The Interconnection of Psychedelic Spirituality, Social Justice, and BIPOC Therapist Engagement in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Insights from the Psychedelic Therapists Diversity Study
Candace Oglesby, Yvan Beaussant
Psychedelic Intersections January 17, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.70423/0002
Summary
The Psychedelic Therapists Diversity (PTD) study explores how BIPOC therapists view psychedelic therapy and research, prompted by challenges faced by a therapist of color in a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial. The study aims to address the barriers that BIPOC clinicians encounter in this field, highlighting a significant gap in existing research.
Study at a glance
| Design | qualitative study |
|---|---|
| Population | BIPOC therapists |
| Key finding | The study addresses the challenges and barriers BIPOC therapists face in entering the psychedelic therapy space. |
Abstract
This paper presents insights from the Psychedelic Therapists Diversity (PTD) study, a qualitative study conducted to understand how BIPOC therapists perceive psychedelic therapy and research. The inciting incident for this research occurred during our collaboration on a clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression in cancer patients.1 Candace Oglesby was the only therapist of color, and the participant population included only a small number of patients of color. Recognizing she was not the only therapist who experienced challenges and barriers to entering the psychedelic therapy space, she realized that studying this experience would fill a significant research gap and could potentially support BIPOC clinicians.