- Therapists, Trainers, and Researchers from Lykos’ Phase 3 MDMA-Assisted Therapy Studies Respond to Concerns in ICER’s Draft Evidence Report - May 7, 2024
- Towards an Ethos of Equity and Inclusion in the Psychedelic Movement - December 18, 2019
- Blinded by the White: Addressing Power and Privilege in Psychedelic Medicine - March 13, 2019
- Towards an Ethos of Equity and Inclusion in the Psychedelic Movement - December 18, 2019
- Blinded by the White: Addressing Power and Privilege in Psychedelic Medicine - March 13, 2019
- Towards an Ethos of Equity and Inclusion in the Psychedelic Movement - December 18, 2019
- Towards an Ethos of Equity and Inclusion in the Psychedelic Movement - December 18, 2019
- Ambassadors to Hidden Territories: Set and Setting in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy - December 13, 2018
- Towards an Ethos of Equity and Inclusion in the Psychedelic Movement - December 18, 2019
- Towards an Ethos of Equity and Inclusion in the Psychedelic Movement - December 18, 2019
Preamble:
During the Psychedelic Integration Conference at Esalen in March of 2019, about 25 attendees met to explore how we can stand for equity and inclusion in the psychedelic movement. We were inspired to do so in response to the familiar realization that a disproportionate number of White people were in attendance, including most of us, and the speakers and panelists were all White and mainly men. While we value the contributions of these men, we also know that this movement belongs to and is informed by a cultural and gender diversity not often reflected at mainstream psychedelic conferences and gatherings. Indeed, the contemporary psychedelic movement is indebted to and informed by the stewardship of indigenous traditions across the globe who have carried these practices forward for centuries.
Recognizing our privilege to be present that week, and in honor of those who weren’t, we gathered our hearts and minds to vision our values of equity and inclusion into actionable steps for ourselves and the psychedelic movement as we’d like to see it; particularly in the face of the imminent mainstreaming of psychedelics in society.
The following statement and strategic outline are first steps towards a larger vision. It has been developed by a sub-committee of those who met during the breakout panel that was graciously added to the agenda by co-producers Dream Mullick and Allan Badiner, and signed by additional attendees and allies. Our intention was to seize the opportunity we have to leverage our privilege to build the world we want to see. We are inviting others to leverage their privilege as well; whether the nature of that privilege is in terms of gender, class, Whiteness, or the privilege to speak up without fear of persecution. The following plan of action still exists within, and is therefore complicit in, reinforcing systems of oppression. As such, it is imperative that we engage simultaneously in work to envision systems and ways of being that are inherently just and generative for all.
We invite you to stand for any and all of the components outlined below that are in alignment with your values, and to join us in committing to their practice and development.
Statement:
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our wholeness and, therefore, to our wellness. Our liberty is bound together; no one is free until each of us is free. When we say “equity” and “inclusion”, we are talking about the meaningful representation, participation, and leadership of, and benefit to, historically underrepresented identities in categories such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and beyond.
We have work to do to become an inclusive, and therefore whole, community as the psychedelic movement goes mainstream. Our capacity to integrate the teachings that we receive from psychedelic medicines is essential to maintaining the integrity and sanctity of their gifts. The classic psychedelic visions of oneness, interconnectedness, and harmony with all life lead to the natural conclusion that equity is essential for all humans to thrive. If we recognize the power and value in the diversity of human experience and the ultimate dignity of all life on earth, then our movement must reflect that from the inside out.
Equity and inclusion mean that Black, Latinx, Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA+, documented and undocumented immigrants, people with disabilities, and women are proportionately (in numbers that reflect the general U.S. population) represented:
- At conferences and events as attendees, speakers, presenters, and facilitators.
- In leadership positions and on the boards of organizations.
- As clinicians, researchers, writers, and teachers in the psychedelic field.
- In having sufficient funding for access to treatment and clinical training.
- In having equitable access to training in business and organizational development, leadership, and fundraising.
To do this we must:
- Leverage our positions when asked to speak at conferences to foster accountability around equity and inclusion practices. For inspiration, see the Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s Event Participation Guidelines.
- Support scholarships for individuals from underrepresented communities to attend conferences and trainings.
- Support scholarships for clinical treatment.
- Support the development and use of a database of researchers, clinicians, and presenters of color that conference organizers can use as a resource. See database initiated recently by Chacruna here.
