Why psychedelics are a more ‘compassionate’ way to treat trauma

THE PAST DECADE has been witness to a renaissance in psychedelics research. Studies suggest some of these drugs can safely benefit people with psychological problems when paired with therapy.

Dr. Elizabeth Nielson is a psychologist and psychedelics researcher. She’s a therapist on FDA-approved clinical trials of psilocybin-assisted treatments of alcohol use disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and MDMA-assisted treatment of PTSD. She’s also the co-founder of Fluence, an independent training institute for the integration of psychedelic experiences in clinical settings.

Inverse recently spoke with Nielson about what it’s like to be involved in this type of work, the future of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and the hurdles ahead.