Artsy Shot: Hands-free
A contribution by Kate
Executive Summary
Psychedelic therapy is considered a beacon of hope for people suffering from depression, trauma, and other mental illnesses – yet in Germany, it is not yet legally accessible. We therefore highlight current research findings, personal stories from the PsychedeliCare initiative, and explain why controlled therapeutic access is so urgently needed. At the same time, we show you how you can get actively involved – for a bright future of mental health.
While mental illnesses have continuously increased in recent decades, public therapy services are stuck: long waiting times, overwhelmed systems, and growing demand meet too few resources. At the same time, we are experiencing not only collectively but also in psychedelic research (finally) a renaissance – and with it, hope for new ways in the treatment of mental suffering.
☝🏻 Disclaimer: Please be sure to observe our risk warnings.
Psychedelic Therapy: Collective Pain Meets Collective Potential
Whether it's depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or addiction – many people, perhaps including you, know the pain when inner states dominate life. And many are looking for new paths. Psychedelic substances – be it psilocybin, LSD, or MDMA – show promising results in clinical studies: they help to break through rigid thought patterns, release emotional blockages, and reconcile with repressed parts.
In countries like Australia and Switzerland, initial applications in clinical settings are already permitted. In Germany, too, the pressure is growing – thanks in part to initiatives like PsychedeliCare, which advocate for the controlled legalization of psychedelic therapy.
Psychotherapy with Psychedelics: Between Self-Responsibility and Therapeutic Support
More and more people are venturing into psychedelic experiences on their own. They inform themselves online, like on our blog, and exchange ideas in communities – and often have valuable experiences. Especially when one's own background is stable, the issues can be clearly named, and the setting is right, this can be a powerful path to self-healing.
However, not everyone has the necessary resources, knowledge, or inner stability to navigate major psychological issues alone. Especially with trauma, anxiety disorders, or long-standing depressive states, a psychedelic experience can also overwhelm, re-traumatize, or lead to isolation.
Therefore, it is not a contradiction to consider both: Self-responsibility and self-healing are possible – but some people also need security, support, and professional guidance through psychedelic therapy.
But what exactly is psychedelic therapy?
Psychedelic therapy does not mean simply consuming substances. It is about a targeted, therapeutically guided experience with substances such as psilocybin (from mushrooms), LSD, or MDMA.
In structured sessions, inner conflicts, traumas, and ingrained patterns are made emotionally tangible and reprocessed. Neuroscientific studies show that psychedelics can help to rewire neural connections in the brain – so-called "neuroplasticity" increases, the ego recedes, and repressed emotions become tangible.
Renowned institutions worldwide are researching the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances. The focus of psychedelic therapy is particularly on:
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Psilocybin (active ingredient from "magic mushrooms"): Johns Hopkins University published studies showing that a single dose led to significant improvement in severe depression within weeks – in some cases, for patients for whom other therapies had failed.
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MDMA: In the Phase 3 studies of the US organization MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), it was shown that over 67% of participants with PTSD no longer met diagnostic criteria after three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions.
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LSD & Ketamine: These substances are also currently being researched in various pilot projects – primarily for the treatment of addictive behavior, depression, and existential crises in palliative care.
The effectiveness is particularly evident in so-called treatment-resistant patients, i.e., people for whom conventional psychotherapy and medication do not show sufficient effect. Many studies also emphasize: the substance alone does not heal – but the combination of substance, setting, and professional integration.
Voices from the Initiative – why psychedelic therapy is necessary in Germany
The legalization of psychedelic therapies in Germany – or throughout Europe – is not an abstract concept for many – but a deeply personal matter. Three people from the PsychedeliCare initiative report how psychedelic experiences have changed their lives and why they are now actively campaigning for the legalization of psychedelic therapy:
Annina:
“I am convinced that if more people have the opportunity to confront their very personal problems [with the help of psychedelics], gain better access to their emotions, or rediscover their connection to nature, this will strengthen us as a community and help us to overcome the current crises of climate change and growing social inequality. To achieve this goal, we must start with those who need it most.”
Gunnar:
“My first journey with magic truffles reconnected me with my emotions and helped me to deal with a difficult issue that has been with me for 30 years, or to find a better way of coping with it. My highest-dosed LSD experience then showed me who I am and what I want to align my life with. Both experiences are among the most important I have ever had. It therefore became a matter close to my heart to enable other people safe and legal access to psychedelics and related treatments – especially for those with limited financial means or serious illnesses.”
Ralf:
“Several therapies, with and without psychopharmaceuticals, were not resoundingly successful. But thanks to MDMA, I was able to experience an emotional breakthrough. Something started to move, and my inner self has felt less rigid and closed ever since – yet it didn't get me to my goal. The need arose to have these experiences therapeutically supported, but this is not possible in Germany unless you are lucky enough to become a subject in a corresponding study. Based on these experiences, I am convinced of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and wish that psychedelic-assisted therapy would be legally available to me and everyone else who is in a similar situation.”
[You can find the full quotes at the end of the blog post.]
These voices are not isolated cases; they merely illustrate the enormous healing potential that is lost day in and day out if we do not finally create the healing spaces that so many people deserve. But there is hope!
Why we must act NOW and enable LSD therapies
The numbers speak a clear language: In Germany, affected individuals wait an average of 5 months for a therapy appointment. For some, the waiting time is significantly longer. At the same time, studies with psilocybin and MDMA now clearly and repeatedly prove that many patients experience a noticeable improvement after just a few well-guided sessions, such as psychedelic therapies with mushrooms, some even complete remission.