- Develop and support trainings and organizations that have as part of their mission to capacitate people from underrepresented communities in the areas of psychedelic therapy and research, leadership, fundraising, and business management.
- Cultivate our self-awareness and relational capacities in ways that help us to counter unconscious bias and privilege, and work actively towards building systems of anti-oppression.
- Strive to increase the cultural attunement of those in the community, especially therapists and those in leadership positions.
- Work to ensure that messages and information are delivered in a culturally relevant and respectful way.
- Recognize that efforts to increase diverse representation are often limited to the inclusion of women and LGBTQIA+ populations, and ensure that Black, Latinx, and Native representation is our priority.
- Engage in additional practices, such as those outlined in “13 Steps for Promoting Access and Inclusion in Psychedelic Science”
We recognize that this statement is valuable only so far as it functions to motivate clear and direct action towards measurable change. We commit to further clarifying strategies and benchmarks to achieve these goals, holding each other accountable as we move forward in the movement, and evaluating progress on an annual basis.
If you would like to have your name or organization added to this list, have additional ideas, feedback, or would like to get involved in moving any piece of this vision and strategy forward, please email: [email protected].
| Full Name | Title | Affiliation |
| Jessica Katzman | Clinical Psychologist | Healing Realms |
| James Henry, MD | Psychiatrist | Sage Integrative Health; Karunava.org |
| Alex Belser | Psychologist | Yale University, New York University |
| Jae Sevelius, PhD | Psychologist | University of California, San Francisco |
| Kile Ortigo, PhD | Psychologist | Center for Existential Exploration |
| Harvey Schwartz, Ph.D. | Psychologist | Polaris Insight Center |
| Gregory Wells, PhD | Psychologist | Polaris Insight Center |
| Sara Ouimette | Licensed Psychotherapist | |
| German Ascani, MD | Psychiatrist | Evolve Mind Wellness |
| Anna Ermakova | Conservation Scientist | Imperial College London |
| Jim Matto-Shepard PhD | Psychologist | Temenos Center for Integrative Psychotherapy |
| Felicia Matto-Shepard, MFT | Marriage and Family Therapist | Temenos Center for Integrative Psychotherapy |
| Angie Leek, LMFT/LPC | LMFT/LPC | Holos Counseling |
| Jeff Leifer | Social Architect | Circadian Labs |
| Christina Ingenito, LCSW | Psychotherapist | Temenos Center for Integrative Psychotherapy |
| Brooke Balliett, LMFT | Psychotherapist | California Center for Psychedelic Therapy |
| Megan Rundel PhD | Psychologist | |
| Anne Wagner, PhD | Clinical Psychologist | Remedy, Ryerson University |
| Julie Holland, MD | Psychiatrist | |
| Heather Valdez, LCSW | Clinical Social Worker | Sage Integrative Health; Sage Institute |
| Kristine Panik, MD | Psychiatrist | University of California, Berkeley |
| Emma Stamm, PhD Cand. | PhD Candidate in Cultural and Social Thought | Virginia Tech |
| Stella Lefevre, Psy.D | Psychologist | |
| Darrick May, MD | Psychiatrist | |
| Ian-Michael Hebert | MA Integral Counseling Psychology | Holos Global |
| Andrew Penn, NP | Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner/Associate Clinical Professor | University of San Francisco, School of Nursing |
| Hannah McLane, MD, MA, MPH | Physician and Psychoanalyst | SoundMind Center, Philadelphia |
| Mike Margolies | Founder | Psychedelic Seminars |
| Gisele Fernandes, MFT | Psychotherapist and Professor | CIIS |
| Shirelle Noble | Operations and Strategy | Auryn Project |
| Will Barone, Psy.D | Clinical Psychologist, Researcher | |
| Carl Spitzer, MD | Physician | Temenos Center for Integrative Psychotherapy |
| Scott Shannon, MD | Psychiatrist | University of Colorado, PRATI |
| Susan Williams, MFT | Jungian Analyst/ MFT | Affiliate: Sage Integrative Health/Sage Institute |
| Wendy Feng, MD | Psychiatrist | |
