The Treatment and Research in Psychedelics (T.R.I.P) Center promotes diversity, inclusivity, and the preservation of nature.
Nestled in the Saint John’s Medical Plaza building in Santa Monica California. Keith Heinzerling, Daniel Kelly and Karina Sergi launched the Treatment Research in Psychedelics (T.R.I.P) Center in 2019. The Pacific Neuroscience Institute psychedelic center researches and facilitates psychedelic treatments and have published a handful of studies. Keith Heinzerling and Karina Sergi welcomed us to view the clinic and shared insights into their research and mission.
Keith Heinzerling
Director of the Treatment and Research in Psychedelics (T.R.I.P) Center, Board certified in Addiction Medicine & Internal Medicine and Co-Founder of ReWild Medicine. Dr. Keith Heinzerling works on understanding how psychedelics can increase connections to ourselves and the natural world in order to inspire humanity to better address climate change and improve the health of the planet.
One of Dr. Heinzerling's studies investigated the impact of nature-themed visuals on individuals with alcohol use disorder who were undergoing psilocybin-assisted. The nature film developed by Louis Schwartzberg was utilized in this research.
“Nature does not provide a controlled environment, which is why it is necessary for us to conduct studies on visual modalities in the clinic.”- Dr. Heinzerling stated.
When asked about the topic Eco-Psychology Keith explained to his study. In this study, participants were divided into two groups. The first group was exposed to a nature video both before and after their psilocybin experience, while the second group did not receive this nature-themed visual intervention.
The study revealed that participants who were exposed to the nature video experienced a significantly lower peak increase in blood pressure after their psilocybin session compared to those who underwent the Standard procedures without the nature video. Both groups showed a significant decrease in alcohol use, and there were no notable differences in psychedelic effects, stress, or anxiety between the two groups.
These findings highlight the potential of using nature visuals to enhance cardiovascular safety during psilocybin-assisted therapy without interfering with the psychedelic experience or the outcomes of the treatment. The observed reduction in blood pressure may be attributed to the sense of connection to nature and its positive impact on overall well-being. Moving forward, these results can be utilized to mitigate cardiovascular risks and potentially enhance individuals' connection to nature during their psilocybin journey.
Outside of his research involving nature visuals in the clinical setting, Dr. Heinzerling and his team actively engage with nature through their work at ReWild Medicine. At ReWild Medicine, they have developed a unique program with psychedelic-assisted ecotherapy which aims to assist patients dealing with depression, addiction, and trauma. Dr. Heinzerling emphasized the importance of set and setting in shaping the psychedelic experience , “Experiences with nature seem to allow individuals to reflect upon their innate natural tendencies which contributes to the healing process.” - Dr. Heinzerling stated. Nature can generate a plethora of positive emotions which could aid in the flow of the psychedelic experience.
Understanding the potential of this nature setting could have beneficial implications for the future of psychedelic research. Dr. Heinzerling contributions are already expanding the existing body of research on nature immersion during a psychedelic experience.
Karina Sergi
Karina holds the position of Director of Psychedelic Therapy Training and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute Treatment and Research in Psychedelics (T.R.I.P) Center. She is a Co-Founder of ReWild Medicine, alongside Dr. Keith Heinzerling.
As a psychedelic therapist, Karina has observed a significant lack of diversity in both psychedelic research and therapy. She strongly advocates for the inclusion of minorities and the promotion of increased ethnic and racial diversity among study participants. Karina emphasizes the importance of research participants reflecting the diverse ethnic makeup of the real world. During an interview at the (T.R.I.P) clinic, Karina highlighted the lack of diversity in psychedelic research and treatment. '“The participants in the majority of these studies are white men.” said Karina during an interview at the (T.R.I.P) clinic. She explained that this lack of diversity hinders the generalizability of research findings.
Many communities that are most affected by trauma do not have access to these psychedelic treatments. Karina mentioned the prevalence of generational trauma in Latin communities and the limited accessibility of psychedelic treatments for them. She expressed that minority communities are often overlooked and not actively approached for participation in psychedelic studies.
“Generational trauma is prevalent in Latin communities and psychedelic treatments are not widely accessible.” - Karina stated. .
It is essential to have diversity among research participants in order to accurately represent the population that these treatments aim to serve. Improved recruitment strategies to obtain a diversity of participants in studies should be structured. By providing equal opportunities for involvement to individuals of all ethnicities, psychedelic research can be strengthened, leading to improved treatment outcomes.