Living Medicine

Dr. Meidad Goldman, MD, is the Medical Director of Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry's Ketamine Clinic and Living Medicine Institute, which offers psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training programs. He is a board-certified physician in emergency and addiction medicine and has worked in multiple hospital- and clinical-based settings. With over 17 years of experience administering ketamine for multiple conditions, Dr. Goldman is a certified provider of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies and Research through the California Institute of Integral Studies and has completed training through the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

Administering ketamine in therapy sessions requires a team of trained medical professionals to monitor the patient's vitals during periods of altered consciousness. What is involved in the clinical side of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and how can clinicians maintain safety and efficacy during the process?

With nearly eight years of experience managing a ketamine clinic, Dr. Meidad Goldman highlights the importance of creating a supportive and individualized treatment environment. He notes that ketamine should be part of a comprehensive therapeutic program, with careful attention to dosing and real-time collaboration between therapists and medical staff. Medical providers must prioritize client comfort, use controlled settings to shape the therapeutic experience, and customize doses based on body weight. These practices maximize the clients' ability to process and integrate their experiences effectively.

In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Meidad Goldman joins host Dr. Signi Goldman to share his experience managing a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinic. Dr. Goldman talks about the role of music in the psychedelic experience, how therapists and medical staff communicate during the sessions, and how to customize ketamine drip rates.

Dr. Signi Goldman, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Medical Director of Living Medicine Institute, which offers psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training programs. As a certified provider for psychedelic-assisted therapy and research, she has practiced in various clinical settings, including hospital systems and alternative treatment settings. Dr. Goldman also serves as a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist for Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry's Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program for Mental Health.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a promising treatment for mental health conditions, offering profound emotional and psychological healing through altered states of consciousness. How have patients suffering from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and unresolved trauma experienced transformative benefits from ketamine therapy?

Five of Living Medicine Institute's clients describe experiencing profound emotional shifts and self-actualization. One client recounts overcoming intense PTSD triggers and gaining emotional stability, while another explains how KAP helped her move past persistent depression after years of conventional therapy. Several clients mention having profound spiritual experiences, including vivid visions, feelings of universal connection, and symbolic encounters that provided comfort and understanding. These experiences often facilitated emotional release and helped them reconnect with a sense of purpose and self-worth.

In this special episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Signi Goldman shares interviews with clients who have transformed their mental health through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. These interviews demonstrate how ketamine helps patients maintain an active presence in therapy, its positive impact on depression and anxiety, and how patients have combated dissociation and emotional triggers.

Dr. Signi Goldman, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Medical Director of Living Medicine Institute, which offers psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training programs. As a certified provider for psychedelic-assisted therapy and research, she has practiced in various clinical settings, including hospital systems and alternative treatment settings. Dr. Goldman also serves as a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist for Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry's Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program for Mental Health.

Dr. Sandra Newes (Sandy) is a Licensed Psychologist with over 25 years of clinical experience. She is the Co-founder of the Living Medicine Institute, offering training and resources to therapists and medical professionals. A full-time KAP provider since 2019, she has facilitated more than 600 ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions. Her approach integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with trauma-informed, somatic, and experiential practices, bringing warmth, curiosity, and extensive clinical expertise to her work.

Aspiring clinicians often find themselves at a crossroads when considering integrating psychedelic-assisted therapies into their practices. Although ketamine is legal, it remains largely unregulated, prompting concerns surrounding ethical use in psychotherapy settings. What are the essential skills, safety measures, and professional pathways necessary to enter this emerging field successfully?

As early pioneers of the ketamine-assisted psychotherapy space, Dr. Signi Goldman and Dr. Sandy Newes outline the common pathways for clinicians entering the space. The types of people who fit the typical profile include professionals aware of psychedelics' potential, those with personal psychedelic experiences, and professionals seeking practical application of their knowledge. When transitioning into the field, Dr. Newes and Dr. Goldman emphasize prioritizing safety measures and executing preparation, intervention, and integration techniques to avoid harmful outcomes like fear associated with trauma and broken trust.

In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Signi Goldman and Dr. Sandy Newes share tips for breaking into the psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy space. Together, they address concerns about these treatments, the barriers to a career in this field, and how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can cause harm to patients when implemented incorrectly.

Dr. Richard (Dick) C. Schwartz is the Founder of the IFS (Internal Family Systems) Institute, which offers professional training in IFS therapy, an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people access and heal their trauma through their multifaceted personalities. Dr. Schwartz began his career as a systemic family therapist and an academic and is a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. As a featured speaker for national professional organizations, he has published five books on IFS, including No Bad Parts and Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model.

The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model is a transformative framework for understanding and healing trauma, and many therapists look to integrate it with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. How can practitioners balance the introspective depth of IFS with the expansive, altered states induced by psychedelics to unlock profound therapeutic breakthroughs?

