Psychedelics in Social Work

In the final episode of Em's deep dive into the self, identity, and non-ordinary states of consciousness, Em and Libby talk through the field of ecopsychology, pushing against philosophical assumptions of Western academia, and animism with Professor Travis Cox. Professor Cox is a core associate professor of Ecopsychology at Naropa University. You can find out more about Dr. Cox and by visiting his faculty page.Maybe you have comments, questions, or just want to get involved in the conversation some how. As we mention in the episode, we will be doing an Ask Me Anything episode later in the season. If you'd like to pose an anonymous question and hear answers from the hosts and/or specific guests please send your questions to:Email: [email protected]: @psychedelicsinsocialwork.Like, subscribe, and share!Music by the Groovy Tad Nicol

What does it mean to reclaim your self? Continuing their exploration of identity, the self, and non-ordinary states of consciousness, Em and Libby look at the intersection of psychedelics and Black-American experience. This episodes' guests, Dr. Nicholas Powers and Sara Oke, offer their perspectives on what it really means to liberate the self. Dr. Nicholas Powers is an associate professor of English at SUNY Old Westbury and the author Black Psychedelic Revolution: From Trauma to Liberation. We dive into this collection of essays, autofiction, and psychedelic visions. You can find out more about Dr. Powers and his book by visiting his website, his Instagram, or his Facebook.Sara Oke is the lead Psychedelic Research Therapist at Imperial College London. She lectures internationally on ways psychedelic-assisted therapists can be more culturally attuned and responsible in their work. You can find more about her on her website and LinkedIn.Maybe you have comments, questions, or just want to get involved in the conversation some how. As we mention in the episode, we will be doing an Ask Me Anything episode later in the season. If you'd like to pose an anonymous question and hear answers from the hosts and/or specific guests please send your questions to:Email: [email protected]: @psychedelicsinsocialwork.Like, subscribe, and share!Music by the Groovy Tad Nicol

This week, Em and Rafaelle Lancelotta take a detour into the molecule of 5-MeO-DMT. No, they aren't taking it in this episode, but they are discussing some other ways the "expanded self" might well be understood. For more information on Rafaelle and her work, visit her website relationshipispsychedelic.com or check out her ResearchGate profile at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafaelle-Lancelotta.In this episode, our audio cuts out when Rafaelle explains how 5-MeO-DMT is metabolized into bufotenine. Rafaelle also wanted to add this note: While the molecule itself cannot be patented in its natural form, synthetic processes, delivery systems, formulations, and clinical protocols can be patented. There are several companies trying to do that currently for better or worse. Maybe you have comments, questions, or just want to get involved in the conversation somehow. As we mention in the episode, we will be doing an Ask Me Anything episode later in the season. If you'd like to pose an anonymous question and hear answers from the hosts and/or specific guests please send your questions to:Email: [email protected]: @psychedelicsinsocialwork.Like, subscribe, and share!Music by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Em and Libby continue their exploration of identity, the self, and non-ordinary states of consciousness, this time through the lens of sexual and gender identity. Our first guest, Maya Seale, shares her story of personal, political, and psychedelic transformation. Our second guest, Rafaelle Lancelotta helps fill in some of the research behind queer identity and psychedelic use. Maya and Rafaelle draw from a couple of concepts that can be cited from original sources and/or explained a bit further. They include:- "Tethering together" systems of oppression: Maya cites bell hooks as an important figure in her thinking about white supremacist, colonial, capitalist patriarchy. She notes how this concept can help explain "transmisogyny," which denotes how discourses around sex binarism and misogyny go hand in hand.- Relatedly, Maya wanted to clarify one way in which these systems might interrelate. Oppositional sexism, for instance, pairs well with white supremacist discourse, in that both seek to define differences in sex, ethnic, and racial characteristics as markers of degrees in civility and/or racial and cultural superiority. - "Set, setting, and support" can be linked to Dr. Kwasi Adusei and Jasmine Virdi, who have collaborated on scholarship related to this topic.You can find Maya on IG @mayamelieee or send her an email at [email protected]. For more information on Rafaelle and her work, visit her website relationshipispsychedelic.com or check out her ResearchGate profile at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafaelle-Lancelotta. Maybe you have comments, questions, or just want to get involved in the conversation some how. As we mention in the episode, we will be doing an Ask Me Anything episode later in the season. If you'd like to pose an anonymous question and hear answers from the hosts and/or specific guests please send your questions to:Email: [email protected]: @psychedelicsinsocialwork.Like, subscribe, and share!Music by the Groovy Tad Nicol

