Holotropic breathwork

Dr. Rosalind Watts describes how research into psilocybin’s effects on the brain led to a clinical study with people who had treatment-resistant depression. She explains how sessions are prepared and guided, and how participants may experience emotional or mystical states that can temporarily ease rigid patterns of thought. The talk emphasizes preparation, trust, the session itself, and integration as parts of psychedelic therapy, while noting that benefits in the study often faded after a few months without ongoing support. Watts also discusses the limits of existing depression treatments and alternatives such as meditation and holotropic breathwork.