In 2025 I passed Europe’s (possibly the worlds) first university based qualification in psychedelics at Exeter University. A Post Graduate Certificate in Psychedelics (Mind, Medicine & Culture). I am also a member of the Institute for Psychedelic Therapy.

Despite it’s continued illegality, the case for the use of psychedelics to heal deep emotional wounds from either formative or more recent trauma (PTSD), is highly proven and has been since the early 1950’s. Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT) is particularly effective with substance addiction and other anxiety disorders. UK law to this extent is not evidence based and the harm from psychedelics has not been proven. Clinical evidence demonstrates immense benefits in the almost immediate healing work that can be done within a supportive framework.

Many people, frustrated by our outdated laws are risking prosecution and seeking their own paths to psychedelics to treat themselves.

This is a journey that should not be started without a good understanding of what you are getting yourself into and what will give you the best results.

As a professional therapist regardless of the overwhelming evidence I cannot professionally condone illegal actions however moral they might otherwise be, but I can help with the legal aspects. Many of us are anticipating a change in the law in the nearer future as we follow in the more enlightened footsteps of other more progressive countries.

Psychedelic Assisted Therapy usually takes place in three phases.

First is intention setting (legal in the UK), which might be a one or more sessions where the client can get a little depth on the thing they wish to work on. Typically this will be anxieties that present themselves as addiction, compulsive behaviours or any number of conditions, typically presented as ‘nervous disorders’. Also in this group is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

The second part (illegal in the UK) is the dosage session where the client will typically take a large dose of psilocybin or perhaps ayahuasca or another psychedelic such as MDMA (it varies) and follow specific protocols to ensure that they are safe and emotionally held but also are enabled to do the deep emotional dive into the source of their anxiety or stress (the thing that makes us addicted, or traumatised). A process which might take as long as 6 to 8 hours. However as mentioned previously, we are currently far from optimal circumstances. Many will procure their own psychedelics or find a territory where they are decriminalised, possibly in countries such as Portugal or The Netherlands and do that part there.

The third phase (legal in the UK) are the integration sessions. These are for as long as the client feels they want them but are used to make sense of the journey undertaken during the second part.

Legally I cannot advocate this journey and my professional body the BACP are largely avoiding the subject, I expect due to legality so they have presented no specific work around ethics but there is a wealth of knowledge and support available. For those undertaking the journey independently I can provide the support either side of the dosing session.

Contact me below for a chat to see if I can be of help