It isn't about the medicine, it's the experience – Anthony Bossis

We live in an exciting time for psychedelic research. While mental health is often the focus of these medicines, what about their use at the end of life? Our guest, Anthony (Tony) Bossis focuses specifically on those nearing end of life or in palliative care.

Tony is clearly passionate about what he does as we delve into cutting-edge research being conducted on the use of high-dose psilocybin for inducing peak experiences and its potential in end-of-life care. He explores the role of psychedelics in fighting demoralization and the fear of death, how we can expand the reach of psychedelic therapies, and the current political state of psychedelic research. His interests and experience make this a captivating and thought-provoking listen for all.

“It's always funny to be a scientist talking about love all the time, but I'm glad I am.”

Anthony P. Bossis, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, an adjunct professor of classics and religious studies at the University of Ottawa, and an investigator at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation. Since 2006, he has been conducting FDA-approved clinical research with the psychedelic compound psilocybin. Dr. Bossis was director of palliative care research and co-principal investigator on the 2016 clinical trial demonstrating a significant reduction in emotional distress from a single psilocybin session in persons with cancer or near the end of life, specifically, a rapid decrease in depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and demoralization along with improvements in spiritual well-being and quality of life. He is the study director and lead therapist on an FDA-approved clinical trial investigating a psilocybin-generated mystical experience with religious leaders.

Dr. Bossis is a training supervisor of psychotherapy at NYU-Bellevue Hospital and the co-founder and former co-director of the Bellevue Palliative Care Service. He is on the faculty of The Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies and has a long-standing interest in comparative religion, mystical experience, and the interface of psychology and spirituality. His primary psychedelic research interests are the treatment of end-of-life existential distress and advancing our understanding of consciousness, meaning, and spirituality. Dr. Bossis is on the editorial board of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology and a guest editor (with Charles Grob, M.D.) for the journal’s Special Series on Psychedelics. He maintains a private psychotherapy and consulting practice in NYC.

Show notes:

* High dose psilocybin studies

* Having a peak experience

* The use of psychedelics with end of life

* Fighting demoralization

* A scientist speaking about love

* Can we escape fear of death?

* Work with near death experiences

* The risks of psychedelic use

* Research with psychedelics and Alzheimer's

* How to expand psychedelic therapy

* How Tony got into this work

* The present political state of psychedelic research

* This is a remarkable time in the world

Links and references:

* Psychedelic Wisdom

* Psychedelic Medicine

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