New Research Provides Real-World Confirmation: Psilocybin Therapy Heals
Here at the Healing Advocacy Fund, we help history unfold every day. In Oregon and Colorado, thousands are already receiving psilocybin therapy through state-regulated programs designed to prioritize safety, equity, and healing—something that was unthinkable just a few years ago. And we’re working hard with partners in New Mexico to support another historic model of care there.
These programs are laying the foundation for what psychedelic-assisted therapy will look like across the country in the years ahead.
And while much attention is rightly focused on national efforts to get the FDA to approve psychedelic medicines, the state programs are and will continue to be instrumental to the overall success of psychedelic care. These programs are delivering healing responsibly, compassionately, and at scale. They’re also creating the systems, infrastructure, and expertise that will help guide effective FDA-approved care. Here’s how:
Providing immediate healing and generating real-world evidence. Clients are experiencing meaningful improvements in mental health and quality of life, while outcome data and research are helping refine best practices and ensure safety. This evidence not only improves current care but also informs how future FDA-approved therapies will be delivered.
Setting a precedent for therapeutic care. State programs set a critical precedent that psychedelic care should be delivered within a therapeutic process, with preparation, guidance, and integration. This is especially important because FDA approval will likely apply only to the drug itself, not the therapy model. By demonstrating that outcomes improve with structured support, state programs help ensure that standards of care nationwide include the full therapeutic process, not just a prescription.
Creating the infrastructure needed for broader rollout. Licensed healing centers, trained facilitators, and clear processes for preparation, dosing, and integration mirror many of the elements that FDA will someday require. By building these systems now, states are ensuring that hospitals, clinics, and health systems can adopt FDA-approved care easily and more efficiently.
Ensuring broad access and preventative care. FDA approval will likely be limited to care for specific mental health diagnoses. But people struggling deserve support, regardless of whether they’ve been diagnosed with a specific condition. Perhaps even more importantly, state-regulated access to psychedelic therapy allows people to get care and tackle challenges before their condition becomes diagnosable.
Building public trust. At HAF, we engage communities, educate providers, and work with the media to reduce stigma and normalize psychedelic therapy as a legitimate, therapeutic process. This credibility will be vital in demonstrating to future patients, providers, and ultimately, insurers that these therapies are safe and effective.
The Healing Advocacy Fund is proud to support and shape these programs, ensuring that they deliver healing today, while shaping psychedelic therapy in America in the future. Thank you for all you do to support our work.
- Taylor
UPDATES
Health Care Providers: Major Law Change Coming to Oregon’s Program in 2026
With the passage of HB 2387 this year, Oregon is expanding opportunities for licensed health care professionals to participate in psilocybin therapy through dual licensure.
Starting in January 2026:
Licensed health care providers will be able to obtain licensure as psilocybin therapy facilitators.
Licensed health care providers will be able to discuss psilocybin therapy with their patients without fear of jeopardizing their health care credentials.
Dual licensure will allow clinicians to integrate professional skills into preparation and integration sessions, supporting patients more fully across the continuum of care.
Why This Matters for Providers and Patients:
Expanded treatment options: Psilocybin therapy offers a new tool for patients who have not benefited from existing treatments.
Legal clarity and protection: Providers can now safely discuss psilocybin therapy with patients and participate in care delivery.
Integration with traditional care: Dual licensure strengthens continuity of care by aligning psilocybin therapy with established health care practices. For example, a licensed mental health provider who becomes licensed as a psilocybin facilitator could establish new offerings and options for existing clients who want to explore psychedelic therapy.
New Mexico: Medical Psilocybin Program Manager position posted
The NM Department of Health's Center for Medical Cannabis and Psilocybin works to establish, administer, and regulate the Medical Cannabis Patient Enrollment Program and the new Medical Psilocybin Program. The purpose is to ensure compliance with statute, rules, and regulations regarding both programs. The Center also educates regarding the effects of cannabis and psilocybin use and gathers and compiles statistics on patient use and access.
