Why women are being left behind in the psychedelic movement - and how we fix it

Written By Lauren Katalinich

Something revolutionary is happening in mental health. Psilocybin is treating depression. MDMA is healing trauma. But this movement is being built on research that potentially excludes half the population.

Join us on 22 July in London for a crucial conversation about Women’s Psychedelic Experiences with Dr Grace Hopley and Mary Bonnett exploring women's experiences in psychedelic retreat spaces. Drawing from emerging research and real-world stories, this gathering aims to better understand what women need to feel supported throughout their psychedelic journeys.

Medicine has a long history of failing women.

Clinical research didn't even require including women until the 1990s (even for medications designed for females). Women are more likely to have their symptoms downplayed or be misdiagnosed.

And the psychedelic industry is struggling to buck the trend.

Women are more likely to have PTSD than men, they experience depression more often. Eating disorders affect women three times more than men. These are exactly the conditions psychedelics show the most promise in treating.

Yet currently, women make up just 33% of participants in psychedelic studies. Many studies don't include women at all.

Today, we’re diving into the differences between the experiences of men and women on psychedelics and why diverse research approaches are crucial to design approaches that serve everyone.

Women experience psychedelics differently

Increased sensitivity: In controlled MDMA studies, female subjects experienced more intense psychoactive effects than male subjects when receiving the same dose per kilogram of body weight. Given that classical psychedelics, like psilocybin, MDMA and LSD, primarily elicit their effects via the 5-HT2A receptor, the presence, absence and combinations of female hormones could potentially enhance the effect of psychedelic compounds in women.

The oestrogen factor is huge: During different phases of the menstrual cycle, women's brains literally change how they process serotonin - the same neurotransmitter system that psychedelics target. During the peak of oestrogen in the estrous cycle, there's higher expression of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and lower expression of the 5-HT1A receptor. Oestrogen enhances serotonin production, inhibits its reuptake, reduces its breakdown, and increases neural activity. Yet how many retreat centers or clinical trials track menstrual cycles? Virtually none.

The transformation aspect: About a quarter of women reported increased same-sex attraction after psychedelic use, compared to one-eighth of men. These identity shifts require skilled integration support that understands the unique challenges women face when their sense of self evolves.

Trauma-informed care beyond buzzwords

"Trauma-informed" has become a trendy term, but what does it actually mean for women in psychedelic spaces? Trauma-informed practice means we are aware of the impact of trauma, on people and their feelings and behavior.

For women, this means acknowledging that many arrive carrying sexual trauma, medical trauma, or experiences of having their pain dismissed. And unfortunately, many women have become retraumatised by ceremony or retreat settings who aren’t equipped to take these factors into account.

Real trauma-informed care includes:

  • Rigorous screening that identifies trauma histories without retraumatising

  • Clear consent protocols that account for altered states of consciousness

  • Body autonomy education before any session

  • Female facilitators who understand gendered experiences of trauma

  • Integration support that recognises how healing might shift relationships, sexuality, and identity

The double-edged retreat experience

Retreat centers promise transformation. For women, they can deliver profound healing - when done right.

Psychedelic experiences produce immense physical and emotional vulnerability, but there are several documented instances of shaman and other facilitators taking advantage of women under the influence.

The very altered states that enable healing also create dangerous power dynamics.

Touch-based healing, a common element in many ceremonies, becomes a minefield. Inappropriate and/or non consensual touch may lead to sexual abuse, harmful touch, and re-traumatisation.

When someone is in an altered state, can they truly consent? These aren't theoretical questions - they're urgent safety concerns.

True Nature, our sibling organisation for women’s work

The importance of women-only spaces

Women-only spaces create something magical: the safety to be completely vulnerable without navigating complex gender dynamics or power imbalances.

The absence of men often fosters an environment where women feel more comfortable sharing their deepest fears, hopes, and emotions. Women-only retreats can nurture a profound sense of sisterhood and community.

Mary Bonnett, who we will be speaking with on July 22, specialises in women's ceremonies and retreats and works with participants pre and post ceremony and works in the Gender Based Violence sector with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She believes that women-only spaces can be an integral part of a woman's healing journey and provide more safety and trust, especially those in recovery from sexual trauma and gender based violence.

Our sibling organisation, True Nature, is dedicated to offering retreats and experiences that provide these kind of safe spaces for women so they can heal, connect, and grow together.

Building understanding through dialogue

Despite the global efforts to increase diversity amongst the psychedelic press, inequality remains. The conversation about gender in psychedelics isn't just about representation - it's about understanding how to create better, more effective healing environments for everyone.

Women bring perspectives on healing, community care, and trauma recovery that can revolutionise how we approach psychedelic therapy.

If we centered these conversations on the diverse lenses of people with different lived experiences, traumatic backgrounds, or complicated biologies, we might have a shot at operationalising inclusivity and changing this landscape altogether.

We have a choice: repeat medicine's historical mistakes or build something better.

The work starts with conversations like the one happening on July 22nd. Dr. Grace Hopley brings cutting-edge research on cannabinoids and neuroimaging to the discussion. Mary Bonnett brings years of experience facilitating women's ceremonies and working with sexual trauma survivors.

Together, they're asking the questions that will shape the future:

  • What do women actually need to feel safe in altered states?

  • How can facilitators move beyond good intentions to evidence-based practices?

  • What practices are emerging from women-only spaces that might inform broader approaches?

The future of psychedelic medicine will either be inclusive by design or exclusive by default.

Lauren Katalinich
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