Journal of Emerging Scholarship

Although it is not as taboo as it was twenty years ago, most people are not aware of how psilocybin therapy (PT) works, nor if it works. That is why research done on psychedelic therapies in medical facilities and their effects on mental health disorders are vital in cataloging our collective understanding and in exploring legalization of the substances in monitored settings. To gain understanding of why psilocybin therapy alleviates depression symptoms and how, I interviewed four people about their experiences in completing a large dose of psilocybin, and its impact on their mental health. Several factors have a large impact on whether depressive symptoms are alleviated by PT. These include supervision by a trained therapist, presence of a guide (in addition to the therapist), mindset (mental attitude), set (mental and emotional preparation), and physical setting. An unexpected finding indicated that patients risk negative outcomes when taking a large dose of psilocybin without a proper guide or appropriate intention for the use. Upon further research into past studies, the benefits of psilocybin are similar to the benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — the key factor being an increase in cognitive flexibility. Further research should be conducted to understand what happens when the two treatments are used in tandem with each other.