William A. Richards (Bill), Senior Advisor at Sunstone Therapies and a psychologist in the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has been involved in psychedelic research since 1963. He also is also associated with the Program in Psychedelic Therapiesand Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies. From 1967 to 1977, he implemented projects with LSD, DPT, MDA and psilocybin at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, including protocols designed to investigate the promise of psychedelics in the treatment of alcoholism, depression, narcotic addiction and the psychological distress associated with terminal cancer. His recent research at Johns Hopkins, in collaboration with colleagues at New York University, has focused on the potential value of psilocybin in the continuing education of professional religious leaders from different world religions. At Sunstone Therapies, he is focused on integrating psychedelic therapy into palliative care. His book, Sacred Knowledge:Psychedelics and Religious Experiences, published by Columbia University Press, now has been translated into multiple languages.

We also explore: why psychedelic therapy is helpful in people with life limiting illnesses, what cancer clients report after psychedelic assisted therapy, the importance of involving the family in the healing process, how grief shows up in the body and how psychedelics can help us process this, societal views on death and dying and how psychedelics could help to shift these.

Bill Richards – Book

https://www.amazon.com.au/Sacred-Knowledge-Psychedelics-Religious-Experiences/dp/0231174063

Keep in touch with me at

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheTrippodcast

Insta: dresmedark

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-esme-dark-627156a0/

Website: https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/

Find Monash Clinical Psychedelic Lab at www.monash.edu/psychedelics [http://www.monash.edu/psychedelics]

Disclaimer: This Podcast is for general information only and does noy constitute an endorsement or recommendation for psychedelic assisted psychotherapy

Dr Bill Richards: Living until you die: Psychedelic Assisted Therapy at the end of life

 This mini-series explores how psychedelic-assisted therapy meets us at the edges of existence — in dying, in grief, and in the quiet question of what endures when life as we knew it changes or ends.



Beyond the Trip Mini Series: Life, Death and What Remains

Simon Yugler is a depth psychotherapist, psychedelic educator, and author of Psychedelics and the Soul: A Mythic Guide to Psychedelic Healing, Depth Psychology, and Cultural Repair (North Atlantic Books, 2024). With a master’s in depth counseling psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, he’s taught in leading psychedelic training programs including CIIS, Naropa University, and Inner Trek.

Drawing from Jungian psychology, mythology, and Internal Family Systems, Simon helps facilitators, therapists, and healers reconnect to the liminal wilds of the soul. His work is shaped by years of anthropological research and learning from Indigenous traditions around the world, including the Shipibo ayahuasca lineage and the Native American Church.

We explore:

· Simon’s connection to Australia

· Indigenous perspectives in psychedelics,

· Psychedelic culture in Oregon

· Depth psychology and psychedelics

· Simons new book psychedelics and the soul

·  Training in psychedelic therapy and its challenges

· Therapist burnout

· Cultural healing and psychedelics

Reading list

Simon Yugler: Psychedelics and the Soul  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204639597-psychedelics-and-the-soul

Joseph Campbell : https://www.jcf.org/

Michael Meade: https://www.mosaicvoices.org/

Robert Bly: https://www.robertbly.com/

https://www.amazon.com.au/Women-Who-Run-Wolves-Archetype/dp/0345409876

https://www.bps.org.uk/member-networks/division-clinical-psychology/power-threat-meaning-framework

Keep in touch with me at

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheTrippodcast

Insta: dresmedark

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-esme-dark-627156a0/

Website: https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/

Find Simon at: https://www.simonyugler.com/about

Find Monash Clinical Psychedelic Lab at www.monash.edu/psychedelics [http://www.monash.edu/psychedelics]

Disclaimer: This Podcast is for general information only and does noy constitute an endorsement or recommendation for psychedelic assisted psychotherapy

Simon Yugler: Psychedelics and the Soul

  In this episode, I interview the team of Sacred Roots. They bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous therapists and healers to bridge Indigenous wisdom and embodied practice into the growing field of clinical Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT).

Through two-way learning, they hope to stimulate critical discussion, embodied practice and further research into this important field – for right relationship, respect, and the greatest possibility for our collective healing and wellbeing.

im joined by Dr. Carlie Atkinson – CEO of We Al-li, Associate Professor of Social Work (Melbourne University)

Jem Stone – Co-founder of IPAT (Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies), We Al-li Facilitator & Wayapa Wuurrk Lead Trainer

Kirt Mallie – Co-founder of IPAT, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist, We Al-li Facilitator & Wayapa Wuurrk Trainer

Mei Lai Swan – Sacred Roots Co-ordinator, Embodied Nature Therapies & Yoga for Humankind, Social Worker, Somatic and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist & Educator

We cover the following topics :

The philosophy of Sacred Roots

Founding and values of Sacred Roots

Indigenous cultural exchange in peru

Therapist Training

Impact of cultural exchange of therapists

Upcoming trip plans – taking group of PAT therapists to Peru

Where to find out more about this trip

https://sacredroots.au/

https://www.onaya.io [https://www.onaya.io/]

Keep in touch with me at

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheTrippodcast

Insta: dresmedark

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-esme-dark-627156a0/

Website: https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/

Disclaimer: This Podcast is for general information only and does noy constitute an endorsement or recommendation for psychedelic assisted psychotherapy

Sacred Roots: Right Relationship, Respect, and Psychedelic Healing

 In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Rosalind Watts — a clinical psychologist whose work as the Clinical Lead for Imperial College London’s psilocybin trial has made her one of the most influential voices in psychedelic research.

