Voices of PS2025 - Bessel van der Kolk and Rick Doblin

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and Dr. Rick Doblin discuss the clinical challenges of MDMA-assisted therapy for individuals with profound, long-standing developmental trauma. The conversation centers on the necessity of addressing pre-existing lack of safety and the importance of helping patients distinguish past traumatic experiences from present reality. Van der Kolk emphasizes the impact of MDMA in providing a timeline to traumatic memories and fostering self-compassion, ultimately serving as a bridge to process trauma that was previously inaccessible. Both speakers also reflect on the historical contributions of practitioners who first utilized LSD in clinical settings.