Bristol PsySocial - Ketamine Therapy: Patient & Psychiatrist Perspectives

Bristol Psychedelic Society Monthly Social

Grounding together with guided practices, sharing nourishing food, and collectively engaging with fascinating talks and conversations, these events are an opportunity to connect deeply and cross-pollinate with fellow consciousness explorers.

This Month's Theme: Ketamine Therapy

Join us for an enlightening evening as we delve into the world of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy. Our talk and discussion will bring together the unique perspectives of pioneering psychiatrist, Dr. Ben Sessa, founder of UK's first ketamine therapy clinic, and ketamine patient Tristan Greene, whose life was changed through this therapy.

Tristan will be sharing his personal story of healing with ketamine therapy - what drew him to the therapy and the profound impact it had on his mental health. With expertise insight from Dr Sessa, the speakers will discuss the power of ketamine treatment, and their hopes and concerns for the future of ketamine in health care.

Special Guests: Dr Ben Sessa and Tristan Greene

Dr Ben Sessa

For 25 years Dr Ben Sessa has worked as a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with young people and adult patients in the field of addictions and trauma-related psychiatry. Ben started studying psychedelics as a junior doctor, and has taken part in research projects at Bristol University, Cardiff University and Imperial College London with LSD, psilocybin, DMT, ketamine and MDMA - receiving and/or administering all of these compounds in legal research settings.

One of the first doctors to develop the field of contemporary psychedelic research in the UK, he is the co-founder of Awakn Life Sciences, a Bio-Tech company carrying out psychedelic research into addictions, with ketamine and MDMA. He was one of the first Medical Cannabis psychiatric prescribers in the UK and is an approved and registered MDMA, ketamine and psilocybin therapist. He has led research into MDMA-assisted therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder and is published widely in the academic and medical press.

Tristan Greene

Tristan is training to be a barrister. He was previously part of the award-winning legal team instructed in the successful challenge against the UK Government's policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. He has volunteered extensively in law, with Advocate and Lawyers Without Borders, and with asylum seekers, both on the Care4Calais Legal Access Team, and on the ground in Calais and Dunkirk, with Care4Calais and Refugee Community Kitchen. He has also worked under armed guard in Darien, Panama, setting up a legal clinic for human rights cases. In Bristol, Tristan used to work in criminal justice at Bristol Crown Court.

Tristan currently volunteers with Free From Fear, on Afghan Resettlement cases; with Micro Rainbow, assisting in legal challenges promoting the rights of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers; and with The Lemkin Institute, working on global genocide prevention.

Evening Schedule

18:30: Arrive

18:45: Introduction 

19:15: In conversation with Tristan and Ben (with Q&A)

20:15: Potluck dinner sharing

21:00 Open discussion and socialising

If funds are a barrier to attendance please get in touch with martha@psychedelicsociety.org.uk

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

For PSYCHEDELIC KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES please check out the Psychedelic Society website. 

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