clinical medicine

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A St. Louis therapist is offering psychedelic-assisted therapy in Oregon and colorado, witnessing “profound, restorative change” in trauma patients. As Missouri lawmakers debate the potential of psilocybin for mental health, see how this innovative approach is unlocking new pathways to healing.

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Missouri therapist Pioneers Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: “Profound, Restorative Change” for Trauma

ST. LOUIS, MO – For Kate schroeder, a st. Louis therapist with 12 years of private practice experience,the initial thought of combining psychedelics with therapy was met with resistance. But after delving into clinical research and listening to pioneers in the field, she became intrigued by the potential of psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, to treat conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Now, Schroeder’s practice, Change Counseling, offers psychedelic-assisted therapy services in Oregon and Colorado, the only states where psilocybin services are legally sanctioned. She’s a certified psychedelic-assisted therapist and licensed psilocybin facilitator in both states,with about half of her clients traveling from out of state,including a notable number from Missouri.

“Psychedelic therapy isn’t really about chasing those altered states or skipping the hard work,” Schroeder explains. “It’s about deepening that therapeutic process and kind of being able to get to the parts of that self that can’t be gotten through in conventional therapy alone.”

Unlocking deep-Seated Trauma

Schroeder shared the story of a client who, after six years of dedicated therapy, had hit a roadblock in accessing deeper layers of fear stemming from childhood trauma. Traditional methods weren’t enough. After undergoing psilocybin-assisted therapy with Schroeder, the client experienced a breakthrough.

“They were able to get to that layer and discharge that energy in such a way that they weren’t as activated all the time back in ordinary consciousness,” she said. The benefits have lasted for seven months, indicating a “real deep, energetic, somatic nervous system shift.”

During treatment, clients are guided through an experience in a calming therapy room, often wearing an eye mask and listening to meditative music to encourage introspection. Schroeder, as the facilitator, provides a safe space and support, intervening only when needed. Preparation is key, including a cleansing diet and minimizing exposure to stressors in the week leading up to the session.

Missouri’s Psychedelic Debate

Schroeder has been closely following the research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, which suggests the potential benefits of psychedelics for treating difficult psychiatric problems.she is also interested in the Missouri legislation that would require the state to conduct a study on using psilocybin to treat depression, substance use, or as part of end-of-life care.Even though the bill failed to pass this year, it did receive initial approval from the Senate.

For the last three years, Missouri lawmakers have heard testimony from the veteran community about how psilocybin has helped veterans treat their PTSD in a way that prescription drugs or conventional therapy could not.

“Trauma is an experience that’s kind of stuck in our bodies and in our nervous systems,” she said. “So that is why a lot of the time conventional therapeutic approaches, even medication, can only get so far, because we have to be able to get down to that nervous system and integrate the experiences. And then they take their rightful place.”

Schroeder believes psychedelic therapy offers possibilities for “profound, restorative change,” especially for veterans who face elevated rates of PTSD and suicide.State Rep. Dave Griffith, a republican from Jefferson City and chair of the House Veterans Committee, initially skeptical, has become a proponent after reviewing research from Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.”The data that comes out of these studies that they’ve done is remarkable,” he said.

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