Psychedelics and Psychotherapy

Psychedelics and Psychotherapy (2021) is a thoughtful exploration of how substances and techniques like ayahuasca, MDMA, and holotropic breathwork can unlock our innate capacity for wholeness. Combining wisdom from Indigenous cultures with insights from Western psychology and science, it reveals how psychedelic experiences allow people to access and process repressed emotions and memories, which can help them heal from various mental health challenges. Simultaneously, it stresses the importance of context and intention behind psychedelic use, recommending guided sessions with trained facilitators who can lead people through psychedelic experiences safely and responsibly.

• Mental health professionals interested in alternative therapeutic approaches
• Individuals experiencing mental health issues
• Psychonauts interested in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics

Tim Read, MD, is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist known for his work with psychedelics in therapeutic settings. He headed the services for psychiatric emergencies and crisis intervention at the Royal London Hospital for 20 years and now performs research on the therapeutic use of psychedelics. His books include Breaking Open and Walking Shadows.

Maria Papaspyrou, MSc, is a psychotherapist, family constellations facilitator, and clinical supervisor. She has published articles and given talks on the healing properties of entheogens, and supported their reintroduction in psychotherapy. Papaspyrou is codirector of the Institute of Psychedelic Therapy in the UK and the editor of Psychedelic Mysteries of the Feminine.