Dr. Ben Sessa will discuss MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Addictions - Psychedelic Medicine for the Future of Psychiatry.

UCL LOCATION: lecture theatre G22 in the north west wing building

Ben has specialist training as a child and adolescent psychiatrist and  is interested in the developmental trajectory from child maltreatment to adult mental health disorders, including adult addictions. Dr Sessa’s  joint interests in psychotherapy, pharmacology and trauma have led  him towards researching the subject of drug-assisted psychotherapy  using psychedelic adjuncts. In the last 15 years he has been part of  scientific and clinical studies administering LSD, psilocybin, ketamine,  MDMA and DMT to patients and volunteers.

He is the author of psychedelic medical exploration books; The  Psychedelic Renaissance (2012 and 2017) and To Fathom Hell or Soar  Angelic (2015). He has recently completed research with Imperial  College London exploring the world’s first MDMA-assisted therapy  trial for the treatment of Alcohol Dependence Syndrome.

Alongside Prof. David Nutt, Ben has also been a long term advocate of drug policy reform in the UK; believing that current laws  hamper research and increase, rather than reduce, the burden of  problematic drug use on individuals and society.

Read more about Dr. Ben Sessa here.