Episode 83
Join Michaela Carlin and Dr. Bill Brennan on the Psychedelic Mom podcast for a deep dive into the complexities, uncertainties and profound transformations being revealed at the frontier of psychedelic therapy.
Dr. Brennan, who has extensive experience in psychedelic clinical trials, has co-developed their EMBARK model with Dr. Alexander Belser. Brennan discusses the various domains of this ‘whole person’ therapeutic approach, unpacking the EMBARK acronym: existential-spiritual, mindfulness, body awareness, affective-cognitive, relational and keeping momentum.
The conversation also explores ethical and practical considerations for psychedelic facilitation, the importance of culturally competent and trauma-informed care, the significance of robust preparation and integration support surrounding the psychedelic journey, and the potential collective impact of psychedelics on the mental health care system.
Brennan also shares insights from his own extensive psychedelic experience and the potential future directions of the swiftly evolving fields of psychedelic research and therapy.
Bill Brennan, PhD, is clinical psychologist, psychedelic researcher, educator, and author in New York City with over two decades of interest and involvement in psychedelic therapy. He has played a variety of roles across several psychedelic clinical trials, including lead trainer, core faculty, curriculum developer, clinical supervisor, and lead author on 8+ treatment manuals. He currently serves as a consultant to Cybin and Gilgamesh, two prominent psychedelic research companies, where he is involved in the development and delivery of their psychedelic treatment approaches.
Bill developed the EMBARK model of psychedelic therapy with Dr. Alex Belser, which has been used on four clinical trials to date. He and Dr. Belser authored a comprehensive guide to psychedelic treatment in this approach entitled ‘EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression: A New Approach for the Whole Person’, published by Oxford University Press. Bill has taught and presented on psychedelic therapy in other contexts, including as a speaker at the 2022 Interdisciplinary Conference for Psychedelic Research, as a lecturer with Psychedelics Today, and as a trainer with Fluence, Naropa University, and other organizations.
He serves as an advisory board member for New Yorkers for Mental Health Alternatives, a group that works to expand access to psychedelic medicines, and he has previously served on the ethics working group of the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association.
Episode Highlights
Exploring the role of a psychedelic therapist
The EMBARK model of psychedelic therapy
The new book EMBARK as a comprehensive guide to psychedelic therapy
Bill Brennan's personal and professional journey into psychedelic therapy
Insights from Bill’s psychedelic experiences
Understanding the domains within the EMBARK model
Ethical and trauma-informed care in psychedelic therapy
The role of music in psychedelic sessions
Screening and assessment for psychedelic therapy
Exciting developments in psychedelic research
Should underground knowledge help inform the design of psychedelic clinical trials?
Challenges and future directions in psychedelic therapy
Integration and personal growth post-psychedelic experience
Dr. Bill Brennan
Linktree: Bill Brennan PhD
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression: A New Approach for the Whole Person by Bill Brennan and Alex Belser
Book: Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground by Rachel Harris
Article: ‘Psychedelic Therapy as Form of Life’ by Nicolas Langlitz & Alex K. Gearin
Joe Welker’s Essays: Psychedelic Candor
Clinical Trial: ‘Leveraging Biomarkers for Personalized Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder Comorbid With PTSD’
* * * * *
Special thanks to Jeremy Colbert (Taragápe) for the original podcast theme music.
You can find out more about Jeremey’s work here:
taragape.com and @taragape