The Interconnection of Psychedelic Spirituality, Social Justice, and BIPOC Therapist Engagement in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Insights from the Psychedelic Therapists Diversity Study

BIPOC therapists face unique challenges and barriers to entering the psychedelic therapy field, according to a qualitative study. The research was sparked when a therapist of color was the only non-white clinician on a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial for depression in cancer patients, which also had few patients of color. The study aimed to fill a research gap by examining these experiences, potentially supporting BIPOC clinicians in the field.

Study at a glance

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.