A recent CBC article discussed a new therapy option offered at ATMA Urban Journey Clinic in Calgary. The clinic will now offer psychedelic drug therapy to treat depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder. “It’s kind of the opposite of what a typical antidepressant or psychotic medication would do,” said CEO David Harder, who noted the clinic is the result of decades of research and studies.
Rather than suppressing emotions with prescription drugs, psychedelic treatment brings issues to the surface, and allows a therapist to work through them with the patient. For example, the article notes a man with a terminal cancer diagnosis who is using psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, to deal with anxiety and depression. Although still in its infancy, psychedelic therapy has shown promise for a safe, efficacious treatment for a range of mental health issues.
