The decades I’ve spent on my own journey after invisible but life-altering childhood trauma (and recurring traumas that were unwittingly linked to it) have taught me a great deal. I've learned who offers what, which treatment modalities are effective and why, and where to even begin.


Recommended diagnostic tests you can begin on your own

Institutes & Organizations

California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)

This accredited university offers a Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, which serves the growing need for therapists trained in these emerging modalities. The center also offers a broad range of public education about research into entheogens and their use in psychotherapy and is an excellent resource for individuals and communities seeking to transform themselves and the world. https://www.ciis.edu/

Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

Founded in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS helps scientists design, fund, and obtain regulatory approval for studies of the safety and effectiveness of a number of controlled substances. 

I highly recommend browsing MAPS.org and searching for “MDMA Therapy.” There is a wealth of information here about the research that is being done utilizing MDMA in psychotherapy to treat trauma and PTSD.

The InnatePath.org Blog

Innate Path is a psychedelic psychotherapy clinic and research organization providing treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD (complex trauma), and other mental health conditions. Their blog is an incredible resource and should be explored in depth. Two articles stand out in particular:

 

Recommended Reading:

“How to Change Your Mind” by Michael Pollan

This is a great, easy-to-read book written by an investigative journalist who documents the history of the use of psychedelics to facilitate psychological and emotional healing. Unfortunately, Mr. Pollan did not look into the benefits of combining somatic therapy with these mind-enhancing medicines. It is this combination that current research is finding to be most beneficial to long-term healing. 

“Becoming Attached” by Robert Karin PHD

Chapter 6, “First Battlefield: A Two-Year-Old Goes to the Hospital,” chronicles the deleterious, long-lasting effect on the emotional well-being of a child of being separated from their family at a young age for an extended period of time.

“The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Dr. Van Der Kolk has a keen understanding of how trauma is stored in the tissues of the body, giving rise to a whole host of physical symptoms whose origin is suppressed emotion. 

“Waking the Tiger” by Peter Levine

The author gives us a detailed account of how the body is the portal between the emotions and the conscious mind. He speaks eloquently of how trauma and the resultant suppressing of emotion can be released through the body.

“When the Body Says No” by Gabor Mate’

Dr. Maté eloquently details the powerful role emotional trauma and psychological stress play in the onset of illness. 

“The Body Remembers” by Babette Rothschild

This book fulfills its goal of building a bridge between traditional verbal trauma therapy and somatic or body-oriented therapies.

“The Inner World of Trauma” by Donald Kalsched

The part of the psyche that serves as a protector can become ossified, preventing the individual from being able to reach beyond self-defense mechanisms and toward healing. This work gives a detailed account of this process, illuminating why trauma is often cyclical and can be so difficult to process and heal.


Informative Articles