Gita Vaid, MD, is the Co-founder and Medical Director of the Center for Natural Intelligence, a multidisciplinary laboratory specializing in psychedelic psychotherapy innovation and clinical practice. As a board-certified psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, she was trained by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS) to practice ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Gita is also the Director of Psychedelic Awareness at The Chopra Foundation and a lead instructor at The Ketamine Training Center.

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is a powerful modality for healing trauma, deepening self-awareness, and fostering emotional transformation. Yet, it requires profound therapeutic relationships, boundaries, and integration. What does it take to facilitate psychological healing with psychedelic therapy?

Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Gita Vaid takes a relational and process-oriented approach to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can reactivate emotional connection, surface suppressed trauma, and promote personal growth when guided by an attuned therapeutic relationship. Gita emphasizes the value of clinician self-development, stating that true transformation occurs when the therapist and patient engage in a co-healing process. She advises practitioners to trust the unfolding nature of psychedelic work, listen carefully to their clients’ inner narratives, and prioritize building safety and intimacy throughout treatment.

In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes interviews Gita Vaid, MD, Co-founder and Medical Director at the Center for Natural Intelligence, about the clinical and relational depth of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Gita discusses attachment repair, the shift from trauma identity to well-being, and how music and innovation can enhance the healing process.

Dr. Signi Goldman, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Medical Director of Living Medicine Institute, which offers psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training programs. As a certified provider for psychedelic-assisted therapy and research, she has practiced in various clinical settings, including hospital systems and alternative treatment settings. Dr. Goldman also serves as a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist for Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry’s Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program for Mental Health.

Dr. Sandra (Sandy) Newes, PhD, is a licensed psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Programming Director of Living Medicine Institute. With over 25 years of clinical experience as a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, she specializes in anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, and recovery. Dr. Newes has provided ketamine-assisted psychotherapy through Concierge Medicine and Psychiatry since 2019. She is also an educator and speaker offering workshops, events, and education on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the intersection of nature connection, trauma, and mental health.

Many people struggling with trauma, anxiety, or emotional blocks have turned to alternative therapies for healing, but are these methods truly effective? With growing interest in psychedelics like ketamine and MDMA, questions remain about how these substances are used, who they help, and what actually happens during therapy. What does safe, effective psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy look like in practice?

Various medical and psychiatric professionals share their lived experiences and clinical insights into this emerging field. Veteran psychedelic researcher Bill Richards maintains that the psyche can heal itself when supported by empathy and presence during psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy sessions. Internal Family Systems creator Dr. Dick Schwartz believes each individual is composed of distinct parts with trauma impacting their individual functions. Emergency medicine provider Mel Herbert details therapeutic environments that promote psychedelic integration, while MDMA researcher Michael Mithoefer emphasizes the importance of preparation and post-session dialogue and reflection for long-term impact.

In this exclusive compilation episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Signi Goldman and Dr. Sandy Newes of Living Medicine Institute reflect on their most insightful interviews. Featuring conversations with Bill Richards, Dr. Dick Schwartz, Michael Mithoefer, and Mel Herbert, these guests delve into therapeutic safety, the role of integration after ketamine sessions, and promoting healing in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Jayne Gumpel, LCSW, is the Founder and Lead Facilitator of Relationship Resources, which offers psychedelic-assisted retreats. As a psychotherapist, trainer, and teacher, she has over 30 years of experience working with couples, individuals, and groups in private practice. Jayne is a certified trainer in Psychedelic Integration Psychotherapy, a member of the Woodstock Therapy Center’s Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) team, and has completed MDMA-assisted psychotherapy training through the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

Couples may encounter challenges when trying to resolve persistent issues around communication, trust, or emotional pain. Traditional talk therapy sometimes falls short when couples try to break through entrenched narratives and create meaningful change. How can therapists help partners reach deeper understanding and healing in a safe, transformative way?

According to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist and couples retreat facilitator Jayne Gumpel, ketamine can act as a portal to emotional clarity and reconnection. Having facilitated both individual and group ketamine sessions, Jayne emphasizes the importance of preparation, intention setting, and integration. This medicine quiets the brain’s default mode of thinking, helping clients detach from rigid meaning-making and approach difficult emotions with compassion. Jayne also integrates poetry into her clinical practice to help clients reframe their stories and deepen relational insight.

In this week’s episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes sits down with Jayne Gumpel, LCSW, Founder and Lead Facilitator of Relationship Resources, to discuss psychedelic-assisted couples therapy. Jayne shares her philosophy for cultivating joy, her innovative retreat approaches, and her perspective on consciousness.