According to lifelong family systems researcher Dr. Dick Schwartz, the IFS therapeutic model identifies the mind's multiplicity, where protective and exiled parts coexist with the innate qualities of the self. Drawing parallels with spiritual traditions, IFS bridges evidence-based therapy and practices, addressing phenomena such as unattached burdens and guides, which challenge conventional psychological frameworks. Psychedelics enhance the IFS process by temporarily silencing protective parts of the psyche, allowing greater access to the healing qualities of the self. While psychedelics can catalyze powerful emotional releases and self-awareness, Dr. Schwartz emphasizes the need for skilled facilitation to avoid overwhelming clients or triggering protector backlash. By combining IFS principles with psychedelics, therapists can create a safe, compassionate environment that supports deep healing and integration of past traumas.

In the latest episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes invites Dr. Richard (Dick) Schwartz to discuss how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can enhance the IFS process. Dr. Schwartz talks about the spiritual qualities of the self, how to identify unattached burdens and differentiate guides from parts, and recent criticisms of IFS.

Sherry Rais is the Co-founder and CEO of Enthea, a licensed, third-party administrator of health plan benefits. Through her company, she focuses on expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapy to alleviate human suffering. Sherry holds a Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Research and is the former Executive Director of the Boston Psychedelic Research Group.

The world is riddled with suffering, and it's often linked to natural disasters, community tragedies, and poverty. How can we alleviate human suffering and help individuals work through their traumas?

Psychedelics advocate Sherry Rais maintains that certain levels of suffering and discomfort are crucial to personal growth and transformation. Individuals can recognize and confront their adversities through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, which allows people to relive their trauma in controlled environments with licensed professionals guiding them through the treatment experience. However, access to these groundbreaking therapies remains limited, so Sherry works with employers to integrate psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy treatments with healthcare plans, forming a path to alternative methods for reducing suffering.

In today's episode of Living Medicine, Sherry Rais, the Co-founder and CEO of Enthea, joins Dr. Sandy Newes to discuss leveraging ketamine-assisted therapy to alleviate human suffering. Sherry talks about the various types of human suffering, how to advance the psychedelic-assisted therapy field, and the qualities of a cutting-edge psychedelic therapy training program.

Husband and wife team, Michael Mithoefer, MD, a clinical psychiatrist, and Annie Mithoefer, BSN, a registered nurse, are Clinical Investigators for MDMA and PTSD studies at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS). They specialize in treating PTSD with experimental psychotherapy through clinical research and outpatient clinical practice. Between 2004 and 2018, Michael and Annie completed two of the six MAPS-sponsored Phase II clinical trials testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Together, they have over 25 years of experience treating trauma patients.

Although MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has been hailed as a groundbreaking treatment for PTSD, its path to legitimacy has been thwarted by methodological and ethical challenges. How can researchers balance the demands of rigorous scientific inquiry with the relational complexities of psychotherapy to advance this innovative approach?

Drug therapy researchers Michael and Annie Mithoefer faced significant criticisms of their methods as they worked to integrate MDMA into trauma therapy. Conventional drug trial models, which rely on strict double-blind methodologies, clashed with the participatory nature of psychotherapy. To address bias and ethical concerns, the Mithoefers designed studies with independent, remote reviewers trained to evaluate outcomes objectively. They also adjusted their protocols to prioritize participant safety after initial low-doses of MDMA increased anxiety rather than offered therapeutic benefits. Despite these challenges, the Mithoefers collaborate with the FDA continuously to create rigorous protocols that balance scientific standards with real-world therapeutic applications.

In this part-two episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes continues her discussion with Michael and Annie Mithoefer about the barriers they face in their MDMA research studies. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of drug research in psychotherapy, the ethical dilemmas they face, and how their work aims to transform mental health care.

Husband and wife team, Michael Mithoefer, MD, a clinical psychiatrist, and Annie Mithoefer, BSN, a registered nurse, are Clinical Investigators for MDMA and PTSD studies at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS). They specialize in treating PTSD with experimental psychotherapy through clinical research and outpatient clinical practice. Between 2004 and 2018, Michael and Annie completed two of the six MAPS-sponsored Phase II clinical trials testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Together, they have over 25 years of experience treating trauma patients.

Psychedelics like MDMA became popular for recreational use in the 60s, leading some psychiatrists and medical professionals to explore these drugs as treatments for PTSD and depression. Yet, the road to legality and acceptance was long and arduous. How did early pioneers of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy pave the way for a groundbreaking new treatment method?

Psychedelic therapy pioneers Michael and Annie Mithoefer knew they wanted to accelerate healing through altered states of consciousness, so they began treating patients using breathwork. After some trauma patients didn't experience results, the husband and wife team conducted in-depth research into MDMA. Despite scrutiny, legal challenges, and reputational risks, Annie and Michael collaborated with top psychiatrists to bring MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to the mainstream. Their FDA approval process began after conducting rigorous studies involving control and experimental groups. These studies laid the foundation for future psychedelic-assisted treatment programs, benefiting patients with treatment-resistant mental health conditions.