The person working in this position will provide supervision and direction for the medical psilocybin team as well as provide support for the Medical Psilocybin Advisory Board, including the creation, review, and implementation of program regulations, rules, protocols, and guidelines. The manager will also coordinate with community members, providers, patients, law enforcement, and other stakeholders, and help with the gathering, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of health information regarding medical psilocybin use.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Amanda Gow is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Bendable Therapy, a licensed psilocybin facilitator, and an LPC Associate. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health and has built a 15-year career as a nonprofit executive serving youth, families, and the wider community. Amanda’s work is grounded in both compassion and science, and she is dedicated to advancing evidence-based approaches that legitimize psilocybin as a safe, effective mental health tool. Her trauma-informed, client-centered practice blends her leadership background with her commitment to research, carried forward with compassion, professionalism, and a deep respect for the inner journey.
This month, Bendable released preliminary results from the largest real-world psilocybin therapy study conducted in Oregon’s state-regulated psilocybin therapy program. In collaboration with their research partner Osmind, the study followed 88 participants who completed Bendable’s psilocybin-assisted therapy program at their licensed service center in Bend, Oregon. The study found clinically significant improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and overall well-being at 30 days post-session, reinforcing what clinical trials have already suggested: psilocybin therapy has the potential to provide profound and lasting mental health benefits when provided as part of a tailored mental health program.
HAF interviewed Amanda to learn more about the Bendable-Osmind study, and its findings.
What makes this study different from clinical trials on psilocybin we’ve seen in the past?
Clinical trials show what’s possible under ideal, controlled conditions with highly screened participants. This study shows what’s happening in practice — in the real world, with real clients, and under a legal framework that doesn’t exclude the complexity of people’s lives. This study was open to any applicant and included participants from a diverse and real-world background seeking support from psilocybin-assisted therapy for a variety of diagnoses, symptoms, and intentions. It also differed from typical clinical trials in that it utilized naturally-derived psilocybin from mushrooms, rather than synthetic, paired with a flexible dosing strategy allowed under Oregon’s legal framework to align with individual needs.
What did you find about psilocybin’s impact on depression, anxiety, and overall well-being?
Our study found that individuals who participated in psilocybin sessions at Bendable Therapy experienced clinically meaningful improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and a sense of overall well-being at 30 days post-session. This indicates that a psilocybin session is effective in improving depression, anxiety, and well-being for all demographics in our study, even those not disclosing an anxiety or depression diagnosis.
Why is it significant that participants on antidepressants or other psychiatric medications were included in this study?
It’s significant because most clinical trials exclude people who are taking psychiatric medications, which means their results don’t always reflect the real-world population seeking care. In our study, nearly half of participants were on antidepressants or other mental health medications and they still experienced meaningful improvements in depression, anxiety, and well-being. This shows that psilocybin therapy can benefit people without requiring them to taper or discontinue their existing treatment plans. By including these participants, our study reflects the true complexity of clients’ lives and opens the door for far more people to safely access psilocybin services. The study also dispelled an old belief that participants on SSRIs needed significantly higher doses to receive any benefit. On average, study participants on medications received only a 5mg higher dose and achieved the same positive outcomes.
How did participants describe their experiences in their own words?
Participants enthusiastically shared detailed written accounts of their journeys and progress at multiple points throughout the study. Their reflections describe experiences that were powerful, supportive, and deeply worthwhile. Many emphasized newfound peace, clarity, and connection, often linking these shifts directly to progress in their mental health goals. Bendable’s supportive program of intake, preparation, facilitation, and integration was described as central to the positive outcomes. Here’s what we heard from some study participants:
“My psilocybin journey with Bendable was amazing. I learned more about myself and processed more of my trauma in one day than in 7 years of various forms of therapy…. Since my psilocybin therapy, I have not had a single panic/anxiety/PTSD attack, which is in stark contrast to having one or more attacks nearly every day before psilocybin.”
“The psilocybin session was incredible…I felt deep love and connection to my family, and I also had a mystical experience….The vividness of that powerful vision has stayed with me and given me visceral calm, connection, and access to inner joy that was previously out of reach. It was so worth it and I feel deeply grateful for the experience.”
“I liked all the crying I did when it came to losing my son and aunt. That was probably my favorite part of the session. I have always suppressed my son passing away twenty years ago, and I never really dealt with it…until now.”
What do these findings mean for the future of psilocybin therapy in Oregon and beyond?
These findings show that psilocybin therapy can be delivered safely and effectively in real-world settings, not just in tightly controlled clinical trials. Because benefits were seen across diverse groups including people on psychiatric medications, the data suggest psilocybin services can be broadly accessible without excluding those with complex mental health needs.
