NEW DATE! Exploring Psychedelics in End of Life Care: Enhancing Well-being and Meaning in Terminal Illness

The diagnosis of a terminal illness can be devastating and destabilizing. The prospect of our life ending can leave us with anxiety, depression, and a crisis of meaning and interfere with the project of living our lives well.

In recent years, some remarkable results have emerged from research on the role of psilocybin in the care of people with end-of-life anxiety and depression.  Researchers at John’s Hopkins University, NYU, and UCLA found that after a single dose of psilocybin, patients with a terminal cancer diagnosis experienced an immediate drop in their anxiety and depression.  They also reported enhanced spiritual well-being and these results endured for up to six months. Psychologist, Dr. Tony Bossis, said that “the experience of meaning-making and of transcendence – of not solely identifying the experience of self with the dying body – can be a profound gift to a dying patient”.

This talk will outline the recent research on psilocybin and end-of-life care, including, protocols for the ethical and therapeutic use of psychedelics.

Everyone welcome. February is Psychology Month.

Presenter: Dr. Brenda Durdle is a semi-retired Registered Psychologist, with a small private practice in Sydney, Zephyr Psychological. For the past three years she has been exploring and training in the area of psychedelics and well being. She completed an Introduction to Psychedelics with ATMA in 2021 and is currently immersed in training with the non-profit, CPA approved Canadian organization TheraPsil.