Resources, Healing the Helpers

Films

Content Notice

Several films in this collection contain depictions of trauma, mental health crises, grief, and suicide. Please care for yourself as you explore these resources.

1.An Act of Service A New York Times Op-Doc short film following Rob, a fire captain, through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, challenging the stigma around mental health treatment in the conservative culture of the fire service · essential viewing for anyone working with first responders · free on YouTube

2.Lighter: A Ketamine Experience One-hour documentary following three people through ketamine therapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction, including a Navy veteran who healed from PTSD and suicidality after conventional treatment failed

3.Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics Celebrities share their most memorable psychedelic experiences

4.A Table of Our Own Women in the psychedelic space share their stories of healing, leadership, and reclaiming their voices in a male-dominated field

5.Aya Female-centered documentary following women through ayahuasca ceremonies and the healing that unfolds

6.Fantastic Fungi Paul Stamets and others explore the intelligence of mushrooms, their role in ecosystems, and their profound healing potential

7.Aaron Rodgers: Enigma 3-part docuseries following the NFL quarterback through ayahuasca, plant medicine, and a profound spiritual transformation

8.The Sunshine Makers The wild, true story of the two men who produced the majority of the world's LSD in the 1960s and believed they were saving humanity

9.Bad Trip Advice Practical, compassionate guidance on navigating difficult psychedelic experiences, essential viewing for anyone supporting others

10.The Twelve Intimate portrait of twelve people through transformative psychedelic experiences and the integration that follows

11.Dreamshadow Documentary exploring ibogaine treatment for addiction, following veterans and others through one of the most powerful healing experiences available

12.Dosed One woman's journey using psilocybin mushrooms to heal from opioid addiction when nothing else worked, raw and honest

13.Ayahuasca Diaries Personal accounts from people who traveled to the Amazon for ayahuasca ceremonies and what they brought home

14.From Shock to Awe Two combat veterans with severe PTSD turn to plant medicine when conventional treatment fails them, deeply moving

15.Joe Dispenza: Source Follows participants through Dispenza's advanced workshops, capturing the neuroscience of meditation and the spontaneous healings that occur

16.Bufo Alvarius: The Underground Secret The most powerful documentary on 5-MeO-DMT, the medicine secreted by the Sonoran Desert toad, featuring Stanislav Grof and shaman Octavio Rettig alongside stunning animations inspired by the medicine itself, an intense meditation on consciousness and being

17.How to Change Your Mind Michael Pollan's book adapted as a 4-part docuseries, one episode each on LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and mescaline including San Pedro, Wachuma, and peyote

18.Hamilton's Pharmacopeia 3 seasons going deep into psychedelic compounds and subcultures worldwide

19.Aware: Glimpses of Consciousness Science and philosophy of consciousness, quiet and profound

20.Journeys to the Edge of Consciousness Animated documentary following Timothy Leary, Aldous Huxley, and Alan Watts through their first psychedelic experiences

21.Dirty Pictures Portrait of Alexander Shulgin, the chemist who first introduced MDMA to psychotherapists and synthesized over 200 psychedelic compounds

▶Psychedelics: Lifting the Veil Robin Carhart-Harris TEDx Talk · 680K+ views · foundational overview of the neuroscience and research behind psychedelic therapy

Films About Trauma, Mental Health, and Being Human

Content Notice

These films deal directly with trauma, mental health crises, OCD, grief, and suicide. They are powerful precisely because they do not look away. Please tend to yourself while watching.

1.Lie to Fly A New York Times documentary following Joseph Emerson, an off-duty pilot who experienced a severe mental health crisis mid-flight two days after taking psilocybin mushrooms while grieving the sudden death of his best friend. The film goes beyond the incident itself to examine the culture of silence around mental health in aviation and what happens when helpers cannot ask for help. Essential viewing for anyone working with first responders.

2.#SkyKing A documentary about Richard "Beebo" Russell, a 28-year-old airport ground service agent who stole a passenger plane from Seattle-Tacoma Airport and flew it solo through the Pacific Northwest for over an hour before intentionally crashing it. Includes never-before-heard ATC audio and his family speaking publicly for the first time. A devastating and empathetic portrait of an undiagnosed man in a mental health crisis with nowhere to turn — and a mirror held up to the working-class helpers America forgets.

3.Addition (2024) Starring Teresa Palmer as Grace, a mathematician whose OCD stems from a childhood trauma and manifests as an uncontrollable compulsion to count everything around her. A romantic drama that treats mental health with genuine compassion — one of the most honest portrayals of anxiety, OCD, and the way we hide our struggles from the people we love. Healing is not linear, and this film knows it.

