Beyond the Trip: A Psychedelic Therapy Podcast with Dr Esme Dark
Monica Schweickle and Chris Raine: Beyond the Trip: Can Psychedelics Change Mental Healthcare?
What happens when a radically different approach to mental health treatment meets an established healthcare system? In this episode of Beyond the Trip , we explore what it really takes to bring psychedelic-assisted therapy into mainstream mental healthcare in Australia — from the therapy room to the systems and structures needed to support a new model of care. I’m joined by Monica Schweickle , clinical psychologist and one of Australia’s leading psychedelic-assisted therapists, and Chris Raine , mental health entrepreneur and co-founder of The Psychedelic Consultancy. Monica was the first psychologist in the world to provide legal MDMA-assisted therapy to a client with PTSD outside of a clinical trial. With 20 years’ experience working across trauma, veterans’ mental health, domestic and family violence, government services and private practice, she brings a deeply clinical and practical perspective to the emerging field. Chris brings a systems and innovation perspective. As the founder of Hello Sunday Morning and co-founder of Clean Slate Clinic, he has spent years developing new approaches to addiction and mental healthcare. As a 2024 Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellow, he also played a role in helping establish Australia’s psychedelic-assisted therapy system and support access for its first 100 patients. Together, we talk about the realities of building psychedelic therapy in Australia — what is working, what needs to change, and what we can learn as this field develops. We explore: • Their very different journeys into psychedelic therapy • What it takes to work within — and change — the Australian mental health system • The role of consultancy in supporting the emerging psychedelic therapy sector • Different therapeutic modalities and approaches to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy • The potential role of psychedelic therapies in reducing reliance on antidepressant medication • The emerging Maudsley guidelines and what they mean for practice • The hopes, challenges and risks of bringing psychedelic therapy into mainstream care And ultimately, we ask: Are psychedelics simply giving us another treatment option — or could they invite us to rethink mental healthcare altogether? This is a conversation about clinical practice, systems change, innovation and the future of mental health care in Australia.
