TheraPsil is establishing a trusted ecosystem for psychedelic healthcare professionals through psilocybin and MDMA training programs. TheraPsil has and continues to develop a pool of suitably trained and trusted Psychotherapy Associates to whom we can refer patients. These clinicians are credentialed healthcare professionals such as Therapists, Nurses, Social Workers, Medical Doctors, Psychologists, etc.

Part of the benefit of a patient connecting to a TheraPsil-trained practitioner is the guarantee that the practitioner is a part of a regulatory body, with a code of practice and ethics. They will have completed TheraPsil’s training and will follow TheraPsil’s structured clinical protocol, including preparatory session, 2 sitters on the session day, integration, etc. With the practitioners being part of a regulatory body as well as associated with TheraPsil, it adds a level of safety.
To learn more about our training program visit our Training page here. 

No, TheraPsil is not a clinic, rather our role extends to facilitating connections for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

We connect patients with healthcare providers and associated clinics that have undergone TheraPsil’s training programs, following our established clinical protocol.

TheraPsil supports clients in determining SAP eligibility through our Patients Page, and assists individuals with a referral from their primary care provider, connecting them to trained professionals via our practitioner directory.

• We do not advocate for the illegal use or possession of psychedelics;
• We do not help patients find a source of psychedelics or advise on source options;
• We do not encourage or advocate for self-medicating (i.e taking psychedelics without medical or therapeutic. protocols), however, we may support patients who have self-medicated with psychedelics in the past and are now seeking legal access, and professional treatment;
• At the present moment, we do not treat patients, and we are not a clinic, however, we can help connect patients with qualified healthcare practitioners to facilitate treatment.

Facilitating Legal Access: TheraPsil supports qualified Canadians in gaining legal access to psilocybin and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. This involves navigating government processes like the Special Access Program (SAP) and exemptions to section 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Patients apply through TheraPsil’s patient intake page, where qualified clients are then connected to credentialed, trained healthcare professionals through the Practitioner Directory (trained professionals who have completed TheraPsil’s psychedelic training programs.)

Psychedelic Training for Patient Treatment: TheraPsil is dedicated to establishing a trusted ecosystem for psychedelic healthcare professionals who can support patients with psilocybin and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

TheraPsil’s efforts extend beyond patient support and training. We actively engage in public education, clinical research, and advocacy for policy changes in the field of psychedelic therapies. Our mission is to inform the public, foster a community of qualified professionals, contribute to the evidence base, and work towards creating a more inclusive legal landscape for these therapies. By promoting a grassroots approach and regulated access, TheraPsil strives to ensure that legal psychedelic therapy is accessible to all who can benefit from it.

TheraPsil is powered by a diverse and dedicated team, including healthcare practitioners such as doctors, therapists, and nurses, along with researchers, policymakers, lawyers, advocates, and invaluable support staff. This collaborative and interdisciplinary approach enables us to navigate the complexities of psychedelic healthcare in Canada effectively. If you’re interested in getting to know the individuals behind TheraPsil and learning more about our team, please click here. 

Our journey began in 2019 by providing legal and medical support to patients at the end-of-life through psilocybin therapy. Over time, we have expanded our mission to include providing the highest quality psychedelic training in the world, and working to ensure all Canadians in medical need can access legal and safe psychedelic therapies. 

TheraPsil is a small Canadian nonprofit dedicated to providing legal and safe access to psychedelic therapies for Canadians in medical need. Our focus lies in establishing a trusted ecosystem for healthcare professionals specializing in psilocybin and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy who can provide legal psychedelic therapy to Canadians. At the core of our mission is a human-centred approach, rooted in compassion.

As with all treatments, there are contraindications and risks. However, the medical literature suggests that psilocybin-assisted therapy can be a safe and effective treatment option for certain mental health conditions, in comparison to other treatments.

The safety profile of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is different from the recreational use of psychedelics as the treatment setting is carefully prepared, the psychotherapist works to prepare the patient, and monitor the session. Research also shows that psilocybin is not addictive. Rather, psilocybin is actually anti-addictive, meaning that some individuals who consume psilocybin tend to reduce their consumption of other substances.

There are physical and psychological reasons in which psilocybin therapy may not be a safe option for some people. TheraPsil ensures a healthcare prescriber oversees a medical screening before psilocybin therapy is pursued to ensure all contraindications are assessed.

