The Integration Session

The Centre for Psychedelics Health and Research

The Integration Session is for staying up-to-date on all things psychedelic science, with the experts themselves. This podcast takes an integrative approach—sharing research findings, their clinical relevance, and reaching towards solutions to key challenges in the field today. Hosted by Dr. Elena Koning, this show is where scientists connect to discuss anything from mechanisms and study design to ethics and policy. If you’re a scientist, trainee, or simply someone who wants to dig deeper, tune in for engaging discussions about psychedelics and their promising future in healthcare and beyond.

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August 20 · 42 min
Does Psilocybin Work for OCD? Two Decades of Research Insights with Dr. Francisco Moreno
What can two decades of clinical research teach us about psilocybin's potential for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Francisco Moreno, a pioneer in psychedelic-assisted treatment research, to trace the arc of his work - from his landmark 2006 trial, one of the first modern investigations of psilocybin for OCD, to his newly published 2026 randomized clinical trial testing repeated psilocybin doses in a larger patient sample. We discuss the design, safety, and efficacy findings from both studies; what changed methodologically between them; and what the data suggests about the durability of psilocybin's effects for OCD specifically. Dr. Moreno also unpacks the mechanistic rationale for why psilocybin may interrupt obsessive-compulsive cycles, what neurobiological and biomarker evidence exists to support this, and where psychotherapy fits alongside pharmacological treatment. We close by looking ahead to what the next twenty years of this research might look like. More About Dr. Moreno: Francisco A. Moreno, M.D. is Tenured Professor of Psychiatry, and Associate Vice President at the University of Arizona Health Science, Office of Student Engagement and Career Advancement. As part of his academic efforts he serves as Corresponding Principal Investigator and Engagement Lead for the NIH-Precision Medicine Initiative’s “All of Us Research Program”; Multiple Principal Investigator for Az-PRIME, an NIH-NHLBI grant to enhance the research skill and academic advancement of early career faculty; Principal Investigator of the Arizona Biomedical Research Development program, which is geared to support early career researchers; and Principal Investigator and Director of “Arizona HOPE” a HRSA- Health Career Opportunities Program which works to enhance the health professions workforce. Dr. Moreno grew up in Mexico, where he attended medical school. He completed residency in general adult psychiatry, fellowship training in Neuropsychopharmacology, and career development training in Quantitative Genetics at the University of Arizona. He has been conducting research in biology and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, geared to improve our understanding of the brain and molecular basis for mental illness and the underlying mechanism of action of antidepressants / antianxiety drugs, and treatment resistance. His team is conducting transdisciplinary collaborative research in the use of psilocybin for the treatment of OCD and exploring putative biomarkers of treatment response.
August 6 · 28 min
Research Recap 2: Recent Papers in Psychedelic Science Explained
Want to stay updated on the latest advancements in psychedelic science without reading lengthy scientific papers? Welcome back to Research Recap, where Elena breaks down three recent studies in psychedelic science, in a digestible format. This episode covers a phase IIa trial of short-acting intravenous DMT for depression, a multimodal neuroimaging study of a first psilocybin experience, and an international mega-analysis that informs our understanding of how psychedelics alter brain function. Elena provides a clear breakdown of what the researchers did, why it matters, and the critical details often missed by mainstream media.
