From the Chair...

As I announced in my Spring “From the Chair” column, NPI’s Fall Workshop will feature Mary Cosimano, LMSW, the Director of Guide/Facilitator Services for the Johns Hopkins psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy research program. Mary will present “The Healing Presence of the Psychedelic Therapist” on Saturday October 21. We are fortunate to have this distinguished, nationally known expert speak on such an important subject.

One of the things that impresses me about psychedelic therapy is its ability to quickly bring about authentic, healing spiritual experiences. By “spiritual experiences” I mean experiences of mystery, of the numinous, of transcendence experiences of something larger and more breathtaking than our conventional, rational minds can comprehend. These experiences are often described as ineffable; they can’t be adequately expressed in words. The experiences can take many forms, including the realization that “everything is one” or “love is all that matters.”

In the words of Alexander Beiner, these experiences can leave us with: a profound connection to a greater reality that can forever change our outlook on life…It’s how they open us up to that which really matters. They do it with love. They remind us that we are deeply held and cared for by existence. That each of us matters. That, if we can truly be here right now, we will see that the kingdom of heaven is all around us. For me, that experience is defined not just by overwhelming gratitude, but by a sense that there is a cosmic smile at the heart of things, that the world is forever an unfurling mystery.

These spiritual experiences are sorely needed in a world that feels meaningless, chaotic, and unsafe to many. Modern life has many conveniences, but its unrelenting pace and stress have taken much of the pleasure out of living and have led to an epidemic of anxiety and depression. Psychedelic psychotherapy along with mindfulness, breathwork and other transpersonal approaches to therapy can offer profound answers to these existential dilemmas of modern life.

Psychedelic psychotherapy may offer even more than a road to a more meaningful life. It may offer healing from the intolerance and hatred that seems increasingly common in the world today. I would like to share an encouraging story of just that kind of healing:

In February 2020, a young man named Brandon took part in a study at the University of Chicago on the effect of MDMA on the pleasantness of social touch in healthy volunteers. Unknown to the researchers, Brandon was a local leader of a white supremacist organization who had been outed publicly by activists at Chicago Antifascist Action; being exposed had cost him his job and many friends.

During the experiment, as the MDMA took effect, Brandon found himself doubting his choices and his usual way of thinking. Unexpectedly, he found himself thinking about connection and realizing that connections with other people were the only thing that mattered. When he was later contacted for follow-up by a research assistant, Brandon said, “Love is the most important thing. Nothing matters without love.” Brandon went on to reach out to Chicago Antifascist Action, and, with the help of the activist who exposed his identity, he examined and renounced his white supremacist beliefs!

This is a beautiful, encouraging story. I find it inspiring, but I also want to make the point that psychedelics are not a panacea. Brandon’s experience of being outed probably primed him for the transformative effects of MDMA; he already had a certain mindset going into the experiment. Nonetheless, this story adds to my optimism. If we are willing to use psychedelic therapy and similar tools with discernment, perhaps the human race can grow in wisdom and compassion. Perhaps we can learn to get along better and relate with love rather than hatred.

The NPI Fall Workshop with Mary Cosimano is on Saturday, October 21 please save the date. References https://beiner.substack.com/p/the https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230614