WHAT IS PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY?
Psychedelic assisted therapy is a promising new medical therapy that emerging research is proving to be therapeutic for a vast array of medical conditions that have thus far been resistant to any known treatments. Patients are offered a short course of psychotherapy, usually around 8-12 sessions. Within this course of treatment, a psychedelic medicine such as psilocybin or MDMA is offered to the patient within a safe, secure, comfortable setting in the company of trained healthcare professionals. The psychedelic medicine helps to ease the psychological defence mechanisms that often hinders the patient's ability to engage in meaningful psychotherapy. This allows repressed traumatic experiences to be processed and worked through, providing psychological relief. This process is experiential and does not require the patient to speak. It lasts for around 6 hours. Further psychotherapy sessions are used to help integrate what was learned during the psychedelic experience which allows for long lasting beneficial effects.
WHO WE ARE
We are doctors, researchers, psychotherapists, and healthcare professionals caring for patients in Ireland. We work in a broad range of specialties, from general practice to psychiatry, neurology to oncology. We look after patients who are struggling and suffering despite receiving the best available treatment. We believe many of these patients would benefit from having access to psychedelic assisted therapy. Psychedelic assisted therapy is still unavailable in Ireland due to its legal status. With mounting evidence for its effectiveness in treating a range of disorders, we are advocating for this therapy to be made a HSE funded, publicly available treatment.
WHAT WE DO
Advocate, Educate, Change
ADVOCACY
Giving our patients a voice
We stand for our patients. We want Ireland to be at the forefront of medical innovation. As psychedelic assisted therapies are becoming medically licensed around the world, we aim to make sure that Ireland is not left behind.
EDUCATION
Promoting the most current research
As doctors, we are continuously striving to stay up to date with current research guiding treatment guidelines. As psychedelic assisted therapies are being proven in studies to be effective treatments for a broad array of medical issues, we aim to promote awareness among Irish healthcare workers and policy makers of these promising new therapies.
CHANGE
Connecting with policy makers
We wish to see psychedelic assisted therapies rolled out in Ireland. Our hope is that this will be done in a timely fashion in keeping with current research trials and international medical licensing. IDPAT brings together all interested parties to work with policy makers so that this can be done effectively.
