In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Raymond Turpin, a psychologist and psychedelic researcher who has been studying these medicines since 1984.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcasts/episode-299/?ref=278
Dr. Turpin shares his journey from discovering Timothy Leary's writings as a college student to founding the Pearl Psychedelic Institute in North Carolina. He discusses his experience as one of only two sites nationwide to provide MDMA-assisted therapy through the FDA's expanded access program, the profound healing he witnessed in patients with treatment-resistant PTSD, and the challenges faced after the FDA's rejection of MDMA therapy in 2024.
Through stories of clinical breakthroughs, educational initiatives, and recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, Dr. Turpin offers insights into the evolving landscape of psychedelic medicine and his hope for its future integration into mainstream mental healthcare.
Dr. Raymond Turpin is the Executive Director and Clinical Director of the Pearl Psychedelic Institute in western North Carolina. He has been studying and researching psychedelics since 1984 and earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Dr. Turpin served as an investigator in an Expanded Access program providing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant PTSD and has worked with ketamine-assisted therapy while providing psychedelic integration services. Since 2022, he has been a Mentor for the Certificate in Psychedelic Therapy and Research program at CIIS. His clinical experience spans psychiatric hospitals, emergency units, residential treatment facilities, schools, and community mental health clinics.
Highlights:
- A psychedelic calling that began in 1984
- How a mushroom trip changed his career path
- When conventional mental health tools fall short
- MDMA's remarkable results with treatment-resistant PTSD
- From 71 to 18: Dramatic PTSD symptom reduction
- The FDA rejection: A devastating setback
- Hurricane Helene's impact on Asheville's healing community
- Why psychedelics threaten traditional mental health paradigms
- Turning trauma's irritant into a pearl of wisdom
- Education as resistance against misinformation
Episode links:
- The Pearl Psychedelic Institute
- The Pearl Institute YouTube channel
- California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Certificate in Psychedelic Therapy and Research program
- Webinar: MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD: Expanded Access & Beyond
- Timothy Leary's autobiography "Flashbacks" (1984)
Episode Sponsor:
- The Intensive for Psychedelic Professionals in Costa Rica - a transformative retreat for personal and professional growth.
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