Ask Dr. Jill: Does Psychedelic Therapy Actually Work?Ask Dr. Jill: Does Psychedelic Therapy Actually Work?
Strong Talk Podcast
This conversation looks at how ketamine, psilocybin and ibogaine are being studied for PTSD, addiction and suicide risk, especially among veterans. It balances cautious optimism about their potential with clear discussion of safety, limits and the need for better support systems.
40:17•7 Oct 2026
Psychedelics, Suicide Risk and New Paths to Healing with Dr. Lynette Averill
Episode Overview
- Psychedelics are not one size fits all and can be unsafe for people with certain medical issues, especially cardiovascular problems.
- Careful preparation, realistic expectations and safety planning are essential before considering psychedelic treatment.
- Early research suggests ketamine, psilocybin and ibogaine may rapidly reduce PTSD symptoms, depression, substance use and suicidality for some people.
- These treatments are typically given as one or a few sessions with intensive support, rather than daily long-term medication.
- Access, funding and new care models are needed so promising therapies don’t lose their benefits by being squeezed into overstretched systems.
“We often get people successfully to the point of tolerating existence, and that’s a win—but for those who aren’t, there’s got to be something better.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction and severe mental health struggles when everything else has failed? This episode of Strong Talk’s "Ask Dr. Jill" focuses on psychedelic therapies and whether they actually work for conditions like PTSD, depression, substance use issues and suicidality. Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman and her sidekick Chris Mundin team up with researcher Dr. Lynette A. Averill, whose work and personal history give this conversation a very human edge.
After losing her father, a Vietnam veteran, to suicide following years of ineffective treatment, Dr. Averill has spent her career asking what can be done for people who don’t find relief from standard options such as SSRIs or talk therapy. You’ll hear clear explanations of ketamine, psilocybin and ibogaine, including how they’re given, how long sessions last and what kind of medical screening is crucial. Dr.
Averill stresses that these substances "are absolutely not a one size fits all," and highlights serious cardiovascular risks, especially with ibogaine. Safety, good preparation and realistic expectations are front and centre: "If this does not work or doesn't work the way that you want it to, what does that mean?
And how do you stay safe?" The episode also touches on promising early findings, such as improved PTSD, depression, substance use and suicidality among veterans treated in specialised programmes, and ongoing psilocybin research funded by AFSP. There’s a strong focus on meaning, connection and the idea that these treatments might help some people move beyond simply "tolerating existence" towards a fuller life.
If you’re sober or cutting back and wondering how emerging therapies fit into the wider recovery and suicide prevention picture, this conversation offers careful science, honesty about risks and a cautious sense of hope. Could psychedelic-assisted therapy be one more option worth understanding in your own or a loved one’s journey?
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