Psilocybin Experiential Therapist Training: Insights from a World-First Study
medRxiv November 17, 2025 Georgia Ioakimidis-Macdougall, John Gardner, Paul Liknaitzky preprint
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, given with psychological support in a clinical setting, helped 14 mental health professionals develop a greater embodied understanding of therapeutic principles and processes. Participants reported increases in empathy, attunement, and emotion regulation—qualities that underpin therapeutic alliance and promote trust and safety. While no harms were reported, participants noted two potential risks: the experience could feel destabilizing, and therapists might project their own experience onto clients, narrowing interpretative range. Participants indicated that such training is necessary but not sufficient for high-quality psychedelic-assisted therapy. Findings support including an optional psychedelic experiential component for clinicians with prior training and reflective capacity.