The Hope and Hype of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy | In Vivo w/ Dr. Emma Hapke | Ep 27

In this episode I speak with Dr. Emma Hapke, a leading psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychedelic researcher who ran the MAPS Canada MDMA trials in Montreal.Dr. Hapke provides an expert, on-the-ground look at the clinical trials and therapeutic process using substances like MDMA for PTSD and high-dose Psilocybin therapy for patients struggling with depression and end-of-life distress (fear of death/unprocessed grief).What you will learn:The Clinical Process: Dr. Hapke walks us through the intensive patient screening process, the preparation sessions, the high-dose treatment day, and the critical role of post-session integration and a two-therapist model.The Psychedelic Experience: Discover why these medicines are non-specific "amplifiers of the psyche" that facilitate a depth-oriented psychotherapeutic process. She cautions against the media narrative of a "brain reset," emphasizing that the medicines act as "catalysts for this deep work," which remains challenging for the patient.History and Future: We explore the deep history of altered consciousness and plant medicine in indigenous cultures, the 20th-century rediscovery with Albert Hofmann and LSD, and how the War on Drugs caused a decades-long setback for research.This discussion cuts through the "hope and the hype" to provide a clear, scientifically grounded view of where psychedelic medicine is today and its promise for the future of mental healthcare.Dr. Hapke's profile - https://www.uhn.ca/MentalHealth/Research/Psychedelic-Psychotherapy-Research/Pages/who-we-are.aspxIn Vivo on X - https://x.com/InVivoPodOnXIn Vivo on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@InVivoPodcastIn Vivo on Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-vivo/id1775578563In Vivo on Amazon Podcasts - https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/1ac4dbec-df46-4d1f-b0a1-742e9656ef44/in-vivo