This week, Em and Taita Daniel continue their conversation from the previous episode. In their exploration of self, identity, and plant medicines, Taita Daniel shares what two-spirit identity means for them, how gender factors into colonization, and how their gender identity relates to their work as a healer. To find out more about Taita Daniel and their work, you can find them on their Instagram @taitadaniel or send an email to [email protected] you have comments, questions, or just want to get involved in the conversation somehow. As we mention in the episode, we will be doing an Ask Me Anything episode later in the season. If you'd like to pose an anonymous question and hear answers from the hosts and/or specific guests please send your questions to:Email: [email protected]: @psychedelicsinsocialwork.Like, subscribe, and share!Music by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Em and Libby continue exploring the self, identity, and non-ordinary states of consciousness in an interview with Taita Daniel, a mestizo-indigenous two spirits medicine healer. Em and Taita Daniel talk about what it means to "decolonize the self" and approach plant medicines with humility and respect. To find out more about Taita Daniel and their work, you can find them on their Instagram @taitadaniel or send an email to [email protected]. Maybe you have comments, questions, or just want to get involved in the conversation some how. As we mention in the episode, we will be doing an Ask Me Anything episode later in the season. If you'd like to pose an anonymous question and hear answers from the hosts and/or specific guests please send your questions to:Email: [email protected]: @psychedelicsinsocialwork.Like, subscribe, and share!Music by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Em and Libby continue their exploration of identity, the self, and non-ordinary states of consciousness by turning to two pre-modern contemplative traditions: Medieval Christian mysticism and Zen Buddhism. Dr. Niklaus Largier, professor at UC Berkeley in the Comparative Literature and German departments, gives a peek into his recent book, Figures of Possibility: Aesthetic Experience,Mysticism, and the Play of the Senses. We talk media, the politics of contemplation, and the dramatization of the self as a practice in divinity. Taigen Dan Leighton, ordained Zen priest and founder of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate in Chicago, rounds the episode out with an introduction to Zen Buddhism and its translation in the West. He patiently walks Em and Libby through the importance, nonsense, and artifice of the self and emphasizes the political edge of contemplative practice.Dr. Largier can be found at his UC Berkeley faculty page. For more on Taigen Leighton, you can visit his personal webpage and/or www.ancientdragon.org. Maybe you have comments, questions, or just want to get involved in the conversation some how. As we mention in the episode, we will be doing an Ask Me Anything episode later in the season. If you'd like to pose an anonymous question and hear answers from the hosts and/or specific guests please send your questions to:Email: [email protected]: @psychedelicsinsocialwork.Like, subscribe, and share!Music by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Welcome to Season 2 of PSW! We've split this season into two parts, each spearheaded by Em and Libby, respectively. To begin, Em's series of episodes will focus on questions of self, identity, psychedelics, and liberation. The first in the series features Professor Eric Oliver of University of Chicago, who talks about his new book How To Know Your Self: The Art & Science of Discover Who You Really Are. You can find out more about Professor Oliver at his website: jericoliver.com.Maybe you have comments, questions, or just want to get involved in the conversation some how. As we mention in the episode, we will be doing an Ask Me Anything episode later in the season. If you'd like to pose an anonymous question and hear answers from the hosts and/or specific guests please send your questions to:Email: [email protected] Instagram: @psychedelicsinsocialwork. Like, subscribe, and share!Music by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Guess who's back???Listen in to hear all the juicy details for our upcoming season, starting in January, 2026! Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] us on IG: @psychedelicsinsocialworkMore resources: https://linktr.ee/pswuchicagoMusic by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-hosts Em, Libby and Abby wrap up the season with increased knowledge, uncertainty about psychedelic American cultures, and an OnlyFans livestream. Tune in for a sneak preview of upcoming bonus content and plans for Season Two.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Em talks with medical anthropologist Dr. Aidan Seale-Feldman. Roundtable participants Em, Allison, Ben, and Jackson talk post-secular America, how to yearn, and cigarettes vs. no helmets. Dr. Aidan Seale-Feldman is a medical and psychological anthropologist interested in affliction and its treatments. As a Professor of Anthropology at University of Notre Dame, Dr. Seale-Feldman has spent the last decade researching mass affliction, the rise of global mental health, and primarily Western humanitarian psycho-social intervention. On this subject, she has a book coming out in December with University of Chicago Press entitled The Work of Disaster: Crisis and Care Along a Himalayan Faultline, and she has also served as a main partner for the international project “Phantoms or Phantasies: Somatic Disorders and Embodied Experiences of Loss in Changing Therapeutic Contexts.” Dr. Seale-Feldman is currently leading an interdisciplinary project “Ethical Substance: Psychedelic Medicine in Times of Social and Spiritual and Social Crisis,” which is funded by the John Templeton foundation. Here, she examines the dissatisfaction with the current psychiatric establishment and the increasing cultural fascination with psychedelic medicine.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Libby talks with Illinois State Representative Lindsey LaPointe. Roundtable participants Libby, Nick, and Molly talk social workers in government, diversity and cost of the social work field, and good news as an oasis in our current political hellscape.Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, former social worker who earned her degree at University of Illinois at Chicago, is currently serving her third term as State Representative of the 19th District on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Lindsey’s priorities include making health care, including mental health care, more affordable and accessible; supporting teachers and first responders who strengthen the communities in her district; and ensuring Illinois’ tax system is fair to everyone—not just the very wealthy. Lindsey has been a long-time advocate for protecting critical human services, violence prevention programs, and reforming our criminal justice system to align with evidence-based and humane practices that have proven to make communities safer at a much lower cost to taxpayers.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Libby talks with Bia Labate about Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicine and activist research. Roundtable participants Libby and Willa talk comparative healing models, calls to action, and responsibilities for up-and-coming social workers.Dr. Labate is the co-founder and executive director of Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicine. Chacruna aims for a world where psychedelics are understood, protected, honored, and valued and advances psychedelic justice through uplifting voices of women, queer communities, indigenous peoples, people of color and the Global South. Dr. Labate is an anthropologist, educator, author, speaker, and activist who is committed to the protection of sacred plants and uplifting marginalized voices in the psychedelic science field.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Em talks with Andi Walsh about legal care in psychedelic social work. Roundtable participants Em, Ben, and Sara talk access, bringing politics into integration, and Bejeweled™.Amanda "Andi" M. Walsh is an attorney and social worker by training, or as she likes to say, “a lawyer with a social worker’s heart.” Her passion is to promote healing for communities through systems and policy change, a passion that is rooted in her and her family’s story of multigenerational trauma and poverty. Her educational and professional experience is also rooted in this lived experience with a focus on legal aid, policy, advocacy, and program and organizational development. She is particularly drawn to innovative, holistic, and relational models of care that not only provides healing tools at the individual and family levels, but also addresses the systemic barriers interfering with those same healing goals (also known as social determinants of health). 