| Jennifer C. Jones, PhD, LCSW | Chief Diversity & Inclusion Off. & Psychotherapist/Clinical Supervisor & Gestalt Training Faculty | SoundMind Center, Philadelphia, PA & Philadelphia FIGHT & Gestalt Training Institute of Philadelphia |
| Jason Sienknecht, LPC CAC II | Licensed Psychotherapist | Wholeness Center, PRATI |
| Dustin Robert Dippen MD | Psychiatrist | Hummingbird Psychiatry |
| Marcela Ot’alora G | Licensed Psychotherapist | MAPS, Aguazul-Bluewater Inc |
| Bruce D Poulter | Researcher | MAPS, Aguazul-Bluewater, Inc |
| Allan Badiner | Writer, Conference Convener | Psychedelic Solutions |
| Irina Alexander, AMFT | Therapist | Sage Institute |
| Alex Yale, MD | Researcher | PRATI |
| Rob Colbert, MA, PhD | Co-Founder | The Nowak Society, The Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) |
| Shannon Hughes, MSW, PhD | Co-Founder | The Nowak Society, An Enduring Love, The Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) |
| Emily Williams, MD | Psychiatrist | University of California, San Francisco and California Institute of Integral Studies |
| Lauren (Lilo) Fishbein, MA, RP | Co-Founder | The Nowak Society |
| Katie Klumb | Board Secretary | The Nowak Society |
| Nathan Bloodsworth | Co-founder | The Nowak Society |
| Dylan Rivard, LPC | Volunteer Coordinator | The Nowak Society |
| Stephen Thomas, MSW | Clinical Social Work | The Nowak Society, The Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) |
| Valeria McCarroll, MFT | Marriage and Family Therapist | |
| Sandra Fortson, MSW, LCSW | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | The Psychedelic Research and Training Institute |
| Camille Barton | Diversity & Inclusion Consultant | MAPS Advisory Council, RE:GENERATE |
| Jamilah R. George, M.Div. | Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate; MAPS MDMA Therapist | University of Connecticut |
| Brianna Bendixsen, MA | Researcher, Psychotherapist | Wholeness Center, The Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) |
| Allison Feduccia, PhD | Senior Clinical Data Scientist, Co-Founder and Director | MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, Psychedelic.Support, Project New Day |
| Chris Stauffer, MD | Psychiatric Researcher | Veterans Affairs Medical Center; UCSF |
| Meghan Kennedy, LCSW, CPTR | Therapist, Co-founder | Sana Healing Collective – Chicago |
| Jamie Harvie | Executive Director and Founder | Institute for a Sustainable Future, Commons Health , PRATI |
| Brian Anderson, MD | Psychiatrist | University of California, San Francisco |
| Greg Kearns | Founder | Forth Road Health |
| Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch, PsyD | Psychologist, Co-Founder | Psychedelic Safety, Support, and Integration – Chicago; Sana Healing Collective |
| Chad Doe | Founder | Maia PBC |
| Delara Chizari | PhD Candidate in Neuroscience | Harvard University |
| Karen Peoples, PhD | Psychologist/Psychoanalyst | MAPS MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, UCSF |
| Gibrán X. Rivera | Guide & Facilitator | Evolutionary Leadership, LLC |
| Bennet A. Zelner, PhD | Professor and Adviser | University of Maryland and Transformative Capital Institute |
| Danielle M. Herrera, AMFT | Psychotherapist | Sage Institute for Psychedelic Psychotherapy, Harm Reduction Therapy Center |
| Phil Wolfson MD | Psychiatrist/Psychotherapist | The Ketamine Research Foundation |
| Karen M. Cooper, RN | Research Nurse, Clinical Sub-Investigator | Wholeness Center, The Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) |
| Mareesa Stertz | Filmmaker/Conference Organizer/Programmin | Psychedelic Leadership summits, The Healing Powers, The Aware Project |
| Michael Gosney | Publisher, event producer | Synergetic Press Associate Publisher, Communitas.Zone network co-founder |
| Sarah Scheld | Training and Supervision Associate | MAPS Public Benefit Corporation |
| Maria Mangini, PhD | FNP | F H Lucido MD |
| Daniel Shankin | Founder | Mt. Tam Psychedelic Integration |
| Danielle Negrin | Executive Director | San Francisco Psychedelic Society |
| Kyle Buller, MS | Co-Founder | Psychedelics Today |
| Marta Kaczmarczyk | Coordinator and Facilitator | |