4.This Is Me Now: A Love Story (2024) Jennifer Lopez traces the patterns of toxic relationships and unresolved trauma through her own eyes, weaving therapy sessions, dreamlike visuals, and raw honesty about the cycles we repeat until we heal. Simplistic and visually bold — some will find it deeply moving, others will find it wildly over the top. Either way it is worth watching. On Amazon Prime Video.

Books · Psychedelics & Consciousness

1.The Ketamine Breakthrough Dr. Mike Dow and Ronan Levy · the most accessible guide to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for both clients and therapists, written as the go-to manual for KAP, includes a session-by-session workbook · described as the most important breakthrough in mental health since Prozac

2.How to Change Your Mind Michael Pollan · the book that brought psychedelic science to mainstream conversation, blending personal experience with rigorous research

3.The Doors of Perception Aldous Huxley · the 1954 classic account of Huxley's mescaline experience that changed how the Western world thought about consciousness

4.Healing Psychedelics Micah Stover · innovative therapies for trauma and transformation, written for practitioners and the people who work with them

5.Psychedelic Therapy Will Van Derveer, MD and Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC · a comprehensive clinical guide to restoring mental health and reclaiming your life through psychedelic-assisted approaches

6.This Is Your Mind on Plants Michael Pollan · shorter and more accessible than How to Change Your Mind, focused on opium, caffeine, and mescaline

7.The Psychedelic Experience Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, and Richard Alpert · the original 1964 guide based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead · foundational and still essential

8.DMT: The Spirit Molecule Rick Strassman, MD · the research behind endogenous DMT and what it reveals about consciousness

9.When the Impossible Happens Stanislav Grof, MD · his most readable book, written as personal stories rather than academic theory, covering fifty years of extraordinary research into LSD, Holotropic Breathwork, consciousness after death, and the full landscape of non-ordinary reality · the best entry point into his work

10.How Psychedelics Work: The Hidden Mind and Our Power to Heal Robin Carhart-Harris · brand new 2025 · the world's leading psychedelic neuroscientist's first book, covering the brain science, the research, and the future of the field

Books · Trauma & Healing

1.Healing the Helper: The Hidden Costs of Helping LaTisha Carter · written directly for clinicians, healthcare workers, educators, caregivers, and anyone who carries everyone else · gives language, validation, and practical tools to the helpers who quietly burn out while showing up for the world

2.The Myth of Normal Gabor Maté, MD · Maté's most comprehensive work, exploring how trauma and disconnection are at the root of most illness and what genuine healing actually requires

3.In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts Gabor Maté, MD · his most famous book, on addiction and the unmet childhood needs that drive compulsive behavior, written from years working with Vancouver's street-addicted population · one of the most compassionate books ever written on why people use and what healing actually requires

4.When the Body Says No Gabor Maté, MD · explores the connection between emotional repression and serious illness including cancer and autoimmune disease · predates The Myth of Normal and is more focused and equally powerful

5.No Bad Parts Richard C. Schwartz, PhD · the foundational IFS book, accessible to everyone, reframes the inner critic and every difficult part of you as a protector with a story worth hearing

6.The Body Keeps the Score Bessel van der Kolk, MD · the defining book on trauma and the body, explaining why talk therapy alone is often not enough and what actually helps the nervous system heal

7.The Biology of Trauma Amy Apigian, MD · a clinical and deeply practical look at how fear lives in the body and the specific protocols that help it complete and release

8.Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy Susan McConnell · weaves breath, movement, touch, and awareness into IFS work, essential reading for body-based practitioners

9.The Autoimmune Cure Sara Gottfried, MD · makes the case that unresolved trauma is the missing piece in most autoimmune illness, with a practical healing framework

10.Waking the Tiger Peter A. Levine, PhD · the book that introduced Somatic Experiencing to the world, translated into 22 languages, explaining how the body holds trauma and how physical sensation and movement can release it when talk therapy cannot · the foundational somatic trauma text

11.Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley · Two hospice nurses share over twenty years of intimate experience with the dying, revealing the extraordinary ways people communicate their needs and feelings in their final days and the wisdom, love, and gifts they leave behind

12.Into the Magic Shop James Doty, MD · a neurosurgeon's memoir of the summer a stranger taught him to train his mind and open his heart, and how it changed the trajectory of his entire life

Articles Worth Reading

The CEOs Are Tripping The New York Times · how a growing cottage industry of guided psilocybin retreats is attracting executives seeking breakthrough clarity and creativity

Life-Changing Psychedelics, for When Life Is Ending The New York Times · people turning to psilocybin and ketamine for palliative and end-of-life care and what the research is showing about dying with less fear

Veterans Have Become Unlikely Lobbyists The New York Times · combat veterans who found healing through psychedelics have become the movement's most powerful and credible voices for legalization

Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression Robin Carhart-Harris et al. · New England Journal of Medicine, 2021 · the landmark head-to-head study comparing psilocybin to an SSRI for depression · free to read online

Podcasts

The Psychedelic Podcast

Third Wave · Self-Improvement · 4.7 ★

Psychedelics Today

Psychedelics Today · Life Sciences · 4.6 ★

The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast

Eamon Armstrong · Mental Health · 4.7 ★

The Higher Practice Podcast

Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander · Mental Health · 4.6 ★

Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers

Numinus Network · Mental Health · 4.9 ★

IFS and Psychedelics

Austin and Blanca · Self-Improvement

Microdosing for Healing

Kayse Gehret · Inspiring Voices of Healers and Visionaries

Resources & Organizations

MAPS

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies · the nonprofit behind decades of psychedelic research and clinical trials worldwide, including the landmark MDMA-assisted therapy trials for PTSD that showed profound results for combat veterans, first responders, and survivors of sexual trauma

maps.org

Fireside Project

The only national psychedelic peer support line in the US · free, confidential support for people in the midst of a psychedelic experience or struggling to integrate one · call or text 62-FIRESIDE, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

firesideproject.org

Chacruna Institute

The most respected source of thoughtful, justice-oriented psychedelic writing online · publishes research, articles, and cultural commentary with a strong emphasis on Indigenous voices, ethics, and equity in the psychedelic space

chacruna.net

Erowid

One of the oldest and most comprehensive free libraries of information about psychoactive plants and substances · over 60,000 pages of research, experience reports, and harm reduction resources

erowid.org

First Responders Resiliency, Inc.

Sonoma County-based nonprofit founded by retired paramedic Sue Farren, created for first responders by first responders · provides evidence-based resiliency training in yoga, breathwork, mindfulness, nervous system regulation, sleep, nutrition, and trauma recovery for first responders and their families nationwide. Currently building the First Responders Resiliency Center in Cotati, CA.

resiliency1st.org

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Free, confidential support for people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis · call or text 988 anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

988lifeline.org

Mindfulness & Movement Practices

Mindfulness PracticesSimple daily awareness practices that reduce stress and regulate the nervous system over time

Qi GongAncient movement practice that cultivates life force energy through breath, posture, and intention

Yoga NidraYogic sleep, a deeply guided relaxation practice that restores the nervous system at a cellular level

BreathworkHolotropic, Wim Hof, pranayama, and somatic breathing practices for regulation and expanded awareness

YogaMind-body practice combining movement, breath, and presence · one of the most consistent nervous system regulators available

MeditationFormal practice of training attention and awareness, building the capacity to be with what is without reactivity

Joe DispenzaMeditations, workshops, and teachings on neuroplasticity and transformation · his guided meditations are particularly powerful for subconscious reprogramming · drjoedispenza.com

Trusted Practitioners & Partners

Integrative & Functional Medicine

Courtney King, MD

Golden Road Integrative and Functional Medicine · Santa Rosa, CA

Board certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine · IFM Functional Medicine Practitioner · Medical Acupuncturist · trained in Ayurvedic Medicine · combines functional medicine with psychedelic-assisted healing for whole-person health

goldenroadmedicine.com

Ketamine Clinic

CIT Clinics

Licensed medical ketamine clinic serving Sonoma County, located in Windsor, CA · board certified anesthesiologists, registered nurses, therapists, and coaches

Offers IV ketamine and Spravato (FDA approved, often covered by insurance) for depression, anxiety, and PTSD · a more intensive clinical process than concierge ketamine, and a valuable option for those who need insurance coverage or medical supervision in a clinic setting

Free daily mindfulness class · open to the public, sign up on their website

citclinics.com/santa-rosa

Movement & Somatic Healing

Sierra Wagner

Yoga Therapy, Thai Massage, Integrative Lifestyle Medicine

sierralaurelyoga.com

Somatic, Trauma & Breathwork

Rebekah Wheeler, CNM

Certified Nurse Midwife · Somatic Practitioner · Birth Trauma Specialist · Breathwork Facilitator

rebekahwheelerhealing.com

Sound Healing, Breathwork, Hypnotherapy & Meditation

Eostar Kamala

Sound Healer · Breathwork Facilitator · Clinical Hypnotherapist · Meditation Teacher · Yoga Teacher

eostar.net

General Wellness

Heidi Biegel, CNM

Second Spring Midlife Women's Health · Napa, CA · Telehealth available throughout California and Maine

Certified Nurse-Midwife with 20 years of experience · Menopause Specialist · perimenopause and menopause care using bioidentical hormones and functional and integrative options · small group classes and newsletter for women navigating midlife hormonal changes

secondspringmidlife.com

Palliative Care & End of Life

Douglas Wilson, MD FAAFP

Board-certified Hospice and Palliative Care physician · Founding Medical Director of Inpatient Palliative Care at Providence Queen of the Valley, Napa · OLE Health affiliate · over 25 years of experience · known for profound compassion and deep presence during life's most sacred moments

Founder of Common Good Advance Care Planning — a free advance directive resource designed to help people plan for serious illness and end of life care on their own terms, including a Spanish version · tagline: Live Your Life Your Way, All the Way

commongoodacp.com · (707) 227-2882

Looking for a Trusted Death Doula?