As a first-generation college student, she completed her undergraduate studies at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she designed an interdisciplinary major in “Justice and Mental Health” and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. She then received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she was a Civitas ChildLaw Fellow and completed certificates in Child and Family Law and Public Interest Law. She also obtained her Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) in Mental Health and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Health Law and Policy, also from Loyola. 

Following her graduate studies, Andi stayed in Chicago working first as a legal aid attorney for families living in poverty facing mental health challenges and then moved into policy as head of the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership. In summer 2023, Andi moved to eastern Oregon, where she now works as the Senior Health Policy Advisor for the Children’s Institute. In this role, she continues to advocate for policies and systems to address the health needs and overall stability for children and families statewide, particularly through an intergenerational lens. Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Libby talks with Belinda Eriacho about indigenous practices and histories. Roundtable participants Libby, Shaleyah, Veda, and Dani talk erasure of indigenous histories, animism, and the fight to heal.Belinda is of Dine’ (Navajo) and A:shiwi (Pueblo of Zuni) descent. She is the founder of Kaalogii, which focuses on cultural and traditional teaching and inner healing. She holds degrees in Health Sciences, Technology, and Occupational and Environmental Health, In addition, has completed training in the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Therapy, EMDR Therapy, and Ketamine Assisted-Therapy programs. She is also a board member and co-founder of the Church of the Eagle and the Condor, a Native American Engagement Coordinator for SoundMind, a member Psychedelic Association of Arizona, and was recently involved with the State of Colorado’s Federally Recognized American Tribes and Indigenous Community Working Group as part of the rollout of the Natural  Medicine Regulation and Legalization. She is an author of articles on topics impacting Native American communities. In addition, a contributing author to several psychedelic books that help bring innerstanding of indigenous views and bridging gaps of understanding.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad NicolFurther recommendations from today’s guest:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOJPqwhJkes- Becoming a Good Relative: Calling White Settlers toward Truth, Healing, and Repair by Hilary Giovale- My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem- https://news.berkeley.edu/2023/05/03/why-indigenous-spirit-medicine-principles-must-be-a-priority-in-psychedelic-research/