For Oregon, this strengthens confidence in the state’s pioneering model and provides a foundation for expansion. Nationally and globally, it offers evidence that community-based psilocybin services can improve depression, anxiety, and well-being, helping inform both future research and policy decisions. While this research was conducted under the Bendable Therapy model and more research is certainly needed to broaden our findings’ generalizability, the results hold real promise. As a mental health professional, I see this as helping to legitimize psilocybin as an additional tool available to support clients struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and overall well-being.
Were there any safety concerns identified in the study?
No safety concerns were identified in this study. All participants completed the full study protocol, and the improvements we observed came without adverse events. It’s important to note that Bendable Therapy programs include extensive screening, preparation, and integration protocols beyond the minimum required in Oregon and are provided by Bendable’s team of staff and facilitators, the majority of whom carry additional clinical health licenses. The additional support provided by this program is designed to enhance safety and ensure participants get the most benefit from their psilocybin sessions.
Bendable has also developed robust dosing standards that, when paired with the added support, allow for positive outcomes without the need for increasingly large doses as seen at other providers. These results suggest that when psilocybin services are delivered within a structured and supportive mental health framework, they can be both safe and effective.
What’s next for this research, and how can people support or get involved?
We are currently in the process of publishing our first manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will be presenting these findings at several major mental health conferences. We’re excited to share our results with the wider field to help inform and improve best practices for psilocybin therapy. A key goal of this work is to use our data to build trust among mental health and medical professionals so they feel safe and confident exploring psilocybin services as an option for their patients. At the same time, we are actively fundraising to continue analyzing our data set and to support future publications.
People who want to learn more about Bendable Therapy can visit our website or reach us directly at contact@bendabletherapy.org. As a nonprofit, we welcome donations of any size — every contribution helps sustain our research and expand access to care. We’re a small but dedicated team, and financial support truly goes a long way in making this work possible.
EVENTS
October 4: The Collaborence Conference
Healing Advocacy Fund is excited to be a community partner on The Collaborence, the signature conference of the Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Association (PATA), a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing education, collaboration, and innovation in the world of psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Designed for both professionals and the public, this event brings together leading voices in mental health, psychedelic research, and community advocacy to share evidence-based insights and diverse perspectives. Through panels, discussions, and networking, attendees are empowered to make informed decisions about the role of psilocybin in their personal and professional lives, while fostering connections that build stronger, more collaborative communities.
Healing Advocacy Fund State Directors will lead two discussions:
Understanding the Landscape of State-Regulated Psychedelic Programs:
A discussion on the unique properties of each state’s programs, challenges, opportunities, and the lessons learned in real time. Presented by: Heidi Pendergast (Oregon State Director, HAF), Tasia Poinsatte (Colorado State Director, HAF), and Denali Wilson (New Mexico Director of Strategic Support, HAF).
Navigating Dual Licensure in New Mexico’s Medical Psilocybin Therapy Program
A dive into the first regulated program to pass through the legislature instead of a ballot initiative and the first distinctly medical model, which is surfacing tough questions for healthcare providers and systems, lawyers, and insurers about the impact of working with a federally illegal substance. Presented by: Denali Wilson, HAF Director of Strategic Support in New Mexico and Victoria Cvitanovic, Rudick Law Group
> Register for The Collaborance. Use code HAF20 to receive 20% off.
October 14: Webinar - Working with Psilocybin at End of Life
Join Healing Advocacy Fund and Christine Caldwell, Founder and Executive Director of End of Life Psychedelic Care, for a webinar on “Working with Psilocybin at End of Life” on October 14th from Noon to 1:30pm PT.
This webinar provides an in-depth look at psilocybin therapy in the context of terminal and life-threatening illness. We will review the research demonstrating how psilocybin supports individuals in approaching the end of life with greater clarity, acceptance, and intention. Discussion will address the unique physiological, emotional, and spiritual needs of clients at this stage, as well as the opportunities and limitations of psilocybin within these settings. The session will also offer a status update on the evolving landscape of end-of-life psilocybin work in Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico, highlighting current practices, challenges, and emerging directions in the field.