Just as we believe in continuity of care in healing, we believe the end of life deserves the same thoughtful, held presence. Healing the Helpers can connect you with a trusted death doula partner. Reach out and ask us directly.

Sonoma County End of Life Doula Alliance · socoelda.com

Ketamine and Palliative Care

Ketamine is increasingly being used in palliative and end-of-life care for pain management, treatment-resistant depression, and existential distress. Research shows it can reduce suffering and help people approach the end of life with greater peace. If you or someone you love is navigating a serious illness and wants to explore whether ketamine-assisted support might help, Healing the Helpers can be part of that conversation.

Recommended Reading

Final Gifts by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley is listed in our book section above. A must-read if you are navigating end of life — for yourself, a loved one, or the people you care for professionally.

Legal Resources

Omar Figueroa, Attorney at Law

Cannabis and psychedelic law attorney with years of cannabis legal experience now bringing that expertise into the emerging psychedelic space

If you have questions about psychedelics and the law, including legal rights, business formation, or navigating the evolving regulatory landscape, Omar is a trusted resource

omarfigueroa.com

KAP Therapist Collaborators

Find a KAP Therapist

Inquire within Healing the Helpers for a current list of KAP certified therapists (Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy). We are happy to connect you with a therapist who is the right fit for your healing journey.

Plant Medicine & Integration

Canopy Collective Retreats

Small-cohort relational retreats grounded in the Canopy Method — a framework for staying present with yourself and others during profound inner experience

Based in Eugene, Oregon · operating within the legal psilocybin framework · combines one supported medicine journey day with one witnessing day as a partner · intentionally small cohorts, experienced facilitators, deep emphasis on preparation and integration

A strong option for anyone ready for a group immersive experience with real relational depth — and for helpers exploring facilitation training within a legal framework

canopycollectiveretreats.com

Dana

Psychedelic integration and legal medicine retreats in Peru

casalunaretreats@protonmail.com

Medicine & Microdose Sources

Zide Church

Entheogenic plant medicine church operating under religious freedom protections · Oakland, CA

thezidechurch.com

Golden Rule Mushroom

Microdosing psilocybin products · ships nationally

goldenrulemushrooms.com

Azul

Premium mushroom chocolate and microdose wellness products · micro dose, social dose, and journey dose · chocolates, gummies, and capsules

azulmushrooms.com

Password: journey · Ambassador code: hummingbird

25% discount for veterans, first responders, medical professionals, therapists, and teachers · proof of eligibility required

Access information is shared privately · please do not post on social media or public channels

Resource Guide Notice

As part of your experience with Healing the Helpers, you are receiving the Healing the Helpers Resource Guide. The Resource Guide is a general informational directory intended to help you identify resources that you may choose to explore. It is not an individualized medical referral, treatment recommendation, endorsement, guarantee, or representation that any listed person, organization, service, book, film, or other resource is a match for your specific needs or circumstances.

Inclusion in the Resource Guide may reflect professional familiarity, publicly available information, or suggestions and feedback received from others. Unless a particular listing expressly states otherwise, Healing the Helpers has not independently verified and does not continuously monitor a listed person's or organization's licensure, credentials, insurance, disciplinary history, competence, availability, safety, or suitability for any particular person.

Some listed individuals may be licensed health professionals. Others may provide unlicensed, nonclinical, spiritual, educational, peer-support, or wellness services. Inclusion in the Resource Guide does not mean that a listed person is licensed, insured, clinically qualified, or appropriate to diagnose or treat a medical or mental-health condition.

Listed practitioners, organizations, and resources are independent third parties. They are not employees, agents, representatives, contractors, or supervised providers of Healing the Helpers unless a particular listing expressly states otherwise. Healing the Helpers does not direct, supervise, or control the services provided by independent third parties and cannot guarantee their services, conduct, availability, competence, safety, or results.

No person or organization pays Healing the Helpers for inclusion in the Resource Guide. No referral fee, commission, reciprocal-referral obligation, or other financial consideration is associated with inclusion.

Crisis and Emergency Information
Healing the Helpers is not an emergency or crisis-response service. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, severe emotional distress, a mental-health crisis, or a substance-use crisis, call or text 988. If there is immediate danger, a medical emergency, or an imminent risk of harm, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.