The Integration Session

Psychedelics and psychosis have long been intertwined. Historically, psychedelics were more often called ‘psychotomimetics’ or compounds that temporarily mimic the symptoms of psychosis. But today, rather than modelling psychopathology, psychedelics are more often viewed as therapeutic tools in psychiatry. But this creates a paradox in modern psychedelic science: psychedelics are being studied bot...

One of the most talked-about psychedelics in recent years is ibogaine, especially amidst recent policy shifts that aim to fast-track research progress in this area. While early evidence shows therapeutic potential for opioid addiction and PTSD in veterans, legitimate concerns remain regarding safety and cardiac risks. So, what does the clinical data really show about ibogaine’s therapeutic benefit...

One of the most pressing challenges in psychedelic science is the placebo problem: the intense subjective effects of psychedelics cause functional unblinding and amplify expectancy effects, undermining the integrity of gold-standard randomized controlled trials. In this episode of The Integration Session, we are joined by Dr. Balázs Szigeti, clinical data scientist at the UCSF Translational Psyche...

Diane Gratton—a retired nurse, educator, and grandmother—was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer with bone metastases in 2021, with an initial prognosis of five years. In this episode, she opens up about her journey with psychedelic therapy: her motivations, fears, how she prepared, her two psilocybin experiences (individual and group), and the profound emotional and existential insights that fol...

From the hippie counterculture vibes of the 1960s to the haunting visions of Midsommar, or the optimism of How to Change Your Mind, psychedelics have long shaped (and been shaped by) popular media. But how do these portrayals reflect and influence cultural narratives around altered states, spirituality, and transformation? And in what ways do they borrow from, distort, or reinvent the language of...

Although the therapeutic promise of psychedelics is often highlighted, there is a much larger story at play here: one of corporate power, political ideology, digital surveillance, and fundamental questions about the limits of Western medicine. In this episode of The Integration Session, we step back from treatment breakthroughs to examine the bigger story: the rapid rise of ‘Psychedelic Capitalism...

Humans have always needed community to heal, grow, and make meaning in this life - something Indigenous and traditional healing practices have long incorporated alongside psychedelic medicine. Yet Western cultures, steeped in individualism, seem to be only recently rediscovering the importance of community. So, what should the true role of community be in psychedelic integration? More broadly, how...

Demoralization syndrome affects a substantial portion of patients with advanced cancer, but how does it differ from depression? How might psilocybin help patients find relief and peace while facing their own mortality? In this episode, Dr. Carolina Hernandorena, psychiatrist and PhD candidate in neuroscience at Queen’s University, shares her journey from psychiatric training in Argentina to psyche...

What can we learn from psychedelic use in people with lived experience of eating disorders? As a population with barely any approved medications, surprising self-reports reveal that cannabis and psychedelics may offer high rates of real-world symptom relief. In this episode of The Integration Session, we are joined by Sarah Rodan, a postdoctoral research associate at the InsideOut Institute in Syd...

Women’s bodies have long been treated as a ‘variable’ to control for in science, rather than a focus of research inquiry. Psychedelic science is no exception, with major knowledge gaps regarding the menstrual cycle, menopause, and pregnancy. But, what might be discovered if we become more curious about women’s physiology in psychedelic science? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Grace Blest-Hop...

Join Dr. Bia Labate, anthropologist, activist, and Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, in this live interview brought to you by the Queen’s University Psychedelic Society Speaker Series. With over 30 years of global experience in psychedelic traditions, Dr. Labate shares the motivations behind her lifelong commitment to plant medicines and social justice....

From Johns Hopkins to Ottawa, Dr. Jérémie Richard is a clinical psychologist with unique binational experience in the field of psychedelic science. Now an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and director of the Clinical & Applied Psychedelic Science Lab, Dr. Richard joins host Dr. Elena Koning to trace his career path and share his most personally impactful and ongoing work in psyc...