| Riverstyx Foundation | Philanthropy | mushroom, peyote, ayahuasca, coca, toad, poppy |
| Andrea Rosati, MD, PhD | Psychiatrist | University of California, San Francisco |
| Denise Renye PsyD | Clinical Psychologist, Sexologist, Yoga Therapist | Whole Person Integration, Inc. |
| Timothy Crespi, LPC, CADC | Therapist | Somatic Center Portland |
| Erica Heartsong, RN | Registered Nurse | Esoterica Meditations |
| Stefana Morgan, MD | Psychiatrist | University of California, San Francisco / Queerdome |
| Brad Burge | Director of Strategic Communications | Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies |
| Andrew Rose | Mindfulness Teacher and Programming Director | MINDSPACE |
| Rachel Aidan, PhD Cand. | Co-Owner/Director of Operations | Synthesis |
| Derek Rubinstein | Clinical Psychologist | |
| Students for Sensible Drug Policy | ||
| Betty Aldworth | Executive Director | SSDP |
| Julie Barron, MA, LPC | Therapist, Founder/President | Transpersonal Michigan-Ann Arbor/ Michigan Psychedelic Society |
| Laura Vetrano | MA, LPC, EDMR II, Brainspotting Practitioner | PRATI |
| Richard Tyo | Registered Psychotherapist | Outside the Box Education and Psychotherapy |
| Tessa Levine | Therapist in Training | Graduate Student Association for Psychedelic Studies |
| Rebecca Rothberg | Therapist in Training | Graduate Student Association for Psychedelic Studies |
| Brian Peacock | Therapist in Training | Graduate Student Association for Psychedelic Studies |
| Madrone Love | Therapist in Training | Graduate Student Association for Psychedelic Studies |
| Kelan Thomas, PharmD, MS | Psychiatric Pharmacist and Associate Professor | Touro University California; UCSF |
| Fede Menapace | Strategy and Operations | |
| Mitsuaki Chi | Founder | Psilocybin foundation, Truffles therapy, Tripsitters |
| Leti Passemier | Founder | Psilocybin foundation, Truffles therapy, Tripsitters |
| Jessica Nielson, PhD | Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota | Founder and Board of Directors for the Psychedelic Society of Minnesota |
| Brian Pilecki, Ph.D | Clinical Psychologist | Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center |
| Dream Mullick | Producer, Writer | Psychedelic Solutions |
| Jason Luoma, Ph.D. | Clinical psychologist/researcher | Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center |
| Laura Riley, LPC | Licensed Therapist | Somatic Center Portland |
| Sara Gael | Director of Harm Reduction, Zendo Project | Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) |
| Eleonora Molnar | Psychetherapist | ED of WVC Canada |
| Sam Chapman | Campaign Manager | Healing Advocacy Fund |
| Bob Otis | Sacred Garden Community | |
| Lucia Huang | osmind | |
| Ana Holub | MA | |
| Paul Cosulich | MA | |
| Julia Lehrman | LSCW, RYT | |
| Jonalyn Blaha | Psy. D. | |
| Emma Knighton | MA, LMHC, RYT | |
| Ron McNutt | ||
| Shannon Dwyer | PMHNP, BC | Helios Psychiatry |
| Kimberly Zeszutek | MA, LPC, NCC | Filtering Light Consulting |
| Leia Friedman | MS | |
| Emily Cribas | Phd Candidate | Intercollegiate Psychedelics Network (IPN) |
| Matthew Hicks | ND, MS | Synaptic Integrative Health and Training Institute |
| Gabrielle Agin-Liebes | Phd | University of California, San Francisco |
| Nathaniel Putnam | LSCW | |
| Courtney Watson | LMFT, CST | Doorway Therapeudic Services |
| Kenneth J. Breniman | LCSW | |
| Connie Magee | MS Ed. LMT | |
| Elizabeth Cone | LCSW Psycotherapist | Riverbird Clinic |
| Anthony Back | MD | University of Washington |
| Sara Reed | M.S., LMFT | CEO | Mind’s iHealth Solutions, Inc. |
| Hailey Gilmore | Clinical Trial Leader | MAPS Public Benefit Corporation |
| Christi Myers | MS, EMT-P | Founder, CEO Flow Integrative |
| Jim Windus | LMHC | |
| Jessica L. Armstrong | Ph.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist | The Head and The Heart Psychotherapy Center A.P.C. |
| Dr. Yaqui A. Martínez-Robles | Existential Therapist and Founder. (Círculo de Estudios en Terapia Existencial (México and Colombia)) | |
| Keli Yerger | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist |
Art by Mariom Luna.
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