Pioneering Mental Health Care in the Pacific Northwest
A pioneering new psilocybin treatment center has opened in Ashland, Oregon. Ashland Healing Center stands out as the nation’s first Black woman-owned facility offering psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Co-founded by registered nurse Denise Taylor and experienced meditator Laurie Thompson, the center provides relief for mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, depression, addiction, and end-of-life difficulties.
“We collaborate closely with healthcare professionals to achieve optimal outcomes for our shared clients and patients,” stated Taylor. “Our services cater to medical staff, therapists, counselors, integrative practitioners, and anyone seeking improved mental well-being.”
Harnessing Psilocybin’s Transformative Potential
The center’s unique approach draws from extensive research highlighting psilocybin’s therapeutic benefits. Studies from prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins, UC Davis, Yale, and NYU demonstrate its promise in treating challenging conditions like treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Thompson recounted the profound transformations witnessed among clients:
“Psilocybin offers both medical and metaphysical/spiritual rewards. Our clients experience incredible results – depression giving way to love, migraine relief, spiritual awakenings, release of intergenerational trauma, and physical healing.”
Ensuring a Supported and Secure Experience
Under an experienced psilocybin facilitator’s guidance, clients undergo a carefully structured four-step process: consultation, preparation (set and setting), administration, and integration. This comprehensive approach helps mitigate potential adverse effects while optimizing the therapeutic journey.
Taylor’s nursing expertise further enhances safety measures by minimizing interaction risks. The self-directed nature of psilocybin sessions, grounded in an individual’s mindset and environment, empowers clients to steer their unique experiences.
Oregon’s Trailblazing Psilocybin Legalization
In November 2020, Oregon voters passed Measure 110, decriminalizing hard drugs and legalizing psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use – a pioneering move nationwide. By December 2022, the state commenced training psilocybin facilitators, culminating in EPIC Healing Eugene receiving the first license in May 2023.
Several cities and states have followed suit in decriminalizing psilocybin, including Denver, Colorado; Oakland and Santa Cruz, California; Washington, D.C.; Somerville, Cambridge and Northampton, Massachusetts; Seattle, Washington; Detroit, Michigan; and the states of Oregon and Colorado.
Researchers continue exploring psilocybin’s role in treating eating disorders, treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and adverse childhood experiences. This promising field offers new hope for individuals grappling with psychological distress and rigid thought patterns.
