From Spirit to Healing: How Psychedelic Medicines are Making a Comeback

Psychedelic medicines have historically been used for health and healing and as part of individual and community spiritual rituals for thousands of years. After an initial exploration of these substances among western scientists, clinicians, and individuals in the late 1950s for various mental health applications, the DEA reclassified them as a response to the political climate of the time, ending all formal research and development in the field. With government restrictions shifting, the mental health crisis in full focus, and holistic healing gaining interest in the mainstream, the use of psychedelic medicines to treat many mental health disorders has resurged substantially in the past 2 decades resulting in many government-approved studies that utilize LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and Ketamine.

This talk will cover the basics of the relative known benefits of the more common psychedelic medicines, best practices associated with the delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and responsible integration of these potentially useful substances into mental health treatment plans. It will also touch upon the history of the sacred use of plant medicines by indigenous cultures and how to ensure a landscape where cultural and spiritual respect, equity, and safety are incorporated into the current psychedelic renaissance.  

Cindy Stein Ph.D., CNM, MPH has spent the past two decades working as a clinician and public health expert in over 15 countries with a focus on humanitarian aid and development, maternal-child health, mental health, malnutrition eradication, and infectious disease.

She completed her Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Hawai’i, Master’s degrees in both Midwifery and Public Health at Columbia University, and a BS in physical anthropology at University of Oregon.

Her post-graduate work in psychedelic-assisted therapy was completed at the California Institute of Integral Studies, Polaris Insight, and MAPS (Multi-Disciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies). She currently has a private practice in Carmel, California where she provides ketamine-assisted therapy to clients with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and alcohol use disorders. She also teaches at California State University Monterey Bay. 

The Bagel Club invites you to join us on the first Sunday of each month for a bagel brunch followed by a live speaker.

Brunch includes a selection of bagels, cream cheese, lox and all the trimmings. We welcome all CST members to join us.

We request a donation of $7-10 for the brunch. Please RSVP to CSTBagelmen@gmail.com. Please read our Covid guidelines for in-person attendance.