ABOUT US
The Georgia Association for Psychedelic Therapy is a registered 501 C-3 nonprofit organization based out of Atlanta, Georgia.
Our primary focus is in legislative advocacy intended to expand access to clinical interventions for mental health treatment in Georgia, particularly those related to post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic depression, and addiction. We also focus on supplying the public with accurate information and assisting professionals interested in this space.
To the best of our knowledge, we are the first and only group in Georgia whose primary mission is in legislative advocacy and public policy.
Our board is composed of physicians, attorneys, psychotherapists, and lobbyists who are dedicated to staying aware of the latest research, monitoring policy, and learning from successes in other states so that we may progress our goal of bringing these interventions to Georgia in a manner that prioritizes science and safety.
At this time, we are exclusively focusing on psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA as promising methods to treat mental health conditions.
This website will feature educational content as well as resources for patients, clinicians, and advocates. We are building directories of certified clinics, collecting updates on the latest research, and compiling ethical guidelines for psychedelic-assisted treatment.
Definitions:
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The term psychedelic refers to substances, experiences, or phenomena that significantly alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes.
In psychology, psychedelics are known for temporarily inducing altered states of consciousness, which can include vivid visual and auditory hallucinations, a distorted sense of time, and changes in self-awareness and emotional processing.
Psychedelics have been studied for their potential therapeutic benefits, particularly in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction, often by facilitating a heightened sense of self-awareness, emotional insight, and increased neuroplasticity in the brain.
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Refers to therapeutic approaches that use psychedelic substances (such as psilocybin, LSD, MDMA) to treat mental health conditions or to facilitate personal growth.
These interventions are grounded in scientific research that investigates how these substances affect brain function, particularly focusing on neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections in response to experiences.
Recent studies suggest that psychedelics can stimulate neuroplasticity, enhancing the brain's capacity to heal from trauma, anxiety, depression, and addiction. By temporarily altering the brain's default patterns of activity, psychedelics allow for greater flexibility in neural networks, enabling individuals to access new perspectives, break maladaptive thought cycles, and strengthen cognitive flexibility. This process is thought to be key in helping individuals overcome psychological disorders and achieve lasting behavioral change.
Many states across the United States have already embraced legislation that approves the use psychedelics, or are in the process of doing so.