In this episode of Punk Therapy, Dr. T and the Truth Fairy welcome psychotherapist and trauma specialist Sean to the show to discuss the work he does in bridging clinical neuroscience and psychedelic-assisted therapy. They explore what’s missing from the current psychedelic resurgence, focusing on dissociation, structural dissociation, and the neurobiology of trauma.

Sean shares how his background in both underground plant medicine and clinical psychotherapy revealed the need for somatic, trauma-informed practices throughout psychedelic medicine spaces. Dr. T, Truth, and Sean unpack how attachment wounds, developmental trauma, and embodied empathy can influence the healing process. They examine how relational connection is the key to sustainable transformation.

From understanding the right brain and left brain hemispheres and function to exploring the default mode network, the amygdala, and the hippocampus, the conversation offers a fascinating deep dive into how the brain, body, and consciousness all interact within healing. The dangers of high-dose psychedelic work without proper preparation, the importance of tracking the nervous system of clients, and investigating how integration and relational repair form the heart of psychedelic therapy are vital parts of the discussions held by Dr. T, Truth Fairy, and guest Sean.

“The wound was formed in relationship, and it must be repaired in relationship.” - Sean

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Website: PunkTherapy.com

Email: info@punktherapy.com

Contact Truth Fairy:

Email: Truth@PunkTherapy.com

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In this episode of Punk Therapy, Dr. T and the Truth Fairy continue their deep dive into dissociation, trauma, and psychedelic healing. They expand the conversation started in the last episode with a deep dive into how trauma is stored in the body through sensory motor responses, and the complex relationship between psychedelics and dissociation. Through personal examples and powerful client stories, they describe the ability of psychedelics to help survivors of childhood abuse and sexual trauma reach clarity and healing.

One aspect of trauma being stored as a sensory motor response that Dr. T and Truth Fairy warn about is the possibility of retraumatizing clients by pushing them too quickly. Psychedelics can bring buried trauma and memories to the surface, but these revelations may appear as symbolic or literal experiences, and careful therapeutic understanding is essential. They explore the need for relational safety and trauma-informed approaches.

They also review risks outlined in a recent academic paper on Psychedelic Iatrogenic Structural Dissociation, including emotional dysregulation and flashbacks, as well as identity fragmentation and depersonalization, among others. While healing can be reached through medicine work, it requires years of preparation. Dr. T and Truth Fairy stress how important it is to approach the work with empathy and gentleness, focusing on somatic processing and integration rather than pushing for outcome-driven trauma confrontation.

“So I wanted to say that this sensory motor storage, this trauma stored in the emotional part, it is sensory motor. So it shows up as body reactions, as sensations, as reflexes, as emotional flashes. Emotional intensity and high affect. Very little or no words or clear story. These disorganized narratives. And so if you have a survivor of childhood abuse, they may not be able to talk about what happened, but their body will show you through how they move, how they defend, or how they shut down.” - Truth Fairy

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Resources discussed in this episode:

• “Psychedelic iatrogenic structural dissociation: an exploratory hypothesis on dissociative risks in psychedelic use” by Steven Elfrink and Leigh Bergin, ‘Frontiers in Psychology’, 3 March 2025
• “A House in the Sky: A Memoir” by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett
• Steven Elfrink and OmTerra

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Contact Punk Therapy:

• Patreon: Patreon.com/PunkTherapy
• Website: PunkTherapy.com
• Email: info@punktherapy.com

Contact Truth Fairy:

• Email: Truth@PunkTherapy.com

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Dr. T and Truth Fairy are reunited for this episode and introduce a new episode structure to listeners. Each episode will examine, in three parts, the research and clinical research angle of a topic, then practical clinical perspectives, and, finally, a potential guest to weigh in on the topic. In this, part one, Dr. T and Truth explore the relationships between trauma, dissociation, and psychedelic therapy. They dig into how dissociation shows up on a spectrum - from everyday experiences like daydreaming to severe structural dissociation rooted in early trauma and survival responses.

In the trauma model of dissociation, Dr. T and Truth Fairy discuss how the mind and body protect us each against overwhelming pain by sequestering traumatic memories. Truth names several books by people who have survived extremely traumatic situations to illustrate this. They also explore the role of the dorsal vagal complex in shutdown and numbing states, and how attachment wounds contribute to dissociation. Understanding these is key to safe and effective psychedelic therapy.

Together, drawing on clinical research and personal insight, they highlight the protective and harmful aspects of dissociation, how it overlaps with conditions like PTSD, DID, and depression, and they examine how trauma can be carried in the mind and body. Part of their discussion involves how psychedelic medicines can offer healing by bringing suppressed experiences to the surface, alongside care and trauma-informed awareness and guidance.

“And so, yeah, the idea is that in the process of dissociation as a response to trauma, it's protecting in the moment. But those memories and those experiences are still - if dissociation is happening in the moment of a traumatic experience, it might be protective - but then it might be sequestering and pushing some material into a different place within the psyche. And if that remains unresolved, you know, then it can wreak havoc and produce a lot of follow-on distress.” - Dr. T

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Resources discussed in this episode:

• “Psychedelic iatrogenic structural dissociation: an exploratory hypothesis on dissociative risks in psychedelic use” by Steven Elfrink and Leigh Bergin, ‘Frontiers in Psychology’, 3 March 2025
• “The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State” by Nadia Murad
• “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl

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Contact Punk Therapy:

Patreon: Patreon.com/PunkTherapy

Website: PunkTherapy.com

Email: info@punktherapy.com

Contact Truth Fairy:

Email: Truth@PunkTherapy.com

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