In Drugreporter’s new interview, trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk, MD explores how the body stores trauma and why integration is essential for healing in psychedelic therapy.
Bessel van der Kolk, MD, is a world-renowned trauma expert and the author of the groundbreaking book The Body Keeps the Score. As a principal investigator in MAPS’ MDMA-assisted therapy trial for PTSD, he bridges neuroscience, somatic therapies, and psychedelics. In this interview, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, we discuss how trauma is stored in the body, how psychedelics can unlock healing, and what an ideal trauma-informed psychedelic therapy could look like.
Also available in podcast format:
Find more inspiring stories and articles about psychedelic science here! This video is part of our Drugreporter Café series, where we discuss new developments in drug policy with professionals, activists, and decision makers.
It was an absolute honour to attend and film the world’s largest gathering of the psychedelic science community — Psychedelic Science 2025 in Denver, Colorado. We are grateful to the many outstanding scientists, healers, and activists who shared their wisdom with us. Watch our short documentary “The Psychedelic Renaissance is Alive and Well” to learn more!
Interview: Péter Sárosi
Video: István Gábor Takács