About the Speaker: Christine Caldwell is the Founder and Executive Director of End of Life Psychedelic Care, a nonprofit dedicated to reclaiming death and dying as a sacred journey. While psychedelics are only one path, and not the right choice for everyone, research and lived experience show their potential to shift Western medical views of dying toward greater acceptance of this universal passage. Christine has completed Psychedelics Today’s Vital Therapies and Integration Program as well as Dr. Rosalind Watts’ ACER Integration Program. She also brings prior experience as the owner of a 250-client home health agency where she began to understand the challenges facing clients as they aged in place and how to improve their quality of life.
> Register for the October 14th webinar here.
October 20th: Webinar - Advanced Illness and OR’s Psilocybin Therapy Program: An Interprofessional Team Approach
Join the Healing Advocacy Fund and the Advanced Illness Coalition of Oregon (AICO) on Thursday October 30th from 5-6pm PT for a webinar on supporting people with advanced illness and their families through an interprofessional team approach within the Oregon psilocybin services framework.
The session will be facilitated by AICO members who developed a guidance document for stakeholders (download here) who support this population, drawing on expertise from diverse fields—including chaplaincy, nursing, medicine, palliative and hospice care, academic research, law, as well as anecdotal and lived experience.
The webinar will present key concepts in a format designed to encourage participant engagement. Central to the guidance is interprofessional collaboration among experienced specialists, with the shared goal of promoting safe, informed, and well-prepared legal psilocybin services—for the right client, at the right time, with the right facilitator.
About the speakers: The Advanced Illness Coalition of Oregon (AICO) is a group of psychedelically-informed professionals in healthcare, education, and law who collaborate to provide information about Oregon Psilocybin Services to individuals with advanced illness and those who support them.
> Register for the October 20th webinar here.
October 21: Webinar - Navigating Dual Licensure in State Regulated Psilocybin Programs
Join the Healing Advocacy Fund, Portland Psychotherapy and three leading law firms for a webinar on “Navigating Dual Licensure in State Regulated Psilocybin Programs” on Tuesday, October 21 from 11am to 12:30pm.
Facilitated by Portland Psychotherapy, the expert panelists from Emerge Law Group, Vicente Law, and Rudick Law will offer insights to equip healthcare providers who are (or want to become) licensed psilocybin facilitators, with a comprehensive understanding of how psilocybin laws differ across Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico, while offering practical guidance on navigating the evolving legal landscape.
Panelists will discuss licensing structures, clinical pathways, and state-specific policies, alongside best practices for minimizing liability and structuring businesses to remain compliant. The discussion will also highlight the current insurance environment, exposing key coverage gaps and areas of risk for providers. By the end of the session, participants will gain clarity on both the legal complexities and practical considerations necessary for safe, ethical, and effective engagement with state-regulated psilocybin programs.
>Register for the October 21st webinar.
IN THE NEWS
Our Reporter Takes the Cheapest Legal Mushroom Trip in Town
Willamette Week
I was on a day bed deep in East Portland when the drugs took hold. Inside my eye mask, I watched the steel superstructure of a new skyscraper rise, floor by floor into a night sky. The girders morphed into crystalline pipes. Polygons of every color raced through them, heading to some machine to be assembled—if I had to guess—into rainbows. The pipes became octopus tentacles, curling and unfurling to the dreamy music on my headphones. The tentacles became ferns. Lots of ferns.
Why I Became a Legal Psilocybin Facilitator
Willamette Week
I was born in Singapore, a prosperous, thriving country in Southeast Asia where drug offenses can land you a death sentence by long-drop hanging. People are often surprised when I say my job is to support folks while they trip on magic mushrooms in Portland. As a 17-year-old, I went to high school in Perth, Australia, where I partied too hard. I had fun experimenting with psychedelics, but one evening, chilling with the wrong crowd, I took a tab of acid that was not quite right (or maybe it was me who was not quite right).
Psilocybin — the drug in ‘magic mushrooms’ — could see federal restrictions loosened
LA Times
Regulation of psilocybin — the “magic” substance in psychedelic mushrooms — has been a hot-button issue for Californians in recent years, but repeated attempts by state lawmakers to allow medical use of the substance have floundered. Now it seems change may come at the federal level.
New study may have found treatment for lasting relief from depression
The Independent
Two-thirds of people who underwent psilocybin-assisted therapy remained free from depression five years later, according to recent research that offers the first long-term glimpse into the lasting power of psychedelic treatment.