Hi, it’s Ingmar here with this month’s Co-Founders’ Corner.
Alarmingly, every year, thousands of veterans take their own lives – in 2020 alone, 6145 veterans died by suicide. Many of these deaths are linked to the severe and debilitating effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
At Fluence, veterans play a key role; they are among our staff, students, colleagues and clients, and members of our families and communities. These heartbreaking numbers inspire our work to move the field toward greater access to meaningful treatment.
For over a quarter of a century, very few new PTSD treatments have been approved. However, later this month, the FDA has the rare opportunity to approve a new one: MDMA-assisted therapy as a prescribable treatment. This offers hope to the estimated 5-7 million Americans suffering from PTSD for whom traditional therapies, medications, and psychotherapy fail to provide adequate relief.
In my years as a site co-principal investigator on an FDA-approved Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, I witnessed firsthand the potential of this treatment when used carefully and in a controlled setting. I’ve been inspired by our students’ motivation, especially those who are veterans themselves, as they seek to give back to their communities.
A great example of this is David Weeks, a graduate of our Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Program. As a veteran, David’s journey to become a therapist resonates with so many of our community members.
Given the high stakes and the potentially life-changing impact on veterans and other people living with PTSD, I eagerly await the FDA decision and the significant impact an approval could make. I will co-host a debrief session the day following the FDA result to discuss the implications and outline the steps you can take to integrate psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD into your practice.
For a deeper dive on this topic, check out the Therapy Unblinded: Inside MDMA Research podcasts I’ve done with Dr. Chantelle Thomas.
Thanks, and until next time!
Ingmar Gorman, Fluence Co-Founder
As Ingmar mentioned in Co-Founders’ Corner, later this month the FDA will vote on whether to approve MDMA-assisted therapy as a prescribable treatment. There are multiple potential outcomes, including:
- Approval MDMA-assisted Therapy
- Rejection of MDMA-assisted Therapy
- Conditional approval of MDMA-assisted Therapy
Currently, there is no way of knowing how the vote will go, but whatever the outcome is, it will have a significant impact on the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
We will host an ‘MDMA Decision Debrief’ webinar the day after the vote, to help you understand the implications of the outcome, and how you can prepare to embrace the opportunities that this will present.
Core Certification Course
Advanced Certification Courses
After completion of the core course, advance to these courses:
Advanced Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
September 17 – December 10, 2024
Advanced Certificate in Psychedelic Integration
September 19 – December 5, 2024
Our live courses consist of small classes, where we dive deeper into particular topics. They are great for those looking to earn continuing education credit. Fluence is approved by APA, ASWB and NYSED to offer CE for Psychologists, Social Workers, and LMHCs.
Reading and Study Groups
Psychedelics and Psychoanalysis
Understand the relationship between psychoanalysis and psychedelics.
September 19 – December 19, 2024
Trainer: Kelan Thomas, PharmD, MS, BCPP
Buddhism, Mindfulness & Psychedelic Therapy
Explore the intersection between science and spirituality.
September 18 – December 4, 2024
Trainers: David Gumpel, MA & Adi Flesher, M.Ed, LP
Psychedelic Psychopharmacology
Discuss psychopharmacology and the neuroscience of psychedelics.
September 9 – December 9, 2024
Trainer: Kelan Thomas, PharmD, MS, BCPP
In Therapy Unblinded: Inside MDMA Research, Dr. Chantelle Thomas and Dr. Ingmar Gorman talk through the concerns and methodological critiques of MDMA-assisted therapy.
In Therapy Unblinded: Inside MDMA Research Part 2, Dr. Chantelle Thomas and Dr. Ingmar Gorman discuss the safety and ethical considerations of MDMA-assisted therapy.
In this Lucid News article, Charles Lighthouse asks, Can Lykos Therapeutics Address MDMA-AT Safety Concerns Ahead of FDA Decision?
