Testimonials

“I developed complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) after experiencing repeated trauma as a child. I started therapy when I was 10-years old and continued weekly therapy throughout my life, with little effect.

When I moved to Seattle, my PTSD worsened, despite bi-weekly therapy sessions. Talk therapy wasn’t working. I was involved with a psychedelic trance collective at the time and was the only member who had never tried psychedelics. Many collective members spoke about how they expanded themselves through plants and how their outlook improved.

I decided to try a different type of professional therapy specific to PTSD. I started researching psychedelics and their part in PTSD treatment, e.g., “Acid Test”, by Tom Schroder. In between PTSD-therapy sessions, I would go out to the woods and take therapeutic doses of psilocybin (1-2 grams of psilocybe cyanescens mushrooms).

Psilocybin broke down many unhelpful perspectives, showed me how strong I am, and highlighted my connection to everyone and everything. It fast-tracked my healing in therapy and helped it “stick,” which had never happened before in 20+ years of therapy. I only did psychedelics a handful of times while undergoing PTSD treatment, but it shattered many destructive thought patterns.

I processed what I experienced for about a year. On top of healing from trauma, I realized I was unhappy with how we live on this planet and who I was, and dedicated my life to tearing down any emotional artifacts that prevented me from feeling fully connected to myself and the world. It was a wild ride, and the journey was NOT a direct route to instant happiness–it was a saga that made me the hero in my own story and gave me a strong sense of self. And like most adventures, I lost parts of myself, gained healthier perspectives, and attained a completion I thought I never would.” – Rachel B.