What if some of the most promising tools for treating depression, PTSD, and trauma have been misunderstood for decades?
That is the question at the center of this episode of the Be Well by Kelly podcast. I sit down with Dr. Keith Kurlander and Dr. Will Van Derveer, co-founders of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and authors of Psychedelic Therapy, to unpack what the science actually says about psychedelic-assisted treatment for some of the most difficult mental health conditions we face. This is one of the most important conversations happening in modern healthcare right now, and I wanted my community to have access to it told clearly, honestly, and without the hype.
Dr. Van Derveer is a psychiatrist and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of conventional psychiatry and integrative medicine. Keith Kurlander is a licensed professional counselor and educator who has trained thousands of practitioners in psychedelic-assisted approaches. Together they have written one of the most accessible and rigorous guides to this emerging field.
What the Science Actually Shows
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is not recreational drug use. It is a structured clinical protocol in which compounds like MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine are administered in a controlled therapeutic setting, guided by trained practitioners, with the intention of facilitating deep and lasting psychological healing.
We cover all of it in this episode. MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD has produced response rates in Phase 3 FDA trials far higher than any conventional treatment currently available. Psilocybin research for major depressive disorder is generating some of the most compelling findings in psychiatry, including meaningful neuroplasticity and new patterns of thought that persist well beyond the session itself. Ketamine, currently the only legally available psychedelic-adjacent treatment in the United States, is being used to produce rapid relief from treatment-resistant depression in ways that are changing how clinicians think about the condition entirely.
We also talk honestly about risk. Who should not pursue these treatments, what the contraindications are, what can go wrong without clinical oversight, and why trained professional guidance is not optional. Dr. Van Derveer and Dr. Kurlander are clear-eyed about both the promise and the responsibility.
What Dr. Van Derveer and Dr. Kurlander are doing is rigorous, evidence-based, and deeply compassionate work at the frontier of what is possible in mental healthcare. I am grateful they came on to share it.
Please Note: Psychedelic-assisted therapy is a rapidly evolving field and many treatments discussed are still in clinical trial phases or available only through specific legal channels. Nothing here constitutes medical advice. If you are struggling with depression, PTSD, or trauma, please consult a licensed mental health professional.
