Psychiatry is an ever-expanding field of medicine that has come a long way in the past several decades. We have FDA-approved medications that can lift people out of debilitating lows and many psychotherapy approaches have genuinely changed lives.
But for its progress, psychiatry is still a somewhat imperfect science. A significant number of people just do not respond adequately to conventional mental health treatments. For these people, it is entirely natural to ask what else is out there to help them.
Over the years, researchers have come across many treatment approaches outside mainstream psychiatric medications and therapies. Psychedelic therapy is one such approach.
Medical researchers were studying psychedelics for therapeutic purposes as far back as the 1950s. But it still is not a treatment you can simply walk into a clinic and request because of the lack of FDA approval.
This post explains everything you need to know about psychedelic-assisted therapy, its benefits, risks, who it is for, and more.
What Is Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy?
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is the combined use of psychedelic substances with psychological therapy modalities. Such substances temporarily alter a person’s perception, mood, thought, and sense of self.
Psychedelics primarily exert their effects through activity at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. They cause an increase in neuroplasticity and altered connectivity between different brain networks that are helpful against psychiatric illnesses.
Examples of psychedelic drugs include:
- Psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” used for depression, anxiety, addiction, and more
- MDMA (an abbreviation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), more commonly called “ecstasy” or “molly,” used for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) used for anxiety and depressive symptoms
- Ayahuasca, a plant-based brew containing the hallucinogen DMT (also known as N,N-dimethyltryptamine), used for trauma
- Ketamine, technically a dissociative anesthetic, the only substance with FDA approval for treatment-resistant depression
- Ibogaine, studied for opioid use disorder
Many cultures in Central and South America have used psychedelic plants like psilocybin mushrooms and mescaline-containing cacti in healing rituals for thousands of years. Yet medical research only started to recognize the benefits of psychedelic substances for alcohol misuse and mental health conditions around the 1960s.
However, psychedelics were classified as a Schedule I substance under the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970.[1] So, as of 2026, no psychedelic drug except ketamine has been fully approved by the FDA for therapeutic use.[2]
How Does Psychedelic Therapy Work?
Even though psychedelic therapy primarily uses drug therapy, you can’t just take a pill and go home. It is a structured, well-supervised process that consists of three phases. These are:[3]
1. The Preparation Phase
Before you begin taking any drug, you will go through several preparation sessions with your therapist. These sessions run for a few weeks, during which you decide on your therapeutic goals and learn what to expect during treatment.
Your therapist will help you develop a mindset of acceptance of the changes you will likely face after taking psychedelic drugs. You will also be screened for medical and psychiatric conditions that may make the therapy unsafe.
2. The Dosing Sessions
You will take the drugs in these sessions while being under close medical and psychological supervision.
A dosing session lasts between four and eight hours on average, and multiple dosing sessions are needed in psychedelic therapy. During these sessions, you will likely experience what is described as “mystical-type experiences,” which include sensitivity to emotions, vivid imagery, a shift in your sense of self, and so on.
3. Integration Sessions
These are the last two to three sittings you will have with your therapist, in which you will learn to process and interpret your psychedelic experience until you get back to your everyday life.
It is also the most therapeutically critical phase. If your altered state created by a psychedelic drug is not integrated well, you will likely not notice a change in your life after therapy.
The number of sessions in each phase is variable for different types of psychedelic drugs used and the purposes they are prescribed for.
The protocol for MDMA-assisted therapy, for example, consists of a three-month treatment with three dosing sessions, three preparation sessions, and nine integration sessions.[4]
Benefits of Psychedelic Therapy
Medical research into psychedelic-assisted therapy reports some beneficial responses to psychedelics among people who have not responded well to conventional treatments.
An analysis of 18 studies found that psychedelic therapies were well-tolerated for managing depression symptoms. Psilocybin was the most effective among the drugs studied for treatment-resistant depression and cancer patients.[5]
MDMA was also tested in a clinical trial to reduce PTSD symptoms. About 70% of individuals treated with MDMA-assisted therapy no longer met the criteria for PTSD after they were treated.[6]
Here are some benefits of psychedelic therapy over conventional mental health treatment methods:
- Compared with current treatments for depression, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy requires fewer treatment regimens.
- Psychedelic therapy appears to create psychological shifts in a person’s thinking patterns rather than managing symptoms from the surface.
- Psychedelics produce neurobiological changes that help the brain form new patterns.
