Breaking the Fourth Wall: Personal Disclosure, Lived Experience & Ethics in Psychedelic Therapy
The traditional paradigm of psychotherapy—rooted in clinical detachment, therapeutic neutrality, and rigid professional boundaries—is being profoundly challenged by the emergence of psychedelic-assisted therapy. These medicines, by their very nature, disrupt the conventional power dynamic between therapist and client, often revealing a deeper, more fluid interplay of human experience, shared vulnerability, and mutual transformation.
In this salon, we will explore the radical shifts in therapeutic identity, disclosure, and ethics that come with this territory, particularly as psychedelics bring both therapist and client into profoundly altered states where the usual rules no longer apply.
Themes We’ll Explore:
The Role of Lived Experience in Psychedelic Therapy
Can a therapist truly support psychedelic integration without having had a psychedelic experience themselves?
How do we balance authenticity, humility, and professional boundaries when lived experience becomes a central part of the healing dynamic?
What happens when psychedelics dissolve hierarchy in the therapeutic relationship?
Therapist Self-Disclosure & the Shifting Role of the Guide
The move from the aloof, faceless therapist to one who shares their own experience—where is the line?
When does disclosure deepen trust and therapeutic alliance, and when does it create unintentional transference, projection, or harm?
The concept of “we are all just guiding each other home”—a beautiful ideal, but does it hold up in practice?
The Ethics of Recording Psychedelic Therapy Sessions
The push for transparency, accountability, and client empowerment vs. the risks of privacy breaches, legal exposure, and the unknowns of re-experiencing these sessions later.
Do recordings offer a layer of protection, or do they create new ethical and clinical dilemmas?
The Grey Area of Boundaries & the Risks of Exploitation
Psychedelics erode ego boundaries—what does this mean for the risk of boundary violations, particularly in the realm of sexuality?
The historical and ongoing issue of sexual misconduct in psychedelic therapy—how do we actively protect clients and practitioners while honouring the deep intimacy that these experiences create?
How can community-led accountability prevent harm where regulatory frameworks are still evolving?
A Paradigm in Flux: Where Do We Go From Here?
As psychedelic-assisted therapy scales up, the industry is at a crossroads. We are witnessing a fundamental redefinition of what therapy even is, what it means to be a therapist, and what kinds of relationships and experiences support healing vs. create risk.
This conversation is an opportunity to collectively grapple with the ethical, clinical, and deeply human questions that arise in this new terrain. How do we honour the psychedelic process while maintaining integrity? How do we retain professionalism without reinforcing outdated hierarchies? And what does all of this mean for the future of therapy itself?
Join us as we open the floor to a deep, unfiltered discussion among practitioners, researchers, therapists, and guides from across disciplines. This is not just an intellectual exercise—it’s an urgent and evolving inquiry that will shape the next phase of psychedelic healing in Australia and beyond.
About the Salon
This is an informal, invite-only gathering for like-minded clinicians exploring the intersection of neuroscience, therapy, and altered states of consciousness. We foster deep, candid discussions in a space that values intellectual rigour, humility, and curiosity.
Our goal is to create a supportive community where practitioners can challenge, consult, and collaborate—without pretence or dogma. Conversations often begin with psychedelics but evolve into broader, more enriching discussions.
This isn’t a clinical case conference, nor is it an esoteric free-for-all. We strike a balance between evidence-based practice and the ineffable, between rigorous thought and open-hearted exploration.
Event Details
📍 Location: West Perth office – 1121 Hay Street
🚗 Parking: Plenty of on-street parking available at this time
⏳ Time: 6 pm - 7.30 pm. Please aim to arrive on time. We have a hard stop at 7:30 PM, but late arrivals are welcome.
🥂 Food & Drinks: Feel free to bring a small plate or non-alcoholic drinks to share.
We want you to feel at home—because the best conversations happen when people feel safe, comfortable, and free to be themselves.
Invitation & Community
While invite-only, we welcome trusted attendees to vouch for new members who might bring a unique perspective. There’s no requirement to be a mental health professional—our discussions span diverse experiences, backgrounds, and skill sets. What matters is an ability to think independently and engage in nuanced, meaningful dialogue.
To stay in the loop, text 0493 081 616 to join our WhatsApp group, where we share meeting notes.
A Note on Responsible Discussion
We do not condone or support illicit or irresponsible substance use. Psychedelics may be a jumping-off point for discussion, but our focus is on thoughtful, professional, and personally enriching conversations.
Join us for an evening of insight, camaraderie, and shared responsibility in shaping the future of this space.
About Us
Niall Campbell is a psychotherapist specialising in clinical hypnosis and psychedelic integration therapy. He has worked with high-functioning adults and children with complex behavioural presentations, volunteered at Synthesis (a leading legal psychedelic retreat), and hosted The Mind Manifest podcast, interviewing international experts on consciousness and personal growth. He now focusses on executive and creative coaching, working with clients to support them to live their most rich, full and meaningful lives.
Hannah Courtauld is a clinical psychologist with experience as a chief triage psychologist at a major European psychedelic retreat. Trained in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, she integrates Jungian, somatic, and mindfulness approaches, focusing on deep emotional healing.