Psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with gambling disorder?
Session Title
Treatment: Clinical Approaches
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation
Start Date
27-5-2026 12:00 AM
Abstract
Three years after first sharing my early research concept at the 18th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking, I am returning to present how that idea has evolved into a fully approved PhD project at the University of Gibraltar. My research explores the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy for gambling disorder, focusing on its therapeutic impact when combined with psychological support. In collaboration with the Heroic Hearts Project UK, I conducted a psychedelic retreat in October 2025 for veterans and first responders affected by gambling-related harm. The presentation will share insights from this field study, including participants’ lived experiences, qualitative reflections, and preliminary observations on changes in emotional regulation, self-awareness, and gambling behaviour. This journey spanning getting funding, ethics approval, recruitment, and fieldwork for this unusual project reflects both the challenges and promising initial results of exploring novel treatment pathways for gambling disorder. I will discuss how these findings can inform future interdisciplinary research, integrating neuroscience, psychotherapy, and harm reduction to expand our understanding of recovery.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with gambling disorder?
Three years after first sharing my early research concept at the 18th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking, I am returning to present how that idea has evolved into a fully approved PhD project at the University of Gibraltar. My research explores the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy for gambling disorder, focusing on its therapeutic impact when combined with psychological support. In collaboration with the Heroic Hearts Project UK, I conducted a psychedelic retreat in October 2025 for veterans and first responders affected by gambling-related harm. The presentation will share insights from this field study, including participants’ lived experiences, qualitative reflections, and preliminary observations on changes in emotional regulation, self-awareness, and gambling behaviour. This journey spanning getting funding, ethics approval, recruitment, and fieldwork for this unusual project reflects both the challenges and promising initial results of exploring novel treatment pathways for gambling disorder. I will discuss how these findings can inform future interdisciplinary research, integrating neuroscience, psychotherapy, and harm reduction to expand our understanding of recovery.