International Journal of Drug Policy
May 25, 2019
John Gardner, Adrian Carter, Kerry O’Brien et al.
23 citations
Recent clinical studies suggest psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin could offer new treatments for mood and substance use disorders, but cultural stigma since the 1960s has impeded research, particularly in Australia, where no psychedelic therapy studies have occurred. This commentary recounts the historical stigma, reviews the current research context, and identifies barriers Australian researchers face, such as social and legal challenges. The authors argue that research is needed to clarify these barriers and develop strategies with stakeholders to enable clinical studies. This would allow Australian researchers to generate evidence on psychedelic therapies' efficacy and safety, and build local expertise for their potential implementation.
The International journal on drug policy
September 1, 2020
Michaela Barber, John Gardner, Michael Savic et al.
16 citations
Online forums like Reddit and Drugs Forum serve as key resources for people considering ibogaine therapy for addiction, where personal experiences and evidence-based information are both valued. Forum participants discuss treatment arrangements, risks, and harm reduction extensively. While many prefer clinic-based treatment due to safety concerns, financial and time constraints sometimes lead to lay-administration of ibogaine. Microdosing is frequently discussed. Therapeutic effects are primarily framed in terms of pharmacological mechanisms, but positive psychological changes from the psychedelic experience are also reported. The forums foster a sense of community where individuals are held accountable for treatment success, and neuroscientific explanations of addiction hold particular explanatory power for participants.
J Bioeth Inq
October 4, 2024
Michaela Barber, John Gardner, Adrian Carter
12 citations
As psychedelic medicine rapidly expands, Australia became the first country to legalize prescribed psychedelics, offering a case study for other jurisdictions. Interviews with fourteen Australian psychedelic researchers revealed three themes: emerging from the stigma of the 1960s, challenges and opportunities in engaging stakeholders, and growing pains as the field transitions from a small, like-minded group to a regulated, multi-interest industry. Researchers expressed concern for protecting the field from premature discontinuation while maximizing positive impacts. Targets for responsible innovation include equitable access, sustainable industry involvement, productive research agendas, responsible evidence reporting, and risk-taking within clinical trials.
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry
August 7, 2025
N Brittain, Nicholas Higgins, Mary Barber et al.
4 citations
A scoping review of fifty-one articles identified five main ethical concerns in psychedelic research and practice: standards of practice, equity, integrity, cultural appropriation, and epistemic justice. A consultation workshop revealed additional neglected issues: post-trial care, lack of consensus on models of care and practitioner competencies, and how current research and ethical issues will translate into practice. Recommended future directions include designing clear competency frameworks, increased consultation with Indigenous and priority populations, guidelines for Indigenous recognition, management of post-trial care in clinical trials, and adequate governance of psychedelic prescribing practices.
Psychol Psychother
September 16, 2024
Michaela Barber, John Gardner, Paul Liknaitzky et al.
3 citations
Mental health clinicians who have delivered psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) in clinical trials see it as requiring a therapeutic approach that blends multiple methods, demands heightened self-reflection from providers, and legitimizes non-medical perspectives in mental health care. They worry that when PAT moves from tightly controlled trials to broader community practice, key elements of this 'enhanced care' model may be lost due to underdeveloped regulations, workforce shortages, and economic pressures. The clinicians' views reflect an ongoing tension between a purely medical model of mental health and more psychosocial, relational approaches.
Brain and behavior
February 1, 2026
Rachel Ham, John Gardner, Adrian Carter et al.
1 citation
In psilocybin-assisted therapy, therapeutic touch can foster emotional connection, provide grounding during intense experiences, and modulate the depth of the psychedelic state, but its acceptability depends on the quality of the therapeutic relationship and robust consent processes. Most participants valued having touch available, especially after firsthand experience, and several attributed therapeutic benefit directly to touch. However, some also identified potential for discomfort or distraction, highlighting the need for sensitivity to individual history and context. The findings underscore the importance of explicit preparation, consent, and attunement when incorporating touch into psychedelic therapy.
medRxiv
November 17, 2025
Georgia Ioakimidis-Macdougall, John Gardner, Paul Liknaitzky
preprint
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, given with psychological support in a clinical setting, helped 14 mental health professionals develop a greater embodied understanding of therapeutic principles and processes. Participants reported increases in empathy, attunement, and emotion regulation—qualities that underpin therapeutic alliance and promote trust and safety. While no harms were reported, participants noted two potential risks: the experience could feel destabilizing, and therapists might project their own experience onto clients, narrowing interpretative range. Participants indicated that such training is necessary but not sufficient for high-quality psychedelic-assisted therapy. Findings support including an optional psychedelic experiential component for clinicians with prior training and reflective capacity.
September 26, 2025
R. Ham, John Gardner, Adrian Carter et al.
preprint
In psychedelic-assisted therapy, two therapists often work together to support participants through preparation, dosing, and integration sessions. This qualitative study examined how participants experienced this cotherapy model within a trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Interviews with 18 participants revealed three major themes: cotherapy on dose day provided safety, trust, and highlighted access issues; cotherapy influenced therapeutic processes; and cotherapy shaped the impact and credibility of therapeutic insights. Overall, participants valued cotherapy, which served both as a safety and supportive measure and as a potentiator of therapeutic processes. These findings can guide clinical practice and future research to enhance feasibility and accessibility while preserving safety and therapeutic benefits.
March 21, 2025
R. Ham, John Gardner, Adrian Carter et al.
preprint
In a clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for generalized anxiety disorder, 18 participants provided longitudinal perspectives on therapeutic touch. Most valued touch, especially after experiencing it during psilocybin dosing sessions. Touch offered connection during intense emotions and could manage the intensity of acute psychedelic experiences. Some attributed direct therapeutic effects to touch, and a strong therapeutic relationship was essential for its effective use. The authors argue that touch application should be individualized and embedded in comprehensive consent, with further research needed on safety and therapist training.
Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology
January 1, 2025
Diana McHerron, Michaela Barber, Rachel Ham et al.
Physical touch is often used as a supportive tool in psychedelic-assisted therapy, but participants under the influence of psychedelics have reduced capacity to consent and are more suggestible. Interviews with 16 researchers revealed three themes: flexible frameworks, therapeutic alliance, and boundary management. Researchers noted that consent to therapeutic touch should be established before dosing sessions and continually managed. Flexibility in consent protocols helped build therapeutic alliance but also created challenges in boundary management. Researchers emphasized the need for clearer ethical guidelines for handling changing preferences during dosing sessions and limits on expanding consent after drug administration.