Named among the 50 Most Influential People in Psychedelics and the Top 16 Women Shaping the Future of Psychedelics, Dr Watts stands out for her focus on integration, harm-reduction, and inclusion in the psychedelic space. Drawing inspiration from nature, she has developed tools and structures to foster connectedness after psychedelic experiences.

One of her key insights from her time in the field has been that safe and effective use of psychedelics depends on robust integration support. This led her to co-found ACER — Accept, Connect, Embody, Restore — a global online integration community where participants embark on a 13-month journey to connect more deeply with themselves, others, and nature.

We explore:

· Her early work in psychedelic research

· Sustainable practice in psychedelic therapy

· Challenges facing the psychedelic field

· The tension between medical models of distress and psychedelic work

· Nature as a therapeutic ally

· The ACER integration community

Find Dr Rosalind Watts at: https://www.drrosalindwatts.com/

ACER Integration: https://acerintegration.com/

Recommended Readings

keep in touch with me at Insta: dresmedark

Check out our new YouTube Channel  https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheTrippodcast

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-esme-dark-627156a0/

Website: https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/

· Find Monash Clinical Psychedelic Lab at www.monash.edu/psychedelics [http://www.monash.edu/psychedelics]

The Hologram by Cassie Thornton: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53425744-the-hologram

If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie: https://sharonblackie.net/if-women-rose-rooted/

 Disclaimer: This podcast if for general information only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for psychedelic- assisted psychotherapy.

Dr Rosalind Watts: Accept, Connect, Embody, Restore

In this episode, I’m joined by Campbell Townsend, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Research Consultant at Monash University’s Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab. With experience as a trial therapist on the Psilocybin for GAD study and training through MAPS, Campbell brings a grounded yet imaginative approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Don’t miss our upcoming “Deepening Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy with Somatics and Metaphor”


In this experiential training, you’ll learn how to use metaphor and somatic tools to enhance Psychedelic assisted Psychotherapy. Whether you're a seasoned therapist or new to this space, this workshop offers practical strategies you can apply immediately.

Register now and bring more depth, embodiment, and imagination into your psychedelic practice https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/media-1

In this episode we explore how metaphor is the language of psychedelic and how it can deepen therapeutic work across all stages of the psychedelic process. We also dive into somatic approaches, discussing how tuning into the body can enhance emotional integration and healing.

Themes include:

· The power of metaphor in psychedelic therapy

· Embodied connection: working somatically with clients

· Embracing curiosity and playfulness in clinical work

· Practical tools to weave metaphor and body-based methods into sessions

keep in touch with me at Insta: dresmedark

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-esme-dark-627156a0/

website: https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/

Find Monash Clinical Psychedelic Lab at www.monash.edu/psychedelics

Find Campbell Townsend at https://islandpsychology.com.au/campbell-townsend

Disclaimer: This podcast if for general information only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for psychedelic- assisted psychotherapy.

Campbell Townsend: Deepening Psychedelic assisted Psychotherapy with Somatics and Metaphor 

In this episode Im joined by Lucine Eusani, Lucine is an Embodiment Facilitator, Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist and Psychedelic Integration Specialist.

We both draw on IFS a lot in our work and share our respective journeys with combining this approach with psychedelic work. We discuss our different pathways into this work, explore parallels between different somatic approaches such as 5 rhythms and psychedelic therapy, outline some key concept from internal family systems and share a little about how this work has impacted us personally.

Lucine originally trained as a mediator, with an MA and Mphil in Conflict Resolution, Lucine spent a decade in South America working in mediation, facilitating of conflict resolution trainings, offering trauma informed yoga, and studying indigenous Amazonian shamanic traditions. With 2 decades as a trauma informed embodiment facilitator, she also became a 5Rhythms teacher in 2015. Lucine is trained in Internal Family Systems therapy (Level 1 and 2), as well as Somatic IFS for individuals and Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) for couples who want to work with their parts in relationship.

Her 1:1 work is somatically guided and trauma informed, embedded in a deep respect for traditional plant medicines and embodied healing practices, and firmly grounded in the IFS therapeutic model. Lucine currently offers consultancy with training therapists for clinical trials in psychedelic therapy, as well as a 1:1 therapy practice specialising in Somatic IFS and IFS groupwork workshops.