Co-host Abby talks with Dr. Hanna Molla about her psychedelic research in the De Wit lab. Roundtable participants Abby, Shaleyah, and Michelle talk interdisciplinary work, spirituality in research, and their favorite compliments. Dr. Molla is an instructor and postdoctoral researcher under the mentorship of previous guest, Dr. Harriet de Wit in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience Research Department at University of Chicago. Dr. Molla’s research focuses on neural and cognitive effects of drug use and she has a particular interest in cannabanoids and psychedelic compounds. Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Em talks with Illinois State Representative Theresa Mah about the HOPE Pilot Program. Roundtable members Em, Laura, and Sara discuss pragmatist approaches, DSM-5 politics, and uncertain futures.Representative Mah represents the 24th district in the Illinois General Assembly. Rep. Mah holds a PhD in Modern American History and has served as a senior advisor in Governor Pat Quinn’s administration, as chair and vice-chair on the healthcare licenses committee, co-chair of the progressive caucus, co-chair of the Illinois Asian-American legislative caucus, and a member of the house executive committee. She is a passionate advocate in the areas of civil rights, immigrant rights, workers’ rights, consumer protection, healthcare access, and workforce and education development. Today, Rep. Mah talks to us about the HOPE Pilot Program, which is being filed parallel to the CURE Act, which legalizes psilocybin-assisted therapy.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Libby talks with licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist Jordan Dobrowski. Roundtable members Libby, Keagan, and Giulia discuss ableism in the psychedelic space, non-ordinary states of consciousness, and k-holes.Jordan Dobrowski (she/they) is a licensed clinical social worker with experience in providing psychotherapy to youth and adults in both English and Spanish. She received her Masters in Social Work with certificates in trauma-informed care and culturally responsive mental health care for immigrant families from the University of Chicago in 2018. In addition to their private practice, Willow & Leaf Counseling, Jordan has been an educator for Naropa University and the Integrative Psychiatry Institute’s Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy training programs. Jordan orients their work on anti-oppressive and client-centered practices drawing from ACT, IFS, EMDR and other expressive modalities. Her clinical interests include chronic illness, neurodivergence, sexual and gender identity development, treatment-resistant depression, trauma, co-dependency and cultural concerns. She identifies as neurodiverse, chronically ill, and queer.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Building off of last week’s episode, co-host Abby talks with licensed psychologist Vilmarie Narloch. Roundtable members Abby, Grace, and Jackson debate the ins and outs of nonprofit funding, the anticapitalist potential of psychedelics, and Jackson’s status as “alternative.”Dr. Vilmarie Narloch is a co-founder and director of The Sana Healing Collective, a Chicago-based non-profit organization committed to the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy alongside other integrative practices. Dr. Narloch is an activist, advocate for science- and reality-based drug education, and harm reductionist. Her work focuses on individual and group psychedelic-assisted therapy and views the profession through a humanistic lens.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad NicolShow notes: - Sounds of Sana Album: https://sanahealingcollective.org/soundsofsana- Sign-ups for Creative Healing: Using Art to Deepen Psychedelic Preparation and Integration (May 3rd, 2025): https://sanahealingcollective.org/events/creativehealing- Sana Collective’s Donation Page: https://sanahealingcollective.org/donate

