00) Integrity boundary check exercise (47:02) Energies, vibrations, quantum physics, and the nature of consciousness (53:17) Recommended books: Talking to Crazy, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, Children of the Self-Absorbed, Never Split the Difference, Boundaries, No More Mr. Nice Guy, Co-dependent No More. Learn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/joeflanders/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/

Send 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 Steve do for self-care(23:50) Signs that you need to improve self-care(26:26) PTF episode on burnout(30:32) Balance between cutting slack and self-discipline (33:22) How to care for yourself during a long psychedelic session(35:30) Get supervisionLearn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/joeflanders/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/

Send 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 concerts(18:53) Fitting the music to the particular psychedelic medicine and Joe's interview with Jon Hopkins (21:35) Wavepaths: music for psychedelic therapy (28:43) Dose matters(30:56) Connecting to the musician by feeling their music(36:16) Bittersweet: How Sorrow And Longing Make Us Whole, by Susan Cain(43:33) The arc of order and chaos in music and psychedelic therapy(46:00) Steve's gong encounter (47:20) How the Beatles were introduced to LSDLearn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/joeflanders/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/

Send 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 lecture that formed lyrics to the album’s powerful closing track. Jon also shares how ketamine played a role creating the Music for Psychedelic Therapy album.(2:50) Jon's process for making the album, Music for Psychedelic Therapy(7:05) The importance of music in psychedelic therapy(10:10) How new technologies help artists create immersive music (12:00) Wavepaths: music for psychedelic therapy(17:18) What was Jon processing personally while making this album?(22:40) What is healing about the beauty of being in touch with sadness?(29:23) Joe's ketamine experience with Jon's album and how Jon used his own ketamine experiences to compose the album(42:26) The song, Sitting Around the Fire, and using music with lyrics for psychedelic therapy(52:44) The drawbacks of smartphone use and push notifications (01:00:00) The music as medicine concert series and how it's differentLearn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow 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/

Send 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 Practitioner Training for Numinus. Joe has been on a life-long journey in the pursuit of the most effective approaches for cultivating well-being – his own and that of his clients. In the last decade of that journey, Joe acted as the Founder and Director of Mindspace, a centre for well-being with several locations and over 35 mental health professionals in Montreal.Get acquainted with Joe and hear all about the exciting new content coming to the podcast in the near future!(3:17) Joe introduces himself(6:00) The shift from Novamind to Numinus production of the podcast(6:59) Joe discusses the Mindspace Podcast(9:15) Podcast content moving forward(11:28) Why the hosts are excited about this work(13:13) Steve introduces himself(17:30) Joe's origin story as a mental health professional(22:08) The future of MDMA-assisted therapy in clinic(30:23) Ketamine vs other psychedelic medicines(35:00) Joe's experience facilitating psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (39:50) The challenges of facilitating psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (41:00) Healing vs symptom management (43:20) Therapist self-care and "doing your own work"(54:05) Training psychedelic therapists(57:42) Psychedelic therapy training by Numinus(01:03:30) Experiential psychedelic training for therapistsLearn more about our podcast at https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow 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/

Send 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(12:15) What you resist persists—the importance of letting go(13:30) During the preparation stage, get to know and befriend your fears(15:27) Recognizing triggers and learn to follow them back to their origins(17:24) Practice being in the presence of your triggers and sitting with the discomfort(22:46) Social preparation and sharing the experience (including intention setting) with loved ones(27:24) We're preparing as we go, we're integrating as we go—punctuated by these little mystical experiences and rituals(29:17) The story of Leo Zeff (“The Secret Chief”) who was a pioneer of MDMA therapy in the 70s(32:50) Balancing patience and surrender with curiosity and self-exploration during the trip(34:20) It’s important to ask yourself why you’re seeking a psychedelic experience and what your motives might be—there can be multiple reasons and that’s okay(35:07) Intention (a loosely held hope) vs. an expectation(38:30) Reid’s story of resisting the urge to throw up during an ayahuasca ceremony(41:45) Prepare spiritually—contemplate your relationship with the Divine (whatever this means to you) before your journey(43:08) Leading up, really tune into your body, your mind, and your spirit by eliminating things and getting ready to make it a special & sacred experienceEmail us questions and feedback at psychfrontiers@novamind.ca Learn more about our podcast at https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow 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/

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 Michael A. Singer(21:48) Psychedelics and psychosis(23:30) Risks of ego inflation and the importance of set and setting(25:55) Ketamine dreams(28:37) Ego dissolution and the default mode network(32:10) Psychedelics won't do the work for you. They're tools. Email us questions and feedback at psychfrontiers@novamind.ca Learn more about our podcast at https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow 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/

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 the future of legal treatment(18:49) FDA(19:30) MDMA benefits for couples(20:06) Anne Wagner study(25:49) Co-therapists (27:27) The use of music(31:30) Steve's inner-healer (33:53) Reid's inner-healer(35:11) The OG's of psychedelicsEmail us questions and feedback at psychfrontiers@novamind.ca Learn more about our podcast at https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow 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/

Send 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 growth, and to live a full and meaningful life with deep connections.(11:30) Reid’s journey home to the body.(14:40) Food and body as a mirror to your relationship to God, and all life.(15:03) How yoga facilitates coming home to your body.(17:13) Hannah draws a comparison between yoga and psychedelic experiences — learning to sit with the discomfort.(21:05) “Get out of your head and into your senses, where the magic is.” ~Hannah & Reid(22:00) Getting out of your head and into the body helps you move from fear to love, from judgement to compassion.(23:30) Hannah’s journey home to the body.(26:45) Your body as your sacred partner through life.(27:15)  Listen to your body as you would your sacred partner; Seek first to understand, before you jump to reacting or imposing judgement. Yelling at the body doesn’t work. (27:35) Balancing discipline and compassion. (28:30) Hannah’s experiences working with a Tantra coach. (30:00)  Psychedelic integration work, the body, and releasing energy. Sometimes, after a profound experience of expansion, the body needs to catch up. (30:42)  Eckhart Tolle and the pain body (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-new-earth-the-pain-body-chapter-5/id1264843400?i=1000429115655)(31:05) The body is like a pressure cooker and if we don’t have ways of consciously releasing that energy, the energy will blow or spill out in other ways(36:50) How do you use somatics in therapy?(38:54 ) The Dubliners, by James Joyce: The story of Mr. Duffy who lived a short distance from his body.(39:40) The body as your greatest resource for weathering the storm of day to day life. (40:30) Ask the body what it needs.(40:49) Hannah provides an example of somatic therapy with EMDR.(41:45) Emotions and embodiment.(43:20) Journeys of Embodiment by Niva Piran. (44:50) Trance dance as a practice for embodied healing and growthEmail us questions and feedback at psychfrontiers@novamind.ca Learn more about our podcast at https://www.psychedelictherapyfrontiers.com/Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/nuLearn 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/