What is Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy (PAT)

We are using the acronym to stand for psilocybin assisted therapy. This is different from psychedelic-assisted therapy, which could be a catchall term to indicate all forms of psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, iboga) and even some substances that are considered to have psychedelic properties but aren’t classified as such (e.g. MDMA, ketamine). 

Our intention is to clarify and promote the role of mental health therapy and the licensed mental health therapist as an integral role in PAT. 

We believe 1) in the client/consumer’s inherent wisdom and guidance; 2) that therapy can and should be part of psilocybin-assisted therapy, and, in that case 3) only licensed mental health therapists should provide therapy.

Currently, a board-licensed mental health therapist may not be able to participate in a dosing session or administer psilocybin as recommended by the American Psychiatric Association or licensing boards due to psilocybin being considered an illegal Schedule 1 substance and the need for more scientific evidence. Local decriminalization laws do not legalize psilocybin or supersede national laws.

Existing psychedelic-assisted treatment models across the U.S. and globally may be used to inform how PAT is provided. At this time, the majority of models tend to include: 

• Preparation session(s) - at least one, initial session before the dosing session that your therapist and guide could be a part of;
• Dosing session(s) - at least one, six-to-eight-hour session in which psilocybin is ingested with the presence of at least one but more often two dose-facilitators. Licensed-therapist may not be able to be present during this part of the model; 
• Integration session(s) - therapy, in essence. This is the area having a licensed-therapist involved is most helpful.

While a licensed mental health therapist may not be able to conduct your experience, they can be involved in all of the other important aspects of PAT.

Board-licensed mental health therapists are experts in helping people in their personal change and healing process to understand and process trauma, identify and manage symptoms, cope with emotions, gain insight, and integrate new insights into their lives. Other ways that board-licensed therapists are best-suited to provide therapy is that they are: 

• Trained in mental health assessment and screening for issues
• Experienced in promoting positive/healing mindset and goal-setting
• Required to be able to respond to intense or crisis situations
• Bound by a code of ethics, and 
• Experts in helping people process and integrate new information and insights, and
• Practitioners of often numerous mental health service modalities proven effective in treatment