Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Reducing Harm and Maximizing Connection: Psychedelics in Clinical Practice and Recreational Settings
Psychedelics are powerful tools that can shake up our sense of self and open doors to profound connection, but they're not without risks. As clinicians, we need to approach these substances with a balanced perspective, recognizing their potential for healing while also emphasizing harm reduction strategies. In both clinical and recreational settings, it's crucial to create a safe, supportive environment for psychedelic experiences. This means having trained professionals nearby, educating users about potential risks and interactions, and fostering a non-judgmental space for integration. The real work often begins after the psychedelic journey, as we help individuals translate their insights into lasting positive changes. By combining principles from harm reduction psychotherapy, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches, we can guide people towards more meaningful connections - with themselves, their partners, families, communities, and the natural world around them. Ultimately, psychedelics offer us a unique opportunity to disrupt harmful patterns, increase psychological flexibility, and tap into the neurochemistry of connection, potentially addressing the epidemic of disconnection that plagues our modern society.
Bio:
Dr. Julie Holland is an author and psychiatrist. She was formerly an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital’s Psych ER. Now a medical advisor to MAPS, she was a medical monitor for several clinical studies examining the efficacy of using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy or cannabis in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She sits on multiple scientific advisory boards of cannabis and psychedelic companies and is a member of the International Society for Substance Assisted Psychotherapy.
Reducing Harm and Maximizing Connection: Psychedelics in Clinical Practice and Recreational Settings
Psychedelics are powerful tools that can shake up our sense of self and open doors to profound connection, but they're not without risks. As clinicians, we need to approach these substances with a balanced perspective, recognizing their potential for healing while also emphasizing harm reduction strategies. In both clinical and recreational settings, it's crucial to create a safe, supportive environment for psychedelic experiences. This means having trained professionals nearby, educating users about potential risks and interactions, and fostering a non-judgmental space for integration. The real work often begins after the psychedelic journey, as we help individuals translate their insights into lasting positive changes. By combining principles from harm reduction psychotherapy, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches, we can guide people towards more meaningful connections - with themselves, their partners, families, communities, and the natural world around them. Ultimately, psychedelics offer us a unique opportunity to disrupt harmful patterns, increase psychological flexibility, and tap into the neurochemistry of connection, potentially addressing the epidemic of disconnection that plagues our modern society.
Bio:
Dr. Julie Holland is an author and psychiatrist. She was formerly an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital’s Psych ER. Now a medical advisor to MAPS, she was a medical monitor for several clinical studies examining the efficacy of using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy or cannabis in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She sits on multiple scientific advisory boards of cannabis and psychedelic companies and is a member of the International Society for Substance Assisted Psychotherapy.
