Yes, Psychedelics Can Help Heal Attachment Trauma

January 8, 2021 Eamon Armstrong

Life is a Festival #90 Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score)

Listen to the Podcast

The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk, is a seminal work in the field of trauma studies. I had the privilege of interviewing Bessel last year for The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast, which I host for Maya, a software platform that supports psychedelic practitioners. To start 2021 on a hopeful note, I wanted to share that episode with you.

On the show we discuss Bessel’s work with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies and their clinical trials for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Bessel explains how early attachment wounds can actually be more difficult to treat than acute trauma but that psychedelics can help reimprint the feeling of being a lovable child. We also talk about why we get can addicted to our own trauma and we review other psychedelic compounds.

Bessel is an author, researcher, and sought after public speaker. In addition to founding Boston’s Trauma Center and his popular books, Bessel is also the Principle Investigator for MAPS’ MDMA trials at its East Coast hub in Boston.

If you have 5 minutes to support the show, I would be so grateful if you could fill out a short survey. It will be invaluable for the next chapter of Life is a Festival!