Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

What is psychedelic-assisted therapy?

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a clinical treatment model that uses psychedelic substances as a catalyst within a broader therapeutic framework. Unlike recreational use or self-directed microdosing, PAT involves:

• Professional guidance — trained therapists guide the experience
• Preparation sessions — therapeutic sessions before the psychedelic experience to establish rapport, set intentions, and prepare the participant
• Dosing session — the psychedelic experience itself, conducted in a controlled, comfortable setting with therapist support
• Integration sessions — follow-up therapeutic sessions to process and integrate insights from the experience

The model typically uses full (macro) doses rather than microdoses, though some emerging protocols explore sub-threshold approaches.

Substances in clinical development:

• Psilocybin — Phase II/III trials for depression, end-of-life anxiety, addiction, OCD
• MDMA — Phase III trials for PTSD (FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation)
• LSD — Phase II trials for anxiety, depression
• Ketamine — already legally available for treatment-resistant depression (esketamine/Spravato)

Why it matters for microdosing

PAT and microdosing exist on the same spectrum of psychedelic use for well-being:

• Complementary approaches — some people begin with microdosing and later explore PAT, or use microdosing as maintenance between PAT sessions
• Shared principles — preparation, set and setting, and integration are equally important in both approaches
• Research spillover — PAT clinical trials generate knowledge that informs microdosing practice
• Legitimization — the success of PAT in clinical trials is driving broader acceptance of psychedelic medicine, benefiting the microdosing community
• Professional support — understanding PAT helps microdosers know when professional guidance might be more appropriate than self-directed practice

What to watch out for

• DIY ≠ clinical — self-directed microdosing lacks the safety net of professional therapeutic support
• When to seek professional help — if you're dealing with serious mental health conditions (PTSD, severe depression, addiction), PAT with professional support is more appropriate than self-directed microdosing
• Credentials matter — as interest grows, unqualified practitioners may offer "psychedelic therapy"; verify training and credentials
• Legal access — outside of clinical trials, legal PAT options are currently limited to ketamine (widely available) and psilocybin (Oregon, Colorado)
• Cost — PAT can be expensive; insurance coverage is limited and varies by jurisdiction