July 23 · 32 min
The Antidistressant Effect: A New Lens on Psychedelics with Danica Johnson
Psychedelic treatments are often celebrated for their antidepressant potential, but emerging research suggests their effects go beyond traditional mood improvement. These compounds appear to work on multiple levels, prompting researchers to propose a more accurate term: “antidistressant.” But what exactly does “antidistressant” mean, and how might it better reflect the broad effects of psychedelics? What does this new lens mean for both research and clinical care? In this episode, we’re joined by Danica Johnson, PhD candidate at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Medical Science and researcher at the Depression Centre Clinical Research Unit at Toronto Western Hospital. Co-supervised by Drs. Joshua Rosenblat and Roger McIntyre, Danica’s work sits at the forefront of psychedelic science. She breaks down what the term “antidistressant” really means and why it may be more accurate and useful than “antidepressant” when describing psychedelic treatment effects. We also discuss the multidimensional ways that psilocybin works, new findings about cognitive outcomes, ketamine’s real-world effectiveness in patients with comorbid PTSD, and the exciting research on the horizon in Toronto and beyond. More About Danica: Danica Johnson is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Medical Science. She is co-supervised by Drs. Joshua Rosenblat and Roger McIntyre at the Depression Centre Clinical Research Unit at Toronto Western Hospital - University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto, Canada. Her research explores the effects of psychedelic compounds, particularly psilocybin and ketamine, on cognitive functioning in treatment-resistant unipolar and bipolar depression. She also investigates how trauma and psychiatric comorbidities influence treatment outcomes in these populations. Danica’s work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Graduate Research Scholarship (CGRS-D), highlighting the quality and impact of her work in the realm of psychedelic research.
July 9 · 31 min
Do Psychedelics Really Mimic Psychosis? with Dr. Haley Dourron
Psychedelics and psychosis have long been intertwined. Historically, psychedelics were more often called ‘psychotomimetics’ or compounds that temporarily mimic the symptoms of psychosis. But today, rather than modelling psychopathology, psychedelics are more often viewed as therapeutic tools in psychiatry. But this creates a paradox in modern psychedelic science: psychedelics are being studied both as tools to treat certain mental health symptoms (e.g., depression) and also as a model to mimic other mental health symptoms (psychosis)? So, are psychedelic experiences truly comparable to psychosis, or is this an oversimplification? What are the mechanisms that make psychedelics ameliorate certain mental illness symptoms and simulate others? In this episode of The Integration Session Dr. Haley Dourron, postdoctoral researcher at Linköping University in Sweden, shares her qualitative and neurobiological research on the similarities and critical distinctions between psychedelic experiences and psychotic states. Drawing directly from the voices of individuals with lived experience of both, Dr. Dourron’s work challenges long-standing assumptions, raises critical questions about participant exclusion in clinical trials, and informs how we think about risk, safety, and mechanisms in psychedelic science.
June 25 · 45 min
Magnesium-Ibogaine for Special Operations Veterans with Dr. Kirsten Cherian
One of the most talked-about psychedelics in recent years is ibogaine, especially amidst recent policy shifts that aim to fast-track research progress in this area. While early evidence shows therapeutic potential for opioid addiction and PTSD in veterans, legitimate concerns remain regarding safety and cardiac risks. So, what does the clinical data really show about ibogaine’s therapeutic benefits and risks? Our guest in this episode of The Integration Session is Dr. Kirsten Cherian, a neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford School of Medicine who played a key role in the landmark MISTIC study. Published in Nature Medicine in 2024, this study examined a single-dose magnesium-ibogaine protocol in Special Operations veterans with traumatic brain injury and PTSD. This conversation explores how magnesium is used to improve the safety profile of ibogaine, what the evidence actually reveals about clinical outcomes, and how the powerful subjective and neural effects of ibogaine may allow for lasting healing. Dr. Kirsten Cherian is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, where she practices clinically as a neuropsychologist. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in 2023 with the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab where she led a study for PI, Nolan Williams, MD, examining the effect of ibogaine on the sequelae of TBI and combat in Special Forces Veterans. In addition to her clinical practice, she is involved in research, including investigations of the use of psychedelics to treat depression and cognitive dysfunction. Research interests include the neurocognitive effects of psychedelics and neuromodulation. Special thanks to Dr. Randi Brown for her valuable contributions to this discussion and ibogaine research more broadly.
