Seeing the latest issue of Therapy Today take shape is always exciting, but working on this one has felt particularly energising and mind-expanding, not least because our Big issue takes a deep dive into the brave new world of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. When I first considered covering the subject soon after I joined as Editor in January 2020, the prospect of it being a viable therapeutic intervention still seemed a long way off. Three-and-a-half years later, the idea has become mainstream enough to be talked about in Parliament. In a moving testimony in May this year, MP Charlotte Nichols spoke to the Commons about her personal experience of PTSD motivating her to seek a lifting of the current restrictions on psilocybin, which prevent UK researchers fully exploring its potential for treatment of chronic depression, anorexia, addictions and PTSD. As it’s classified as a Schedule 1 drug, licences for research are costly. A group of MPs are campaigning for psilocybin to be reclassified as a Schedule 2 drug, the same as diamorphine (heroin) and cannabis, to remove barriers to research.
Recipients of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy have talked about how it helps to break down mental barriers to engaging with life – a concept that has been perfectly captured on our cover by Bristol-based illustrator Kyle Smart. Kyle was commissioned by George Walker, Therapy Today’s Art Director, who says, ‘I have been aware of Kyle’s work since 2018, and love the dreamy, timeless quality – it is so colourful and joyful, while beautifully drawn.’ It’s a testament to the talent of illustrators like Kyle (and also George in briefing them) that they can produce a selection of initial sketches on the basis of a brief description of the cover story, which is often still in the process of being written. Kyle says he starts by exploring ideas in his sketchbook: ‘The hope is to get to some universal and relatable ideas. For this one, we settled on something that attempts to show psychedelic therapy’s potential to reveal new perspectives; with the client ready to open up, step out and talk, excited to explore the strange new place she finds herself in.’
Psychedelics aside, we also have some great writing and fresh ideas to expand your thinking in this issue, including an extract from Foluke Taylor’s extraordinary and highly recommended new book Unruly Therapeutic, and a compelling case analysis from Dwight Turner in which a client finds himself reverting to patriarchal stereotypes during the pandemic. Monica Suswin explores a creative approach to processing the impact of endings, and Anita Andrews shares what she has learned from both her work and her personal experience of addiction. And don’t miss Louise Wilson’s impassioned plea for pride in the person-centred approach in our ‘Opinion’ slot.
As ever, do email your feedback to therapytoday@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Sally Brown, Editor
