EPISODE 16 - STEPHEN BRIGHT
“Therapists wanting to work in the psychedelic space have to trust in the process”
Stephen Bright
In today’s podcast, I spoke with Stephen Bright. Stephen is a clinically trained Psychologist with a wealth of experience in both the fields of AOD research and psychedelic research/advocacy. Stephen has been consistently pushing for a more nuanced and comprehensive discussion pertaining to sensible drug use in Australia, and as such he has appeared on a great many public forums and media channels. Stephen and I therefore decided to delve a bit deeper into a few key areas - so as not to go over old ground covered elsewhere online. A selection of Dr. Bright’s previous media appearances are linked below, along with his full bio.
In today’s podcast We Discuss;
The TGA’s interim decision to not amend the current scheduling of MDMA,
The recent appointment of an independent expert panel to undertake a review into the potential therapeutic value of MDMA and psilocybin,
TGA’s Special Access Scheme
PRISM’s position on the recent move to reschedule MDMA and Psilocybin,
Stephen’s desire to have these substances available through Australia’s public health system,
How Private and Public Sector healthcare service providers might best interface in the psychedelic space,
The concept of ‘corporadelics’, and Stephen’s concern about large corporations like Atai Life Sciences and Compass Pathways potentially monopolizing the space,
Tulip mania and the potential for the emergence of a psychedelic stock bubble,
The difference between decriminalization and the rescheduling of drugs
National Drug Strategy Household Survey Data showing an uptick in the use of psychedelics
The need to balance private venture with regulatory oversight and the U bend of regulation
Stephen’s experience at the rainbow serpent festival and dancewize
Stephen’s experience in training as an MDMA-assisted psychotherapist with MAPS, and watching Michael Mithoefer at work
The potential for a general underestimation of the profundity of experience of the MDMA assisted psychotherapy, especially if the client has unprocessed trauma,
The differences in integration patterns between psychedelic substances,
Internal Family Systems and its relationship to MDMA assisted psychotherapy
The difference between evidence-based and evidence-informed practice
The concept of inner healing intelligence and different models that may support MDMA,
MDMA’s capacity to produce visceral feelings of safety
The work of Tobias Penno
The documentary, ‘Trip of Compassion’
Stephen’s definition of the concept of ‘holding space’
The need for Clinician’s to have a personal experience of MDMA in order to more deeply understand the process
The emergence of psychedelic integration circles in Australia
Dr Bright’s University course in addiction studies at Edith Cowan University
The need for project managers and those with an understanding of drug development pathways to enter the space
Stephen’s Ted Talk
How to Support the Australian Psychedelic Society, Entheogeneis Australis, and PRISM
Dr. Stephen Bright
Clinical Psychologist, Ethnopharmacologist, Psyhedelic Researcher.
Stephen Bright - image credit
Dr. Stephen Bright is a Clinically trained psychologist who has worked in the field of Mental Health for the past 15 years. He is currently Senior Lecturer of Addiction at Edith Cowan University and is also an adjunct research fellow at Curtin University's National Drug Research Institute.
Dr. Bright has a longstanding professional involvement with psychedelics and is one of Australia’s foremost scientists in the field. Stephen is a founding member and vice-president of the organisation P.R.I.S.M. (Psychedelics Research In Science and Medicine). He is also due to become one of the first-ever Australians to successfully complete certification in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy - through training issued by the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).
Dr. Bright primarily identifies as an ethnopharmacologist, and the through-line that connects his various strands of work is the study of the ways in which humans interact with psychoactive substances - and how we can seek to optimize these complicated relationships.
Other podcasts, talks and interviews with Stephen…