Guest Blog Post: Psychedelic Assisted EMDR Therapy with Coley C. Woodward II
Coley Woodward is the founder of the Psyberspace Center for Psychedelic Therapy™, a New York, NY–based, BIPOC-owned and LGBTQ+ affirming mental health practice serving clients across New York, New Jersey, California, and Georgia. He is an EMDR-certified psychotherapist specializing in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care that integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with psychedelic-assisted and non-ordinary-state approaches for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and trauma. Coley is passionate about expanding equitable access to innovative healing modalities while building ethical, scalable models for the future of mental health care.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A New Frontier in Trauma Healing
For many people living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or complex trauma, traditional talk therapy can feel helpful—but incomplete. Insight alone does not always reach the deeper layers of the nervous system where trauma is stored. Psychedelic-assisted therapy offers an evidence-informed path for those seeking deeper, more lasting healing.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy combines evidence based psychotherapy with carefully supported non-ordinary states of consciousness. Research shows that medicines such as ketamine can temporarily increase neuroplasticity, soften rigid thought patterns, and reduce fear-based emotional defenses. This allows clients to access deeply rooted emotions, memories, and bodily sensations with greater clarity and self-compassion—moving therapy beyond analysis into embodied processing.
Sessions are intentional, slow, and carefully held. Clients arrive having completed preparation sessions, with a sense of safety and therapeutic intention. The space feels calm and grounding, often featuring soft lighting, comfortable seating, and curated music. Many clients wear an eye mask and headphones, allowing attention to turn inward.
As the medicine takes effect, thoughts slow and defenses relax. Internal experiences may arise—sensations, emotions, memories, or imagery—often with a surprising sense of distance and compassion. Clients frequently report feeling “with” their experience rather than overwhelmed. A licensed therapist remains present throughout, holding a safe, supportive container and offering reassurance when needed. Integration sessions afterward help translate insights into meaningful, lasting change.
At Psyberspace Center for Psychedelic Therapy, psychedelic-assisted therapy is delivered with both rigor and reverence. Psyberspace integrates ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with trauma-informed modalities such as EMDR, somatic therapy, and structured integration pathways designed for treatment-resistant conditions. Psychedelic-assisted therapy is not a quick fix—it is a catalyst for reconnection, healing, and possibility.
Ready to explore what’s possible?
Psyberspace offers free, confidential 20 minute consultations to help you determine whether this approach is right for you. Check us out at psyberspacetherapy.com. You can also check out my Psychology Today here, my LinkTree here, and my Instagram here.