June 11 · 45 min
How Do We Fix The Placebo Problem? With Dr. Balázs Szigeti
One of the most pressing challenges in psychedelic science is the placebo problem: the intense subjective effects of psychedelics cause functional unblinding and amplify expectancy effects, undermining the integrity of gold-standard randomized controlled trials. In this episode of The Integration Session, we are joined by Dr. Balázs Szigeti, clinical data scientist at the UCSF Translational Psychedelic Research Program and leading voice on the role of placebo in psychedelic science. Drawing from his work on pioneering self-blinding citizen science and landmark studies comparing psilocybin and antidepressants, Balázs provides a critical evidence-based perspective on how placebo (and nocebo) effects shape therapeutic outcomes, why traditional study designs may not be best suited for the study of psychedelics, and the potential of pragmatic, patient-centered approaches. About Balázs: Balázs studied physics at Imperial College and then earned a PhD in data science from the University of Edinburgh. After graduating, he worked as a biomedical software engineer before starting to research psychedelics. His way into psychedelic research was the invention of 'self-blinding': a novel method to enable self-experimenters to implement their own placebo control without clinical supervision. Using this methodology he led the largest placebo-controlled study on psychedelic microdosing to-date. Since his microdosing study, Balázs has been involved with the analysis of several high-profile psychedelic trials, such as the escitalopram vs. psilocybin and the psilocybin for Parkinson’s disease trial. His interests are centered on how expectancy and placebo effects shape response to psychedelic and other drugs. He is an expert in clinical trial design and analysis. Currently, he is an honorary researcher at Imperial College’s Center for Psychedelic Research and works as a clinical data scientist at UCSF’s Translational Psychedelic Research Program.
May 28 · 44 min
Lived Experience Report: Psilocybin-Assisted Cancer Therapy with Diane Gratton
Diane Gratton—a retired nurse, educator, and grandmother—was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer with bone metastases in 2021, with an initial prognosis of five years. In this episode, she opens up about her journey with psychedelic therapy: her motivations, fears, how she prepared, her two psilocybin experiences (individual and group), and the profound emotional and existential insights that followed. Diane speaks candidly about the complexities of integration, including the return of depression and the ongoing nature of her healing process. She also offers thoughtful suggestions for clinicians and advice for individuals considering psilocybin-assisted therapy. As a patient partner with The Canadian Network for Psilocybin-Assisted Cancer Therapy (CAN-PACT), Diane is a strong advocate for compassionate, patient-centered cancer care. This conversation serves not only as a reminder of the real-life impacts of psychedelic therapy, but also how much we can learn by listening to those with lived experience.
May 14 · 46 min
Pop Culture, Film & Religion: Psychedelically Speaking with Nathan Keele-Springer
From the hippie counterculture vibes of the 1960s to the haunting visions of Midsommar, or the optimism of How to Change Your Mind, psychedelics have long shaped (and been shaped by) popular media. But how do these portrayals reflect and influence cultural narratives around altered states, spirituality, and transformation? And in what ways do they borrow from, distort, or reinvent the language of traditional religion and mysticism? In this episode of The Integration Session, we are joined by Nathan Keele-Springer, a PhD student in Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa whose research sits at the fascinating intersection of psychedelics, religion, and pop culture. Nathan is the organizer of uOttawa’s “Psychedelically Speaking” speaker series and the university’s annual Conference on Psychedelics and Spirituality. His interests include how psychedelic experiences intersect with mystical traditions, perennial philosophy, not-self transformation (drawing from Buddhist contexts), and the grammar of altered states. This conversation explores: 1) how psychedelic are interpreted through religious frameworks (and where those tools shine and fall short); 2) the evolving depictions of psychedelics in film, TV, music, and literature; 3) the ways media commodifies, spiritualizes, secularizes, or pathologizes mystical language like “ego death” and encounters with the divine; 4) the tension between individual enlightenment and societal disruption; and 5) why religious studies perspectives remain essential in an increasingly clinical and neuroscientific psychedelic field.
