In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Dr. Stephen Thayer, a clinical psychologist and lead trainer for psychedelic therapists at Numinus.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-262-stephen-thayer-phd/?ref=278

Dr. Thayer shares his journey from military psychologist to psychedelic-assisted therapy specialist, discussing his personal experiences with ketamine and psilocybin. He explores the integration of psychedelics into therapy and coaching, highlighting the distinctions between these roles. Dr. Thayer emphasizes the importance of facilitator training and personal psychedelic experiences, making a compelling case for evidence-based psychedelic mental healthcare alongside ceremonial or spiritual contexts.

Note: This conversation was recorded in May 2024, prior to the FDA's decision on Lykos Therapeutics' MDMA-assisted therapy clinical trial for PTSD. The recent FDA ruling, which requested additional studies, will impact some of the information discussed regarding MDMA's path to medical approval. However, we believe this episode remains valuable for its insights into the broader landscape of psychedelic therapy, practitioner training, and the ongoing evolution of the field. Enjoy!

Dr. Steve Thayer, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who specializes in psychedelic-assisted therapy practice, training, and research. He began his career in the U.S. Air Force where he led mental health care teams, provided therapeutic and assessment services, and counseled military leadership about community mental health concerns. As an adjunct professor, Dr. Thayer has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in counseling skills, clinical psychology, and personality theory. He has served as the lead therapist on several psychedelic medicine clinical trials and currently consults for Compass Pathways as a mentor to the therapists working on their phase 3 trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Dr. Thayer is the Lead Instructor for Numinus's psychedelic-assisted therapy certification program and co-hosts Numinus's podcast, Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers. Dr. Thayer has a private therapy and coaching practice where he helps people resolve the unconscious blocks keeping them from creating the happiness, wealth, freedom, and relationships they crave.

Highlights:

• From military psychology to psychedelic therapy
• Personal explorations with ketamine and psilocybin
• Psychedelics for mental health and spiritual exploration
• Integrating psychedelics into therapy and coaching
• Motivation for entering the psychedelic industry
• Bringing psychedelic awareness to the unconscious mind
• The potential for harm in the psychedelic underground
• Principles of effective psychedelic facilitation
• Assessing personal readiness as a psychedelic facilitator
• Experiential MDMA training for therapists
• Balancing evidence-based and spiritual approaches

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