For most of my adult life, I’ve considered myself an agnostic—sometimes, if I’m honest, an atheist. I walked into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous over two decades ago, desperate and determined to get sober. And I did. I stayed sober
The use of psychedelic substances in psychotherapy has a long and complex history, spanning several decades and encompassing a variety of therapeutic approaches. Among these, two prominent modalities emerged in the mid-20th century: psychedelic therapy and psycholytic therapy. While both
The field of addiction recovery is evolving, and with it, a growing recognition that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing from substance use disorders. Historically, abstinence-based programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) have been the cornerstone
I never imagined I’d be here—sitting across from my patients and sponsees, carrying the weight of a secret that could destroy my career, my license, and my standing in the recovery community. But here I am, a clinician in recovery,
In the world of spiritual literature, few pieces are as universally beloved and widely recited as the “Prayer of St. Francis,” also known as the “Peace Prayer.” The prayer, which begins with the lines “Lord, make me an instrument of
An Oxford Group meeting in the 1930s, which significantly influenced the early development of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), was quite different from modern AA meetings. The Oxford Group was a Christian fellowship focused on spiritual growth, personal transformation, and evangelism. In
Living with someone struggling with addiction is like riding an emotional rollercoaster. It’s not just the person with the addiction who is caught in the grip of the disease, but also those who love them. I’ve been on this ride
The fight against addiction has seen numerous approaches, from conventional rehab programs to cutting-edge pharmaceutical interventions. Among the more unconventional—and increasingly promising—treatments is ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic derived from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub found in West
In the mid-20th century, addiction treatment was ripe for innovation. Out of this period of experimentation and new ideas emerged Synanon, a radical and controversial approach to recovery. The origins of Synanon can be traced back to two influential experiences:
There are days when I wake up, and my first thought is, “Is today the day I lose him?” My son, now in his twenties, has been battling opiate addiction for years. Every morning, I brace myself before looking at
As a clinician in recovery, navigating the path to healing can be particularly complex, especially when traditional recovery methods intersect with emerging, alternative approaches. For those of us who have chosen to incorporate psychedelics into our personal recovery journeys, despite
Betty Eisner, a pioneering psychologist from the mid-20th century, was instrumental in the early exploration of psychedelic therapy, particularly the use of LSD for treating psychological conditions such as alcoholism. Working alongside Sidney Cohen at UCLA, Eisner was at the