Psychedelics are increasingly recognized as an approach to help heal trauma – but without the proper support, the same experience that enables healing could lead to re-traumatization. How does this work and what should psychedelic therapists do about it? Guy Simon is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and PhD candidate experienced in trauma-informed psychedelic therapy. Guy’s recent work t...

How does one pivot from running a successful construction business in India to becoming a leading voice in psychedelic advocacy and mental health in Canada?  In this episode of The Integration Session, host Elena is joined by Osheen Dayal–a University of British Columbia Psychology alumna, former co-president of the Women Empowerment Club, and current Master’s student in Counselling Psychology at...

2025 was a pivotal year for psychedelic research at the Centre for Psychedelics Health & Research (CPHR) and across Canada. In this year-end finale of The Integration Session, host Dr. Elena Koning sits down with CPHR Director Dr. Claudio Soares for a reflective conversation on progress, breakthroughs, and the road ahead.  Dr. Soares shares his professional journey in psychiatry, the evolution...

Chronic pain impacts over 1.5 billion people worldwide, with the majority of affected individuals being women. As conventional treatments don’t always help, there’s an emerging interest in the potential of psychedelic therapies. In this episode of The Integration Session, we explore the current state of the science on psychedelics as an approach to alleviating pain and improving quality of life in...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to sit with someone having one of the most profound experiences of their life? In this deeply candid conversation, psychedelic therapist Denise Rue brings a wealth of experience to our discussion about facilitating psychedelic therapy. We discuss her journey to the field, the nuances of guiding individuals through psychedelic therapy, the surprising ways clini...

Which psychedelic therapy is the most cost-effective? How can we determine the value of a psychedelic treatment? In this episode of The Integration Session, we discuss the crucial economic landscape of psychedelic therapies with Dr. Elliot Marseille, a health economist and founding director of the Collaborative for the Economics of Psychedelics at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco. As a leading exp...

Can psychedelic experiences be considered ‘authentic’ spirituality? How can these substances foster spiritual healing, and what ethical principles must guide their use in society? In this episode of The Integration Session , we take a deep dive into the topic with distinguished theological ethicists Dr. Tracy J. Trothen and Ron Cole-Turner. Together, we explore how psychedelics could enrich spirit...

For thousands of years, humans have used psychedelics, but how have these substances influenced our evolutionary path? Does the Stoned Ape Theory hold true? And might psychedelics offer solutions to humanity’s greatest challenges, such as political division, war, and climate change? In this episode of The Integration Session, we are joined by Dr. Michael Winkelman, author of The Handbook for Enthe...

Want to stay updated on the latest advancements in psychedelic science without reading lengthy scientific papers? Welcome to the first Research Recap , where Elena breaks down three recent studies in psychedelic science, in a digestible format. In this episode, we touch on the potential of psilocybin therapy for mood symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, psychedelic use in eating disorder populations,...

What makes an exceptional psychedelic guide? Should access to psychedelics be as straightforward as obtaining a driver’s license? And what do over 100 studies reveal about psychedelic use outside clinical settings? In this episode of The Integration Session , we are joined by Dr. Mark Haden, a pioneer in psychedelic research, therapy, and drug policy reform. We discuss his recent study on naturali...

What if healing isn’t just something that happens inside us—but also something that lives in our relationships with the land, the sky, and the more-than-human world around us? In this episode of The Integration Session , Elena is joined by Keith Williams, Andrée-Anne Bédard, and Laura Pustarfi to explore the concept of inner healing intelligence —a central yet undertheorized idea in psychedelic th...

There’s an ongoing legal fight for access to psychedelics in Canada, including as part of experiential training for psychedelic therapists. But, is it really necessary to have a psychedelic experience in order to be a good psychedelic therapist? What is going on with Health Canada’s confusing response to the issue and where is psychedelic drug policy headed? In this episode, we are joined by two l...

What kind of setting is optimal for psychedelic experiences? In research, many contextual factors are underreported, inconsistently reported, or treated like a black box, making it near impossible to answer this question. Thankfully, a recent paper published in Nature Medicine has brought together international experts to advise on how best to solve the issue.  In this episode of The Integration S...