Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 18, 2023
Emmy Manson, Erin Ryding, Wes Taylor et al.
13 citations
A pilot program offered group-based therapy with three ketamine sessions at a psychedelic dose to eight Indigenous participants and two Elders, in partnership between Roots to Thrive and the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Thematic analysis of interviews and feedback revealed that participants experienced significant benefits, including the importance of Indigenous team members, traditional healing approaches, and authentic relationships. Challenges were also noted. The work highlights the need to address colonial legacies and integrate Indigenous Ways of Knowing for culturally safe psychedelic therapies.
Psychedelic Med (New Rochelle)
September 4, 2024
Shannon Dames, Crosbie Watler, Pamela Kryskow et al.
4 citations
Training programs for psychedelic-assisted therapy should include firsthand experience of nonordinary states of consciousness as a core component for developing therapist competence. The argument centers on how direct engagement with altered states provides practitioners with essential insights into the therapeutic process, enhances empathy and understanding of patients' experiences, and improves the effectiveness of therapeutic guidance. This experiential learning is presented as critical for achieving optimal healing outcomes and treatment efficacy, rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge or observational training.
Frontiers in Public Health
July 20, 2026
Vivian Wl Tsang, Pamela Kryskow, Crosbie Watler et al.
A hybrid group model combining virtual resilience-based community of practice sessions with one in-person psilocybin-assisted therapy session was feasible and safe for 25 palliative cancer patients. Over one year, 31 therapy sessions were delivered across four cohorts, with 84% completing the program. Participants reported enhanced trust in self, improved outlook on life, and strengthened connection to community. Peer support, relational safety, and regulation practices were central to outcomes. The model offers a scalable, cost-effective approach for end-of-life care, though attention to individual preference, room logistics, and sensory control during group dosing is needed.