Episode 11: Brian Pilecki - Psychedelic Clinical Psychology | MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy | Harm Reduction & Integration

Curious to Serious

In this episode, we talk with Brian Pilecki.
He is a psychologist and researcher at Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center.
Brian provides integration and harm reduction therapy for clients currently using psychedelics on their own.
He is also involved in a clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of social anxiety disorder.
In our conversation, we cover Brian’s work as a psychiatrist and discuss his passion for reducing the stigma of psychedelic use by clients within his field.
We also discuss how Brian developed an interest in psychedelics and his educational journey from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) to Fordham University and a post-doc at Brown University.
Additionally, Brian provides critical advice for managing graduate school and transitioning into a career.
Then, we take some time to talk about the organizations' Brian is involved in, including the Portland Psychedelic Society and the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science.
Finally, we end our conversation with a reflection on the future of the psychedelic field and Brian’s hopes for expanded accessibility of psychedelic psychotherapy to all communities, especially those who historically don’t have access to traditional mental health care.
Timestamps:
2:22 What is a clinical psychologist?
4:11 What is a Psy D?
5: 44 How Brian integrates psychedelics into clinical psychology
9:27 Clinical trials on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treating social anxiety disorders
16:58 Brian’s studies on reducing stigma among psychiatrists
22:37 Brian’s first experience with psychedelics and his undergraduate experience
26:50 Brian’s studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies
30:38 PhD studies at Fordham University
39:41 Building skillsets through clinical experience
42:40 Post docs
45:50 Resources and advice from Brian’s academic journey
53:06 Portland Psychedelic Society
56:41 Special Interest Group in Psychedelics within the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science
59:55 Hopes for the future of the psychedelic field
1:02:56 Bonus question: should mental health professionals have experience with psychedelics or altered states of consciousness to work with clients and psychedelics?
1:08:20 Brian’s podcast: Altered States of Context
1:09:27 How to connect with Brian
Links:
Portland Psychedelic Society

Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)

Psychedelic and Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness Special Interest Group of ACBS

Altered States of Context Podcast

You can connect with Brian through email at [e-mail]
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Music by: https://www.alexkahnmusic.com/
Presented by Psychedelic Grad.