Risks and Side Effects of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
There are strong reasons why the FDA has still not approved psychedelic drugs for mental health treatment.
Every psychedelic drug has potential adverse effects, which can include:
- Anxiety.
- Jaw-clenching.
- Muscle tightness.
- Decrease in appetite.
- Nausea.
- Excessive perspiration.
- Feeling cold.
- Restlessness.
- Dilated pupils.
- Uncontrolled eye movements.
- Feeling jittery.
- Noncardiac chest pain.
- Blurred vision.
- Chills.
Aside from these risks, the altered states produced by psychedelics can be very uncomfortable for patients. Many patients report confusion, paranoia, intense emotional distress, and a complete loss of their normal sense of reality during dosing sessions. These experiences are called “difficult trips.”[7]
Additionally, people with a history of psychosis, suicidal ideation, current use of antipsychotic drugs, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar I/II disorders are excluded from psychedelic trials. This is because such patients are at risk of dangerous destabilization by psychedelic experiences.[8]
Legality of Psychedelic Therapy in the United States
Almost all controlled psychedelic drugs in the country are Schedule I controlled substances as of 2026 under the Controlled Substances Act.[1] This is because the federal government considers them to have a high potential for abuse. In fact, only ketamine is fully legal for medical use in all 50 states in the United States.
Oregon was the first state to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use, passing Ballot Measure 109 in 2020. Colorado and New Mexico have also legalized it for medical-assisted use in 2025.[9]
Also, many cities across the U.S. have decriminalized personal possession of psychedelics, but that is not the same as legal therapeutic access.
Even in states that have legalized the use of psychedelics, you need to visit a licensed facility and undergo the structured treatment protocol to get access to psychedelic drugs.
When to Consider Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Mental Health?
It is natural to wonder: When does it make sense to try psychedelic-assisted therapy?
Here are some circumstances where it may be helpful:
- When you are dealing with severe mental health conditions, such as severe PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, significant anxiety related to a terminal illness, and so on.
- You are medically and psychiatrically eligible. In other words, you do not have a history of psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or significant cardiovascular problems.
- When you have tried conventional evidence-based treatments but have not had relief from your symptoms.
- You are willing to commit to the full structured process with all three phases of treatment.
- You are able to access a legally operating, professionally supervised program in a state where it is permitted.
However, psychedelic-assisted therapy should not be a first-line treatment choice. Accessing it outside of a licensed state program or approved clinical trial is illegal under federal law and could put you at serious legal risk.
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options. See our residences in Southern California’s Orange County & San Diego County. Take a look at our homes on the east side of the Metro area in Washington County. View our facilities in Fairfax County, VA within the DC metro area.Find Mental Health Treatment Programs
Get Mental Health Support at AMFM Mental Health Treatment
If you are dealing with mental health challenges and psychedelic therapy does not sound suitable to you, there are many other well-established treatments with strong track records of success.
At AMFM (A Mission For Michael) Mental Health Treatment, we offer evidence-based therapeutic approaches that have been shown to work against severe mental health diseases. For example, trauma-focused therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), amongst others.
Our residential locations in California, Minnesota, and Virginia provide calming environments where you can focus on your recovery. In addition to residential treatment, we also offer flexible outpatient programs and telehealth care.
AMFM Mental Health Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major insurance providers.
If you’d like to learn more about any of the options we offer, contact us. Our compassionate team is available 24/7 to answer your questions or help check your insurance coverage for mental health care. Call 866-478-4383 for a no cost, no obligation conversation.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy FAQ
If you’re curious about how psychedelic therapy may help with mental health concerns, you may have some ongoing questions about its use. We’ve provided the following answers to FAQs about how psychedelic therapy works to help.
Can psychedelic therapy help with PTSD or trauma?
Yes, there is evidence from a clinical trial where MDMA-assisted therapy reduced PTSD symptoms among 70% of participants such that they no longer qualified for the diagnostic criteria after treatment.[6] However, it remains unapproved by the FDA.
Is psychedelic therapy safe for mental health conditions?
It can be safe if delivered under strict clinical supervision. But psychedelic therapy should not be taken by people with psychosis, bipolar disorder, a history of concurrent antipsychotic use, or schizophrenia.
What is the success rate of psychedelic therapy?
The success rate of psychedelic therapy has been reported by the University of Cambridge to be around 50-60%, as per research.[10]