April 30 · 47 min
Psychedelic Capitalism: Corporate Capture, Medicalization & Alternative Paths with Kevin Walby & Jamie Brownlee
Although the therapeutic promise of psychedelics is often highlighted, there is a much larger story at play here: one of corporate power, political ideology, digital surveillance, and fundamental questions about the limits of Western medicine. In this episode of The Integration Session, we step back from treatment breakthroughs to examine the bigger story: the rapid rise of ‘Psychedelic Capitalism.’ We are joined by Kevin Walby, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Winnipeg and director of the Centre for Access to Information and Justice, and Jamie Brownlee, Professor of Canadian and International Political Economy at Carleton University. Kevin and Jamie and co-authors of the recent book Psychedelic Capitalism (Fernwood Publishing). This conversation pulls back the curtain on how billions in private capital, aggressive patenting, and corporate interests are reshaping the psychedelic landscape. We discuss the risks of corporate capture, whether the Western medical model is truly suited for substances with deep spiritual and community-based dimensions, as well as some uncomfortable intersections, including links with far-right movements, digital surveillance, and the hyper-individualistic wellness industry. Importantly, this discussion doesn’t stop at critique. Kevin and Jamie share more hopeful, just alternatives and explore how psychedelics could be used responsibly as tools for social change.
April 16 · 39 min
Why Community is Essential for Psychedelic Integration with Amy Bartlett
Humans have always needed community to heal, grow, and make meaning in this life - something Indigenous and traditional healing practices have long incorporated alongside psychedelic medicine. Yet Western cultures, steeped in individualism, seem to be only recently rediscovering the importance of community. So, what should the true role of community be in psychedelic integration? More broadly, how does one effectively build community? In this episode of The Integration Session, we are joined by Amy Bartlett, a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa whose research examines how community shapes psychedelic integration, spirituality, and healing. With nearly two decades of experience in law, social justice, and international work, Amy Bridges theory and practice: she co-coordinates the Ottawa Psychedelic Education Network (OPEN), facilitates bi-weekly community integration circles, and hosts the podcast My Psychedelic Roots, where diverse voices share how psychedelics have shaped their sense of self and world. This discussion covers why community may not just be helpful - but essential - for deep, lasting psychedelic integration; the urgent need to center lived experience in research and policy; practical lessons from years of real-world facilitation; and how storytelling and witnessing serve as powerful, legitimate tools of evidence in a field often dominated by metrics. More About Amy: Amy Bartlett is a curiosity enthusiast on the cusp of completing her PhD at the University of Ottawa. Her research explores the role that community and connection with others play in psychedelic integration, spirituality and healing. Bridging the realms of theory and practice, Amy also helps coordinate the Ottawa Psychedelic Education Network (OPEN) where she has been running community integration circles for several years, and hosts the My Psychedelic Roots podcast. She has a law degree from Queen's University as well as her Masters of Law from Dalhousie, and before returning to school for her PhD in 2020, Amy worked for over 15 years in human rights and social justice causes in Canada and around the world. You can find more information on her work and current research at https://www.psychedelication.com/
April 2 · 31 min
Psilocybin for Demoralization Syndrome in Cancer Care with Dr. Carolina Hernandorena
Demoralization syndrome affects a substantial portion of patients with advanced cancer, but how does it differ from depression? How might psilocybin help patients find relief and peace while facing their own mortality? In this episode, Dr. Carolina Hernandorena, psychiatrist and PhD candidate in neuroscience at Queen’s University, shares her journey from psychiatric training in Argentina to psychedelic research in Canada. She differentiates demoralization from other mental health constructs, and provides insight on the rationale and protocol design for her Health Canada-approved, open-label pilot trial: “Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Demoralization Syndrome in Patients Diagnosed With Advanced Stage Cancer.” More broadly, Dr. Hernandorena outlines regulatory and logistical challenges of her research, and offers evidence-informed perspectives on the future of using psychedelics to address existential distress in advanced illness.
March 19 · 44 min
Eating Disorders & Drug Use: Real-World Insights with Sarah Rodan
What can we learn from psychedelic use in people with lived experience of eating disorders? As a population with barely any approved medications, surprising self-reports reveal that cannabis and psychedelics may offer high rates of real-world symptom relief. In this episode of The Integration Session, we are joined by Sarah Rodan, a postdoctoral research associate at the InsideOut Institute in Sydney, Australia and coordinator of a groundbreaking clinical trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa in collaboration with Imperial College London. Sarah shares key findings from her 2025 JAMA Network Open survey on prescription and non-prescription drug use among people with self-reported eating disorders, plus broader insights on the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids and psychedelics for eating disorders. This episode is a timely exploration of lived experiences, risk-benefit realities, and the urgent need for better treatment options in an understudied area of psychedelic science.