Therefore, we need not only more research but also more political courage and a societal rethinking of psychedelic therapies. As well as a rethinking of psychedelics in general. A petition for the legalization of psychedelic therapy in Europe is already underway – and every signature counts, so share the petition with as many people as you can. By 2026, a total of one million signatures are needed – there is still a lot to do.
👉 Sign here and become part of the movement! You might save a life 💜
Psychedelic Psychotherapy and what you can do yourself
You may have already had your own experiences with psychedelics – or are considering it. Perhaps you accompany others or are simply curious about psychedelic therapy. In any case: the better you prepare yourself, the greater the potential for insight and healing. At the same time, you should acknowledge the limits of what is possible alone. If you feel that deeper issues are knocking, seek support – be it from friends, through coaching, or therapeutic services.
We at Psychedelika Club are committed to making both possible: self-determination and responsibility. We support you with knowledge, our shop, and our community – and welcome everyone who advocates for an integral, healing, and legal approach to psychedelics, microdosing, fly agaric powder, and more.
Because mental health concerns all of us.
🙏🏻 Feedback: Did you like or find this article helpful? Do you have praise, criticism, or other feedback? Then we would be immensely grateful for an email to mail@psychedelika.club or a review on Google.
The voices from the PsychedeliCare initiative on LSD therapy
As promised, here are the unabridged quotes from three inspiring people who are passionately campaigning for the legalization of psychedelic therapy in Germany. Their stories clearly illustrate why safe, guided access to psychedelics is so urgently needed.
Annina
"Even as a teenager, I was curious about psychedelics. At 20, I tried psilocybin for the first time – later came LSD, mescaline, and MDMA. These experiences profoundly shaped me, especially my values. I realized how much power lies in community and how important trust is to effect real change.
At the end of 2023, I had my first intense experience with MDMA. It strengthened my desire to make access to psychedelic remedies available to other people. Shortly thereafter, I stumbled upon the European Citizens' Initiative via Telegram – and today, a year later, I am coordinating the work of PsychedeliCare in Germany with a great team.
We are committed to ensuring that people with high levels of suffering – for example, due to depression, PTSD, addiction, or other mental health challenges – receive legal and safe access to psychedelics and professional support.
My vision: Psychedelics should be accessible to all people. I am convinced that they can help us to better understand ourselves, to get in touch with our emotions – and ultimately also to master societal challenges such as climate change and social inequality together. To do this, we must start with those who need it most."
Gunnar
"During the Corona pandemic, my life fell apart – professionally, emotionally, personally. I had lost myself and was looking for orientation. During this time, I began to intensively study the topic of psychedelics – first theoretically, then practically.
My first journey with magic truffles helped me regain access to my emotions. I was able to process an issue that had been with me for over 30 years. A later, high-dose LSD experience finally showed me who I am – and what is truly important to me. These experiences are among the most formative of my life.
It became clear to me how many people psychedelic experiences could help – especially those who have no access to therapeutic help. That's why I am involved with PsychedeliCare today. I wish for a future where even people with low incomes or serious diagnoses can work legally and safely with psychedelics."
Ralf
"I have been living with a mental illness – probably chronic depression – for about 20 years. Numerous therapies, with and without medication, had no lasting success. After four years of intensive therapy, I lost hope of improvement – but then I stumbled upon research on psychedelics.
I had already gained some experience in a recreational context. At some point, I gathered the courage to use MDMA intentionally. And indeed: After an MDMA session, an old, deeply buried memory came up, and I had an emotional breakthrough that I had never experienced in years of therapy. I cried a lot – and something in me began to loosen. My inner self has felt less rigid ever since. It wasn't the solution – but a start. The need arose to have these experiences therapeutically supported. But this is hardly possible in Germany – unless you are lucky enough to be part of a study. Through my experiences, I am now convinced: psychedelics have enormous healing potential. Nevertheless, or precisely because of this, I wish that appropriate psychedelic therapies were available to people like me."
FAQ about psychedelic therapy
What is psychedelic therapy?
Psychedelic therapy involves the targeted use of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, LSD, or MDMA in a structured, therapeutically supported setting. The goal is to release emotional blockages, break rigid thought patterns, and process deep-seated traumas. This form of therapy relies on the neuroplastic effects of psychedelics, which promote brain flexibility and expand consciousness.
Which psychedelic substances are used in therapy?
In psychedelic therapy, substances such as psilocybin (from so-called "magic mushrooms"), LSD, and MDMA are being researched in clinical studies because they have shown promising results in the treatment of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders. A well-known study by Johns Hopkins University (2016 study) showed, for example, that psilocybin can cause significant improvement in patients with treatment-resistant depression. MDMA has also shown in Phase 3 studies by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) that more than 67% of participants with PTSD no longer met diagnostic criteria after only three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions. In addition, ketamine is also being investigated in therapeutic contexts, particularly for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, as documented in studies by the American Journal of Psychiatry (2020). However, it is important to emphasize that the use of these substances is currently not legally permitted in many countries, including Germany, and their application should only take place within the framework of scientific studies or under professional, controlled supervision.
What are the benefits of psychedelic therapy?
Psychedelic therapy can help to release emotional blockages, overcome ingrained thought patterns, and bring deeply hidden emotional issues to the surface. Promising results have been achieved in various clinical studies, especially in treatment-resistant patients who could not be adequately treated with traditional therapies and medications. One example is the Johns Hopkins University study (2020), in which psilocybin was used in people with treatment-resistant depression and showed significant improvements in the emotional state of the participants. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) also published a Phase 3 study in 2021 that showed MDMA achieved significant therapeutic success in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – more than 67% of participants no longer met diagnostic criteria after only three MDMA-assisted sessions.
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