Audibly ailing co-host Em talks with licensed psychologist and professor Geoff Bathje. Roundtable members Em, Shaleyah, Ben, and Ana discuss the individualism-collectivism spectrum, cultures of healing, and believing in the power of planes. Geoff Bathje is a co-founder of The Sana Healing Collective, a Chicago-based non-profit organization committed to the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy alongside other integrative practices. Dr. Bathje’s own work focuses primarily on substance use and addiction, multicultural issues, trauma, and the mind-body connection in therapy. Alongside his research on cultural competence, harm reduction, and the medicinal use of psychedelics, Dr. Bathje is deeply invested in community psychology, community organizing and activism, and intersectional approaches to social justice.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Libby talks with MAPS Global Impact Officer. Roundtable members Libby, Sara, and Anna discuss harm reduction, the limits of behavioral health therapies and community-specific frameworks for psychedelics. Natalie Lyla Ginsberg earned her Masters in Social Work at University of Columbia in New York, founded the policy and advocacy department at MAPS, and now serves there as a Global Impact Officer. She’s also worked to address racial discrimination in drug policy by aiding in cannabis legalization efforts in New York and is the co-founder of the Jewish Psychedelic Summit.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Newly forged co-host Abby talks with Dr. Darron Smith about psychedelic research within and for marginalized communities. Roundtable members Abby, Ben, Shaleyah, and Kaitlin discuss equity in research, mindfulness techniques, and alternative modes of healing like beds of nails.Darron Smith is an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he teaches in the physician assistant program, MEDEX. He serves on the advisory board at Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicine and is on the board of directors for Roots to Harmony Institute for Expanded Consciousness. His research areas address the need for psychedelic-assisted therapies in the Black community and the effects of systemic subjugation on mental and physical health of marginalized groups.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Em talks with Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura about the proposed Illinois CURE Act. Roundtable members Em, Courtney, Jack, and Michelle discuss regulars at city council meetings, public advocacy, and the tension between spirituality and service center licensure. 

Senator Ventura represents the 43rd district in the Illinois State Senate. Her record demonstrates a deep engagement with environmental justice, the criminal justice system, the rights of migrants and non-citizens, public education, and much more. As chief sponsor of the Illinois CURE Act, Sen. Ventura discusses today the potential benefits and healing behind legalizing state-regulated psilocybin-assisted services. Contact your local representative to voice your support for the CURE Act today. Find your representative: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/maps/. (House Bill 1143, Senate Bill 2184. The associated Hope Pilot Program, mentioned at the end of this episode, is House Bill 2992). Find your representative: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/maps/ 

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Co-host Libby talks with Illinois State House Representative La Shawn K. Ford about the proposed Illinois CURE Act. Roundtable members Libby, Laura, Shaleyah, and Ben discuss the war on drugs, policing, and lessons learned from cannabis legalization.Rep. La Shawn K. Ford represents Illinois’ 8th district since 2007. Rep. Ford is dedicated to addressing social justice issues, including disparities in employment, education and healthcare. He’s also driven efforts to improve housing, foster small business development, and expand veteran protections. Today, he discusses the Illinois CURE Act, which aims to bring a state-regulated model to Illinois.Contact your local representative to voice your support for the CURE Act today! Find your representative: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/maps/ A fact check on today’s discussion: the IL CURE Act does include expungement for past criminal offenses related to psilocybin possession.Like, subscribe, and share!Email us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Em talks with Dr. Harriet De Wit about the ins, outs, promises, and shortfalls of psychedelic research. Roundtable members Em, Abby, and Ben discuss the social construction of meaning, Nietzsche's death of God, and Ben's love of cigarettes.Dr. Harriet De Wit is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience and a Professor of the Neuroscience Institute at University of Chicago. Dr. De Wit's research centers around the physiological, cognitive, and behavioral effects of a wide range of drugs and psychedelic substances in healthy adults. Her recent research has examined the prosocial effects of MDMA, the impacts of LSD, THC, and amphetamines on neural complexity and cognitive processing, and the efficacy of microdosing. Dr. De Wit has been a consultant for the FDA and serves as a lead editor for the journals Psychopharmacology and Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Dr. De Wit has been a critical figure within the field of psychedelic medicine, as evidenced by numerous awards for outstanding research.Like, subscribe, and share!Add us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicsinsocialwork/?igsh=ajFhOXVra2tkZnNsEmail us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-host Libby talks with Kevin Barrett about fundamentals of psychedelic-assisted therapy and the future role of social workers. Roundtable members Libby, Abby, Kaitlin, and Em discuss appropriate clientele, rigidity within the field of social work, and how to save the world.Kevin Barrett is a Chicago based psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker. He specializes in psychoanalytic psychotherapy helping people gain a better understanding of themselves and their relationships. He is a candidate at the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis with additional training in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the mental health needs of the queer community.Like, subscribe, and share!Add us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicsinsocialwork/?igsh=ajFhOXVra2tkZnNsEmail us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol

Co-hosts Em and Libby introduce Psychedelics in Social Work, a podcast and student organization at University of Chicago's Crown Family School for Social Work, Policy, and Practice.Like, subscribe, and share!Add us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicsinsocialwork/?igsh=ajFhOXVra2tkZnNsEmail us: [email protected] by the Groovy Tad Nicol