Find Lucine at : www.lucineeusani.com [http://www.lucineeusani.com/]

keep in touch with me at Insta: dresmedark

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-esme-dark-627156a0/

website: https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/

Find Monash Clinical Psychedelic Lab at www.monash.edu/psychedelics

Lucine Eusani: Internal Family Systems and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

Beyond the Trip: A Psychedelic Therapy Podcast
Season 2 – Launching May 2025

We’re back with monthly episodes featuring new guests and returning voices to deepen the conversation around the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

This season includes:

 * Discussions on psychotherapy  techniques
 * Therapy Demos
 * Conversations on systemic and  ethical issues in psychedelic therapy

Thank you for being part of the journey so far, I am looking forward to sharing the next chapter with you

Season 2 coming May 2025

Welcome to Beyond the Trip  Podcast. In this episode I am joined by IPAT (indigenous psychedelic-assisted therapies). IPAT is dedicated to supporting the accessibility and therapeutic use of plant medicines for Indigenous peoples. Their vision is to create a culturally safe model of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) that honors the Indigenous wisdom which has guided the use of plant medicines for thousands of years.

IPAT’s purpose is to develop a psychedelic-assisted therapy model that incorporates Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, emphasizing the importance of healing within community. By placing cultural safety at the forefront, IPAT aims to ensure this model is not only accessible to Indigenous peoples but also beneficial and accessible for all.

Jem Stone is a First Nations Woman, Educator and Wellness Practitioner with mixed heritage from around the globe who is passionately integrating original knowledge into education and wellness spaces through connection and decolonised learning methods.

Kirt Mallie is a proud Mualgal man, an Indigenous Therapist, Cultural Educator and Spiritual Teacher. Kirt is a co-founder of IPAT. He was one of the therapists on the Psilocybin-Assisted Supportive Therapy in the treatment of prolonged grief trial.

Dr Bianca Sebben is a Clinical Psychologist based in Brisbane, Australia with a special interest in complex trauma, dissociative disorders including Dissociative Identity Disorder, and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In this episode we talk about IPAT’s recently published paper, the importance of inclusion of indigenous voices in this emerging space, cultural safety in psychedelic therapy, challenges with the medical model of distress, and the importance of collaboration, to bring together different perspectives together in this field.

IPAT website: https://ipat.au/

Psychedelic Therapies and cultural responsiveness: A call for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement in Australian clinical trials and practice https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020024000761

Closing the Gap: https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/

Power, Threat, Meaning Framework: https://www.bps.org.uk/member-networks/division-clinical-psychology/power-threat-meaning-framework

Psychedelic Therapies and Indigenous wisdom: Challenges and opportunities for collaboration

In this episode, I talk with Dr Paul Liknaitzky, Head of the Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University. 🌱

We explore Paul’s journey into psychedelic science and therapy, challenges & opportunities in psychedelic rescheduling in Australia, The critical skills needed for psychedelic therapists, future directions for psychedelic research, and why collaboration is key in this space

Paul is Head of the Clinical Psychedelic Lab and a l [https://www.monash.edu/medicine/scs/clinical-psychedelic-lab/home]Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Monash University. He has played a central role in establishing the field of clinical psychedelic research in Australia and is the principal investigator on a program of psychedelic trials. He is involved in numerous psychedelic studies across the country and collaborates with many international experts and organisations in the field. He has led several world-first studies, including the first trial to use psilocybin in the treatment of a primary anxiety condition, the first study testing the utility of psilocybin as a therapist training tool, and the first trial testing a psychedelic-augmented virtual-reality treatment.

keep in touch with me at Insta: dresmedark

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-esme-dark-627156a0/

website: https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/

Find  Paul and Monash Clinical Psychedelic Lab at www.monash.edu/psychedelics

Disclaimer: This podcast if for general information only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for psychedelic- assisted psychotherapy.

Dr Paul Liknaitzky:  Future directions for Psychedelic Research 

 Beyond the Trip: A Psychedelic Therapy Podcast will be exploring themes relating to the therapy part of psychedelic- assisted psychotherapy as well as discussing some important ethical, cultural and systemic considerations to hold in mind when working in this space. You can expect wide ranging conversations with thought leaders and other inspiring humans working in this field and beyond.

Your host, Dr Esme Dark is a clinical psychologist, somatic therapist and a psychedelic -assisted psychotherapist with over 15 years of experience working in the mental health space in Australia, UK and Thailand. She hopes to dispel some myths about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and bring a greater understanding to the community about the process, and the beauty, complexities and challenges that go along with it.

Keep in touch at Insta dresmedark

https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheTrippodcast

https://www.esmedarkpsychology.com.au/about

Find out more about the Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University below:-

www.monash.edu/psychedelics

This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Esme Dark

Shows