The Future of Psychedelic Therapy | Dr. Will Van Derveer on Trauma, Healing & Root Cause Integrative Psychiatry

Today on Conversations with Dr. Wes, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Will Van Derveer for a deep and wide-ranging conversation on psychedelic therapy, trauma healing, and root cause integrative psychiatry.Dr. Van Derveer is a psychiatrist, educator, co-founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, Medical Director of Integrative Psychiatric Centers in Boulder, Colorado, and co-author of Psychedelic Therapy. His work bridges conventional psychiatry, trauma-informed care, integrative medicine, and the rapidly evolving field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.In this conversation, Will and I explore what it means to move beyond symptom management and into a more holistic vision of healing—one that includes trauma history, nervous system regulation, meaning-making, relationship, biology, spirituality, and consciousness itself.Together we dive into:• Root cause integrative psychiatry vs symptom-based psychiatry• Trauma, PTSD, and nervous system healing• Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for depression and suicidality• Psilocybin therapy and the evolving therapeutic landscape• MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD• Set, setting, intention, and why integration matters• The limitations of the DSM and reductionistic psychiatric models• Post-traumatic growth, resilience, and meaning-making• Addiction, suffering, and healing through a whole-person lens• The future of psychedelic therapy and mental health careThis conversation moves beyond clinical frameworks into deeper human territory—exploring suffering, transformation, healing, and what it really means to care for the whole person.We talk about how healing is rarely linear, how psychedelic therapy can become a powerful catalyst when approached responsibly, and why lasting transformation ultimately asks more of us than symptom reduction—it asks us to live differently, relate differently, and integrate what we uncover.Will brings a rare balance of scientific rigor, clinical experience, humility, and openness to complexity. I’m grateful for his work and for the conversation we were able to share together.Thanks for listening.— Dr. Wes📘 Psychedelic TherapyLearn more here🌿 Integrative Psychiatry Institute🏥 Integrative Psychiatry Centers🌐 docwes.com✍️ Dr. Wes Substack🎙️ Conversations with Dr. Wes on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts