The Need for Anti-Racist Training in Psychedelic Therapy

Anti-Racist Training in Psychedelic Therapy is Vital

It is well-documented that white supremacy has affected the physical and emotional well-being of African Americans. The persistent grind of race-based mistreatment is a significant stressor, and those with white racial privilege readily dismiss these microaggressions (e.g., slights, jeers, unwanted touching, victim-blaming, invalidating reactions, and minimization) as inconsequential, even in psychedelic spaces.

Join Psychedelic Support and Dr. Darron Smith, MAPS trained therapist, physician’s assistant, educator, and researcher on the intersection of mental wellness and psychedelic therapy in those with racial trauma, for a conversation about anti-racist considerations for psychedelic-assisted therapists (PATs) to practice when holding space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We’ll discuss how anti-Black sentiment continues to inform how white people show up to interact with Black people in the emerging field of psychedelic therapy.

Meet Darron Smith, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA

Dr. Darron Smith is a physician assistant and US Army veteran with over twenty years of healthcare-related experience as an educator and mental health treatment provider in psychiatry. He has trained with MAPS’ MDMA-assisted therapy. His research and scholarship examine US-based systems of racial oppression and systemic inequality found in all societal domains, including healthcare, the family (transracial adoption), healthcare disparities, religion, sport, culture, and politics. Dr. Smith’s current research and practice intertwine the study of applied neuroscience, race-based trauma, and mental illness by looking at the impact of EEG biofeedback versus MDMA-assisted psychotherapy on brainwave activity in individuals with racial trauma (PTSD) using EEG technology. He serves on advisory boards for several organizations within the psychedelic space.

Resources

Learn about Anti-Racism

• The Need for Anti-Racist Training in Psychedelic Therapy by Dr. Darron Smith
• MAPS Celebrates Black History Month 2023
• The Need for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Black Community and the Burdens of Its Provision by Dr. Smith et al
• White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McInstosh
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DeAngelo
• The Catalyst Project
• Cultural Considerations in Psychedelic Research with Sara Reed, LMFT [Video]
• Influence of Paternal PTSD on Gene Receptors by Rachel Yehuda et al

Black-Led Education and Community Resources

• The Ancestor Project
• People of Color Psychedelic Collective (PoCPC)
• Dr. Monnica Williams, PhD, ABPP
• Psychedelic Liberation Collective

Psychedelic Support Network Resources

• Join Psychedelic Support’s monthly speaker series each month! Find the schedule and register here.
• Connect a BIPOC psychedelic practitioner in the Psychedelic Support Network Directory. Filter by race or use the magnifying glass for a full profile search.
• Learn about the field of psychedelics with Psychedelic Support’s accredited courses.
• Apply for a diversity scholarship to cover the cost of an educational course.