March 5 · 46 min
Menstrual Cycles, Menopause & Pregnancy: A Psychedelic Research Gap with Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley
Women’s bodies have long been treated as a ‘variable’ to control for in science, rather than a focus of research inquiry. Psychedelic science is no exception, with major knowledge gaps regarding the menstrual cycle, menopause, and pregnancy. But, what might be discovered if we become more curious about women’s physiology in psychedelic science? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley - neuroscientist, Director of Research at Heroic Hearts Projects, and Founder of Hystelica, the world’s first organization dedicated to understanding psychedelics through the lens of female biology. With over a decade of experience researching cannabinoids and psychedelics, Grace brings an essential perspective to the conversation, including how hormones, reproductive stages, and sex-specific neurobiology may shape psychedelic experiences and psychedelic treatment outcomes. Specifically, she shares: 1) why women’s biology has been historically understudied and why it matters; 2) what current evidence suggests about sex differences in response to psychedelics and how hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle impact mood; 3) early insights from psychedelics research at Hystelica; and 4) how psychedelic research protocols and trial designs could better answer these important questions. Grace also shares her personal journey into neuroscience, her connection to veterans’ mental health, and how her experience as a woman in the military helped shape her advocacy for more inclusive research practices. This conversation highlights a critical frontier in psychedelic science: designing research and care models that prioritize biological reality over convenience. Check out Hystelica: https://hystelica.com/
February 19 · 48 min
Psychedelic Justice, Reciprocity & Chacruna’s Vision with Dr. Bia Labate
Join Dr. Bia Labate, anthropologist, activist, and Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, in this live interview brought to you by the Queen’s University Psychedelic Society Speaker Series. With over 30 years of global experience in psychedelic traditions, Dr. Labate shares the motivations behind her lifelong commitment to plant medicines and social justice. She explores psychedelics through an anthropological lens, the founding and mission of the Chacruna Institute, and its programs advancing reciprocity, cultural understanding, and legitimacy for sacred plants. Dr. Labate critiques the commercialization of psychedelics, power imbalances between Western science and Indigenous knowledge, and epistemic injustices in psychedelic research. She addresses global drug policy, recent decriminalization progress, and the essential role of social sciences in fostering ethical, relational, and holistic approaches to psychedelic healing. Chacruna Institute: https://chacruna.net/ Dr. Bia Labate (Beatriz Caiuby Labate) is an anthropologist, educator, author, speaker, and activist, committed to the protection of sacred plants while amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in the psychedelic science field. As a queer Brazilian anthropologist based in San Francisco, she has been profoundly influenced by her experiences with ayahuasca since 1996. Dr. Labate has a Ph.D. in social anthropology from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil. Her work focuses on plant medicines, drug policy, shamanism, ritual, religion, and social justice. She is the Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines and serves as a Senior Advisor for Culture and Strategy at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Additionally, she is a Visiting Scholar at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and acts as advisor for around 15 organizations, among them the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition, Soltara Healing Center, Sacred Plant Alliance and the Alaska Entheogenic Awareness Council. Dr. Labate is also a co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies (NEIP) in Brazil and the editor of its site. She has authored, co-authored, and co-edited 28 books, three special-edition journals, and numerous peer-reviewed and online publications.
