Participants described both opportunities and practical barriers related to entering and working in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
What they studied
Researchers interviewed licensed therapists and healthcare professionals who identified as Black, Indigenous or People of Color. They asked about barriers, opportunities and experiences related to entering or working in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
What the research found
Participants described opportunities for BIPOC clinicians to strengthen trust, cultural responsiveness and care for people whose trauma is connected with racism or systemic oppression.
They also described barriers including training costs, geographic access, exclusionary training environments, stigma and concerns about extractive Western models.
Suggested responses included culturally responsive training, mentorship, financial support and community education.
What this helps us understand
The study frames workforce participation as a pathway issue, not simply an outcome. Training cost, mentorship, geography and the culture of training environments all shaped how participants described entering the field. For organizations building psychedelic services or training programs, these findings identify practical parts of the professional pathway that can be examined.
