In a potentially groundbreaking move for alternative medicine, the University of Ottawa has announced the creation of a first-of-its-kind program that will allow students to earn a Master’s Degree (MA) in Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies.
Described as a “comprehensive exploration of the therapeutic, spiritual, ritual, and naturalistic uses of psychedelics across cultures and throughout human history,” the one-year program will debut in September of this year.
“We are excited to offer this groundbreaking program that will not only advance academic research but also provide practical training for those working in mental health and spiritual care,” explained Dr. Monnica Williams, the newly minted program’s Co-director and a Full Professor at the School of Psychology. “Our goal is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to explore and harness the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in a culturally sensitive and scientifically informed manner.” Growing Momentum for Potential Therapeutic Uses of Psychedelics
Although psychedelics are often associated with the counter-culture movement in the 1960s or the modern-day club scene due to their mind-altering effects, the potential for things like LSD, Psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA in treating serious medical conditions has begun to gather momentum . Last year, researchers from Ohio State University reported significant improvements in the symptoms of PTSD for U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) veterans , including reductions in depression and feelings of anxiety. Perhaps even more significant, those researchers said SOF veterans with brain injuries, such as Green Berets and Navy Seals returning from combat, saw improvements to their base-level cognitive functions after using one of the two drugs in the study.
“The fact that we saw that there were improvements in cognitive functioning linked to brain injury were probably the most striking results because that’s something we didn’t predict, and it’s very new and novel in terms of how psychedelics might help in so many different domains,” lead author Dr. Alan Davis, associate professor and director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education (CPDRE) in Ohio State’s College of Social Work.
Additional studies have highlighted the physiological mechanisms that may help explain the therapeutic use of psychedelics for mental […]
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