Why Are Psychedelics The New Frontier In Therapy?

Journeying with psychedelics can be like embarking on an odyssey into an unknown galaxy. For some it’s exciting, but for those of us who may be accustomed to conventional medicine, the experience can feel unorthodox.

However, the truth is that psychedelic-assisted therapy isn’t all that new. Diverse cultures have been working with psychedelics for thousands of years, if not longer.

Western researchers have also been aware of the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for decades. What we are witnessing at present is more a renaissance, than a cultural zeitgeist.

We say renaissance, because passionate psychotherapists and psychiatrists first probed the applications of psychedelics, particularly LSD, way back in the 1950s.

When Did Psychedelic Research Stop?

The introduction of US legislation such as the Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments of 1962 and the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 saw flourishing psychedelic research grind to a halt.

Not long after, psychedelics became stigmatized in the collective consciousness, and their therapeutic use had been dissolved or driven underground.

The tale has been captured in a psychedelic therapy book recently released by Johns Hopkins University Press, authored by Matthew Oram. Called The Trials of Psychedelic Therapy: LSD Psychotherapy in America, the story follows the undulating passage of psychedelics in the twentieth century, complete with real-life twists and turns.

The New Wave of Psychedelic Research

However, new constellations of studies are reshaping psychedelic research as we move deeper into the 21st century, bringing these potent compounds back into the public eye.

Some of the most notable paradigm-shifting studies to date have emerged from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

In 2000, Johns Hopkins was the first facility in the US to receive regulatory approval to reinitiate psychedelic therapy research with human participants.

The Johns Hopkins psychedelic therapy research team represents one of the formative forces propelling psychedelic study forward. To date, their chief focus has been psilocybin.

The First Modern Research on The Therapeutic Benefits of Psilocybin

A landmark 2006 study carried out by Johns Hopkins found that a single high dose of psilocybin was safe and led to positive changes in moods, attitudes, and behaviour in participants for fourteen months or longer.

64% of the individuals in the study also shared that the experience enhanced their sense of well-being and life satisfaction.

Since that trailblazing study, Johns Hopkins psychedelic therapy researchers have dived headfirst into the therapeutic effects of psilocybin on substance addiction, existential distress caused by a life-threatening disease, and treatment-resistant depression.

The Effects of Psilocybin

One of the more fascinating aspects of their current focus is unpacking how psilocybin affects the behaviour, mood, cognition, and outlook of healthy individuals.

So far, studies have revealed that psilocybin can have enduring positive effects, helping individuals transform how they perceive and interact with the world around them.

For example, those who undergo a mystical experience during a psilocybin session are more likely to have positive changes in their behaviour for at least 6 months afterwards.

In addition, a 2011 study found that a single dose of psilocybin produced enduring positive changes in personality by elevating openness, which in turn encourages a more open, creative, and curious outlook on life.

Music As a Guide in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Members of the Johns Hopkins team have also turned their attention to other aspects of psychedelic therapy.

This research focuses on more pragmatic considerations such as dosing guidelines, how to measure psychedelic experiences, and harnessing music to guide the journey.

One 2017 study, in particular, investigated how music could support peak psychedelic experiences. The research found that listening to music that slowly built up over time and engendered a feeling of continuous movement could elevate people to experience profound emotions of awe.

While the Johns Hopkins psychedelic therapy playlist largely favours classical music, a kaleidoscope of other options is also available.

At Beautiful Space retreats, we have specially curated our own unique playlist to foster deep listening and allow for an immersive journey inwards. Deep listening means listening to what our bodies and minds have to share, particularly aspects that we may not see, acknowledge or accept.