Over the past decade, mental health treatment has undergone dramatic change. Perhaps one of the most remarkable developments has been the rapid adoption of psychedelic therapy as an effective therapy for depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Now this alternative therapy is making its way into workplace settings to provide benefits unique to employees.
Enthea’s Innovative Approach
Enthea is an innovative health plan startup which is making waves for providing psychedelic healthcare as a workplace benefit. According to their records, at least 50 companies have expressed an interest in this revolutionary treatment by signing letters of intent allowing psychedelic therapy services for employees.
Dr. Bronner’s: An Encouraging Case Study
Dr. Bronner’s natural soap company provides an impressive testimony for this therapy, covering the cost of ketamine-assisted therapy sessions for employees suffering from depression, PTSD or anxiety as alternative treatment options. Results were truly astonishing with over 7 percent of employees accessing therapy while anonymous surveys reported significant improvements in mental health conditions among them.
Change Public Perception
A poll conducted by Berkeley revealed that 61% of American support the legalization of psychedelics; younger generations (particularly Gen Z) are leading the charge towards new perspectives on mental health care and Enthea’s CEO Sherry Rais believes psychedelic therapy has become far more mainstream over time.
Legal Shifts
As part of this wave of therapy, legal changes are taking place as well. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration has approved ketamine for treating depression while designating psilocybin as a breakthrough therapy against drug-resistant depression. Furthermore, states like Oregon and Colorado have legalized adult use of psilocybin with California considering similar initiatives.
What Makes Psychedelic Therapy Effective
So why does psychedelic therapy work so effectively? According to research, antidepressants only prove more effective than sugar pills 15% of the time; in comparison, response rates to treatments like Psilocybin have reached as high as 80%! Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity within our brains by strengthening connections between regions resulting in shifts in consciousness, perception and personal insight.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
While psychedelic therapy is an exciting prospect, it does come with its share of challenges. Some startups have rushed to open ketamine clinics across the country without sufficient consideration of profitability and therapeutic counseling quality – something Enthea strives to ensure by conducting assessments of psychedelic-assisted therapy clinics on behalf of employers.
Advocating for Psychedelics
Dr. Bronner’s goes beyond simply providing employees with this benefit; its CEO Dave Bronner is also an outspoken proponent for using psychedelics. Serving on the board of Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies to raise awareness of these substances as he works on raising them himself, the company has contributed millions to this organization and funded training centers for psychedelic integration therapy as well as funding two training centers to host such integration therapy training centers; both Dave and Mike have shared personal accounts of how psychedelics helped them heal them personally through personal narrative.
Beyond the Workplace
Psychedelic therapy in the workplace is part of an emerging movement to bring mental health awareness and innovation. As the demand for alternative mental health healing increases, so too must regulations, research, and application take place responsibly; questions must be answered, safeguards implemented. But early successes like those at Dr. Bronner’s demonstrate promising prospects.
Psychotherapeutic therapies represent a fundamental change to how employers approach employee wellness. Their incorporation into workplace benefits indicates a broad cultural change towards accepting alternative therapies and developing deeper insights into mental wellbeing.
As more companies consider adopting this benefit, they will need to evaluate scientific data, social norms, legal considerations and ethical implications before making their decision. Although psychedelic therapy in the workplace remains in its infancy stage, initial signs indicate promising benefits which could revolutionise our conceptions of mental health in our professional lives.
Companies such as Dr. Bronner’s and Enthea are pioneering a more compassionate, innovative, and effective approach to mental health by exploring this emerging trend. As more organizations embrace psychedelic therapy as an employee benefit, their experience will serve as an example.
Alsever, J. (2023). “Psychedelic Therapy Is Becoming More Common at the Workplace; Dr. Bronner Says It Pays Off”.