February 5 · 45 min
Canada vs. US Landscapes & The Future of Psychotherapy with Dr. Jérémie Richard
From Johns Hopkins to Ottawa, Dr. Jérémie Richard is a clinical psychologist with unique binational experience in the field of psychedelic science. Now an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and director of the Clinical & Applied Psychedelic Science Lab, Dr. Richard joins host Dr. Elena Koning to trace his career path and share his most personally impactful and ongoing work in psychedelic psychotherapy. The conversation explores the differences in Canada-US regulatory landscapes, their impact on research and access, and psychedelics’ potential for transdiagnostic care. Looking forward, Dr. Richard offers a visionary take on how emerging perspectives on mental illness may outgrow current DSM categories, and what psychotherapy could become in 25 years - including whether (and how) psychedelics will reshape it. Dr. Jérémie Richard is an Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. He is a clinical psychologist in Quebec and Ontario whose work is helping chart new paths in mental health, addiction, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research. As an emerging scholar, Dr. Richard is exploring the psychological, biological, and sociocultural dimensions of mental health, investigating how difficulties with depression, anxiety, addiction, and developmental vulnerabilities influence people’s lived experience and their response to mental health treatments. He is the director of the Clinical & Applied Psychedelic Science Lab (CAPS Lab) at the University of Ottawa, where he investigates how the use of psychedelics in naturalistic or clinical settings can influence mental health, physical health, and quality of life, with a commitment to rigorous science and the provision of compassionate care. With an expanding portfolio of over 40 peer-reviewed publications and in his role as core faculty in the Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies Program at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Jérémie Richard is emerging as a leading voice in bridging traditional psychotherapy with innovative therapeutic approaches.
January 22 · 35 min
Trauma, Mass Violence & Psychedelic Experiences with Guy Simon
Psychedelics are increasingly recognized as an approach to help heal trauma – but without the proper support, the same experience that enables healing could lead to re-traumatization. How does this work and what should psychedelic therapists do about it? Guy Simon is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and PhD candidate experienced in trauma-informed psychedelic therapy. Guy’s recent work touches on both the protective and destabilizing effects of psychedelics in several trauma contexts, including childhood abuse and mass violence events. For example, he interviewed survivors of the 2023 Nova Festival Attacks about their psychedelic experiences during the attacks, and the implications for psychedelic therapy. In this episode of The Integration Session, Guy describes his research findings, trauma-informed tools for clinicians, and advice for anyone considering psychedelic medicine for their trauma. Guy Simon is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and PhD candidate in medical anthropology. His research explores trauma, healing, and altered states of consciousness, with a focus on the phenomenology of psychedelic experiences. He leads qualitative and ethnographic investigations into how users, therapists, and underground practitioners conceptualize the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, particularly in the context of trauma and integration. Guy is the founder and clinical director of Impulse, an integrative clinic, and serves as Chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee of SafeHeart. This nonprofit organization supports survivors of collective trauma through psychedelic-informed care. His work bridges clinical practice with anthropological theory, emphasizing the role of set, setting, and cultural context. Guy teaches and lectures internationally on psychedelic integration, trauma-informed therapy, and epistemologies of healing. He is currently based in the Netherlands, expanding his research and collaborations across European academic and therapeutic communities.
January 8 · 30 min
Psychedelics, Cultural Healing, and Advocacy with Podcaster Osheen Dayal
How does one pivot from running a successful construction business in India to becoming a leading voice in psychedelic advocacy and mental health in Canada? In this episode of The Integration Session, host Elena is joined by Osheen Dayal–a University of British Columbia Psychology alumna, former co-president of the Women Empowerment Club, and current Master’s student in Counselling Psychology at Adler University. As the YouTube Committee Lead and Podcast Host at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada, Osheen is at the heart of psychedelic science communication, advocacy, and story-telling. Together, Elena and Osheen discuss Osheen’s unique journey to psychedelic therapy training, her perspectives on cultural healing, spirituality, social justice and equity, as well as shared interests in science communication across the psychedelic field.
