Let’s start with something easy. Can you tell us a little about your professional background?

I knew I wanted to be a psychotherapist from before I went to medical school, so throughout my training I focused on both the mind and the brain, relationships and science.  When I was in my residency training, I was blindsided by how many of my patients had suffered severe forms of  childhood trauma that I’d mistakenly thought were rare, and by the multifactorial ways that past trauma continued to affect their lives daily, often in ways they didn’t realize themselves.  I learned to be attuned to trauma histories in my patients at the VA and in my private practice.   I’ve found these patients incredibly rewarding to work with and they do get better but often the treatments are long and arduous.  That’s why my jaw dropped when I heard about the results from studies of MDMA, and more recently ketamine, for trauma survivors.  The amount of pain and years of work these medicines can save is going to change the world.

What would your patients say about you?

I often hear from people that I stand out in my capacity NOT to induce shame.  There can be no more meaningful feedback for a trauma therapist than that.  They would also say they know I really care about them, and probably also that I can be too direct at times.  I tend to say it like it is, not mince words.

How did you become interested in working with psychedelics?

I think it’s important for mental health professionals to acknowledge that we’ve often had our own challenging therapeutic journeys, and when nontraditional treatments have helped, to honor that too.   Psychedelics have been of enormous benefit to my own growth and healing.

What has been your most meaningful experience in working with psychedelics?

I’ve worked with two patients in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy who had the kind of abuse histories that led to almost everything in their lives one way or another being shaped by the abuse or reactions to the abuse.  They lived in continuous states of re-experiencing trauma, being assailed by overwhelming painful emotions, and/ or completely shutting down.  Ketamine transformed their lives.  Within weeks, they were doing things they hadn’t been able to do for years, or perhaps had never done before.  They stopped trembling all the time– literally.  They stopped thinking about suicide.  They felt hope for the first time they could remember.  I’m in awe of both of them because it wasn’t just the ketamine, it was their bravery and commitment to doing the therapy they did with the help of the ketamine.

What excites you most about the future of psychedelics?

So many things.  Other than short circuiting suffering like I’ve already talked about, I’d say two other things stand out.  One is that psychedelics can bring so much compassion, for ourselves and others.  We can understand and even empathize with those we’ve been angry at or hated.  That’s if we want it.  We always have to work for it.  The other thing is that suffering and illness aside, psychedelics unlock our potential.  The help us become what we can be.  I guess what I’m saying is, everything I value about therapy, psychedelics can facilitate both within therapy and potentially  in other intentional and safe settings.   

What advice would you give to a psychiatrist or therapist just getting started in this industry?

I’ll give the didactic reminders first: Remember that there is no magic bullet.  Nothing works for everyone.  Safety always comes first. There’s no shortcut to becoming a skilled clinician, and no substitute.  However, you’ve got an extraordinary, unprecedented opportunity before you, if you’re learning to work with these awe-inspiring substances early in your career.   Do it responsibly and your work life will be filled with fascination, meaning, and honor of transforming people’s lives for the better.

Enough about work! Let’s try some rapid fire questions.

• Where do you live? Proud New Yorker since 1988!🗽 🚕
• What’s a perfect afternoon? Reading a good book with a cat in my lap
• Favorite food? Sushi 🍣
• Describe yourself in two words. Compassionate and intense