Join Dr. Sandy Newes in this episode of Living Medicine as she interviews Michael and Annie Mithoefer about their pioneering research into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Together, they discuss the early days of psychedelic therapy and research, the outcomes of their clinical studies, and why they began their research.

Dr. Sandra Newes (Sandy) is a Licensed Psychologist with over 25 years of clinical experience. She is the Co-founder of the Living Medicine Institute, offering training and resources to therapists and medical professionals. A full-time KAP provider since 2019, she has facilitated more than 600 ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions. Her approach integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with trauma-informed, somatic, and experiential practices, bringing warmth, curiosity, and extensive clinical expertise to her work.

Various psychedelics like ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin were used as treatment forms in ancient cultures. Scientific studies into the use of these drugs — namely ketamine — for mental illness began as early as the 1950s. What's involved in modern psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy practices?

Trauma-based psychiatrist Dr. Sandy Newes provides supervised ketamine-assisted therapy treatments for treatment-resistant depression and other chronic mental health conditions. This involves using the ketamine drug as a supplement to traditional therapy practices by placing the patient on an IV drip in a controlled therapeutic environment to observe behavioral shifts. Alternatively, medical approaches entail collaborating with a physician and using ketamine as a single source of treatment. During sessions, professionals monitor the patient's vital signs and emotional distress levels, adjusting the IV drip based on their responses and experiences. Following the session, key insights from the altered state of consciousness are integrated into further treatment sessions.

Join Dr. Sandy Newes in this episode of Living Medicine as she's interviewed by Chad Franzen of Rise25 about the cultural history and proven benefits of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy techniques. She discusses its use in trauma treatments, Living Medicine Institute's function as a psychedelic-assisted therapy training and research facility, and the typical process for this treatment form.

Dr. Signi Goldman, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Medical Director of Living Medicine Institute, which offers psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training programs. As a certified provider for psychedelic-assisted therapy and research, she has practiced in various clinical settings, including hospital systems and alternative treatment settings. Dr. Goldman also serves as a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist for Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry's Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program for Mental Health.

Cutting-edge studies show that ketamine and other psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy modalities are effective in treating various mental health conditions. While this technique is promising, it lacks training programs to execute it effectively. If you're interested in this space, how can you integrate psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy practices into your approach?

As an early adopter of ketamine-assisted therapy, Dr. Signi Goldman says this treatment can't be used on its own; instead, it must be integrated into an established treatment program. She emphasizes using scientific evidence in your approach, monitoring and optimizing dosage ranges to prevent addiction risks. Providers must also engage in the treatment drug in controlled settings to provide authentic treatment, learn about the drug's effects, and help the patient navigate their altered state.

In this episode of Living Medicine, Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews Dr. Signi Goldman, the Co-founder and Medical Director of Living Medicine Institute, about the safe use of psychedelics in psychotherapy practices. She talks about her work as a rite of passage guide, her teaching and certification programs for psychedelic-assisted therapy, and the role of this modality in future psychiatric treatment plans.

Dr. Signi Goldman, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Medical Director of Living Medicine Institute, which offers psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training programs. As a certified provider for psychedelic-assisted therapy and research, she has practiced in various clinical settings, including hospital systems and alternative treatment settings. Dr. Goldman also serves as a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist for Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry's Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program for Mental Health.

Dr. Sandra Newes (Sandy) is a Licensed Psychologist with over 25 years of clinical experience. She is the Co-founder of the Living Medicine Institute, offering training and resources to therapists and medical professionals. A full-time KAP provider since 2019, she has facilitated more than 600 ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions. Her approach integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with trauma-informed, somatic, and experiential practices, bringing warmth, curiosity, and extensive clinical expertise to her work.

In recent years, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has emerged as a groundbreaking new therapy technique that stimulates healing through altered states of mind. Yet this space is still in its infancy, with misconceptions and concerns surrounding drug use and safety. What should you know about this evolving space, and how can you break into it?

As certified psychedelic-assisted therapy providers, Dr. Signi Goldman and Dr. Sandy Newes maintain that this modality involves more than drugging patients one time to heal them for life. Instead, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is an ongoing process that begins with establishing patients' medical histories, establishing treatment goals, and building a relationship with them to ensure they feel comfortable enough to withstand treatment. During the process, Dr. Goldman and Dr. Newes employ trauma and nature-based approaches to help patients navigate their altered states. After the session, the doctors observe behavioral shifts and align them with their treatment goals.

In the first episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Signi Goldman and Dr. Sandra (Sandy) Newes are interviewed by Rise25's Chad Franzen about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Together, they explain how it enhances traditional psychotherapy techniques, how they incorporate trauma, nature, ceremonies, and rituals into their approaches, and how they address psychological safety concerns.