Dec 22, 2025 · 40 min
2025 Highlights in Psychedelic Science with CPHR Director Dr. Claudio Soares
2025 was a pivotal year for psychedelic research at the Centre for Psychedelics Health & Research (CPHR) and across Canada. In this year-end finale of The Integration Session, host Dr. Elena Koning sits down with CPHR Director Dr. Claudio Soares for a reflective conversation on progress, breakthroughs, and the road ahead. Dr. Soares shares his professional journey in psychiatry, the evolution of CPHR into one of Canada’s leading multidisciplinary hubs for psychedelic science, education, and clinical innovation, and the centre’s key milestones to date. Major highlights include the launch of the first Health Canada-approved Phase 2 clinical trial of at-home, low-dose (non-hallucinogenic) psilocybin for generalized anxiety disorder, and a Phase 2, multi-center clinical trial of a rapid-acting DMT formulation (VLS-01 Buccal Film) for treatment-resistant depression. Looking to 2026, Dr. Soares shares CPHR’s exciting plans, including expanded research priorities, enhanced knowledge translation efforts, and strengthened national and international partnerships to responsibly advance psychedelic medicine. Dr. Claudio Soares is a physician, researcher, and educator with over 25 years of experience in mental health and women’s health. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at Queen’s University and Director of the Centre for Psychedelics Health and Research, leading innovative clinical research and knowledge dissemination initiatives. He also serves as Regional Clinical Co-Lead for Mental Health and Addictions at Ontario Health East and is President of The Menopause Society, a global organization dedicated to advancing women’s health at midlife and beyond. His expertise spans mood disorders, reproductive psychiatry, menopause, clinical trials, mobile health technologies, psychedelics research, and health innovation.
Dec 11, 2025 · 33 min
Chronic Pain & Psychedelics: A Women-First Approach with Dr. Sinziana Pop
Chronic pain impacts over 1.5 billion people worldwide, with the majority of affected individuals being women. As conventional treatments don’t always help, there’s an emerging interest in the potential of psychedelic therapies. In this episode of The Integration Session, we explore the current state of the science on psychedelics as an approach to alleviating pain and improving quality of life in women with chronic pain. Dr. Sinziana Pop from the Francis Crick Institute shares her diverse expertise on the topic, future research plans, and why it’s so crucial to take a women-centered approach to psychedelic chronic pain research. This is an especially important topic for psychedelic scientists considering that, in existing clinical trials, most participants are males and sex is not often accounted for in analyses. Dr. Sinziana Pop is a neuroscientist with over a decade of experience researching brain function and evolution. In recent years, her focus has shifted from curiosity-driven "blue sky" neuroscience to exploring unconventional approaches for treating chronic pain in women. Recognizing that individual experiences are central to effective treatment, she is now pursuing psychedelic research, with the aim of designing clinical trials informed by women with lived experience of chronic pain.
Nov 27, 2025 · 35 min
Hypnosis, Trauma & Tips for Psychedelic Guides with Denise Rue
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to sit with someone having one of the most profound experiences of their life? In this deeply candid conversation, psychedelic therapist Denise Rue brings a wealth of experience to our discussion about facilitating psychedelic therapy. We discuss her journey to the field, the nuances of guiding individuals through psychedelic therapy, the surprising ways clinical hypnosis and psychedelics intersect, comparisons between group retreats and 1:1 therapy, advice for aspiring therapists (e.g., informed consent, boundaries, harm reduction), the role of poetry in psychedelic therapy, and questions that every prospective client should ask before trusting someone with their psychedelic experience. Denise Rue, MA, MFA, MSW, is a licensed Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist, and founder of the New Jersey Psychedelic Therapy Association. From 2019-2022 Denise worked as a retreat leader and lead therapist at a legal psilocybin retreat center in Jamaica, and continues to lead retreats in Portugal, Mexico, and Colorado. Denise has had the privilege of facilitating over 1,750 psilocybin sessions, and as many group integration sessions. She has a profound respect for the healing potential of this medicine, as well as a deep sense of the responsibility practitioners hold in shepherding people on their journeys. Denise has a private psychotherapy practice in New Jersey, specializing in individuals with complex trauma, especially adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She utilizes a variety of modalities in her work, including ketamine-assisted therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), somatic therapy and clinical hypnosis. Denise will soon be launching her psychedelic education, integration, and harm reduction business, Interweave Healing, with her colleague, Jessalyn Maguire, LSW.

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