While under the influence of psilocybin, an individual’s consciousness is heavily altered. This can be a very vulnerable situation. This is why a solid foundation of trust between the therapist and the patient is of utmost importance. Patients supported by TheraPsil Practitioner Associates for their psilocybin treatment are provided many preparatory sessions to ensure trust and safety is established before the potential treatment day occurs.

You may have heard about psychedelics and the ominous “bad trip”. These so-called “bad trips” are often had when the proper support and planning is not in place surrounding an altered state, such as when one is at a social gathering or while using a psychedelic alone. A psilocybin experience can be physically and emotionally uncomfortable at times. Some patients report bouts of nausea, perspiration, tremors, fear, and anxiety when working through challenging experiences. Although it is important to note that within the supportive framework of psychotherapy, with two trusted and trained practitioners holding steady support for an individual, surrendering to and working through challenging experiences is often considered incredibly valuable and at times transformative.
 

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is an active process that a patient must engage in, with intention. Like many things in life, you often get out what you put in. The more dedicated one is to their own preparation, experience and integration, the more likely positive results will incur and be sustained. No two psilocybin experiences are the same, and some patients may not experience the positive effects named above. For some, the experience is not life-changing. It is important to go into the psilocybin session with direction but without strong expectations, being open to whatever you experience.

Yes! All around the world groundbreaking research has been and is being done regarding psilocybin-therapy. This research has shown the effectiveness of psilocybin in combination with skilled psychotherapy to reduce depression, anxiety, and end-of-life distress for those living with a terminal illness, in palliative care or who are experiencing distress as a result of a life-threatening illness.

Foundational studies on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy can be found at the following links:

• Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial
• Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial
• Individual Experiences in Four Cancer Patients Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy

We have amalgamated a bibliography of research, here.

TheraPsil is also contributing to current and future psilocybin research. Observational research studies have been designed in collaboration with researchers from McGill University, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and the world’s first Psychedelic Research Centre at Imperial College, London. All eligible patients granted legal access to psilocybin therapy have the opportunity to take part in this research initiative. Find out more about past and present psilocybin research here.

Research shows that psilocybin can have profoundly positive effects on people facing the end of life. One dose of psilocybin, accompanied by psychotherapy, can help reduce the depression, anxiety, and hopelessness that is often associated with the end-of-life experience. Psilocybin itself can induce spiritual or mystical states, feelings of unity, a profound sense of love and acceptance for all that is. This treatment can increase a sense of spiritual connectedness and meaning in life, while at the same time reducing a desire to hasten death and the existential anxiety that is associated with facing the end of life. 

After the treatment day, the patient attends integration sessions. These sessions help the patient find understanding and meaning in their psychedelic journey and support the integration of the experience into their daily life. Integration can involve journaling, sharing insights with others, or noticing shifts in patterns or perspectives. It is an ongoing process beyond the therapy sessions. 

The treatment day involves the patient ingesting psilocybin under the supervision of trained psychotherapy sitters. The location may vary, and the patient typically lies on a couch with eye shades and headphones, focusing on their inner experiences. Throughout the session, the patient can make choices such as removing the eye shades or speaking with the practitioners. The treatment gradually begins and ends with a supported shift in consciousness. 

Patients undergo a medical screening to ensure they are suitable for psilocybin-assisted therapy. They also participate in several therapy sessions to build trust, set intentions, and plan logistics for the upcoming treatment day. 

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy refers to the professionally guided use of psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy and differs greatly from the recreational use of psychedelics. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy involves a rigorous and clinically tested treatment protocol that encompasses careful medical oversight of the treatment session, as well as pre-and post-psychotherapy sessions that help prepare an individual for lasting healing.

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy involves three aspects: preparation, the treatment day, and integration.

No. TheraPsil does not, and legally cannot help patients or individuals procure ‘magic mushrooms’ or psilocybin in any form.TheraPsil advocates for regulated legal access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy through legal pathways in Canada. TheraPsil cannot help individuals obtain psilocybin for recreational or personal use. Patients whose prescriber successfully receives special access to psilocybin on their behalf through the Special Access Program (SAP) may then be provided synthetic or natural psilocybin directly from a regulated producer. 

Psilocybin is a compound found in many species of mushrooms that creates psychoactive and psychedelic effects, which may include alterations in sensation, cognition, and emotion. Psilocybin can be synthesized to better ensure the purity, potency, and accuracy of doses. Researchers use this synthetic form in their clinical trials. Psilocybin mushrooms may be more commonly referred to as ‘magic mushrooms’ or ‘shrooms’.