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Sara Reed | “Culturally Responsible Care in Psychedelic Therapy”
Cultural and social identities shape how we perceive and experience the world, and these lenses also influence how participants interpret their psychedelic journeys. While many psychedelic training programs touch on the importance of cultural sensitivity, few provide practical guidance on how to incorporate it into therapeutic practices. Therapists hold a position of influence, so space holders must build awareness around their biases and blind spots to deliver the best care. In this session, we will explore the intersection of culture and psychedelic medicine, highlighting the critical role of cultural sensitivity in effective psychedelic therapy.
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Sara Reed is a mental health futurist and has spent her early career reimagining effective mental health care in the medical system. Sara’s clinical interests focus on ethical care in psychedelic sessions, examining ways culture informs how we diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Before joining the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Sara participated as a study therapist with the MDMA therapy for PTSD clinical trials sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). While working with MAPS, she advocated for health equity in psychedelic therapy and co-led the first ever MAPS MDMA-assisted psychotherapy training for clinicians of color. After this study ended, she received training in psilocybin therapy at Yale University for the “Psilocybin-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder” trial and co-wrote a paper using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic modality in this treatment. In addition to her appointment at Imperial, Sara co-facilitates psilocybin truffle retreats in the Netherlands. She works in private practice with patients with mood and anxiety disorders using ketamine as an adjunct to psychotherapy. Sara lectures on topics fusing culturally sensitive practices with psychedelic-assisted therapy and advises organizations on anti-oppressive and inclusive practices.
The event recording (talk without the Q&A) will be emailed to those who have purchased a ticket two weeks after the event and will remain available for viewing for a month thereafter.
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Local Time
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Date: Mar 10 2025
- Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm