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Canada is emerging as a global leader in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy research, with clinical trials underway at institutions such as CAMH, the University of Toronto, and UHN.
Psilocybin therapy is being studied for treatment resistant depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use disorder, and advanced cancer–related end of life distress.
Health research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is fueling the development of new treatments and expanding medical knowledge about the therapeutic effects of psilocybin.
Safety and feasibility remain top priorities — researchers and healthcare teams carefully monitor participants to balance risks with potential benefits.
Patients and healthy volunteers alike are helping researchers evaluate efficacy, effectiveness, and long-term brain health outcomes.
Hi, I’m Jasper. Living on the West Coast of Canada, I’ve spent years studying and writing about psychedelic-assisted therapy. I believe in the healing potential of psilocybin, not just as an illegal substance from the past, but as a future cornerstone of mental health treatments.
The idea of psilocybin assisted therapy isn’t new — people have been using magic mushrooms for centuries. But what excites me today is the rigorous research now happening through psilocybin clinical trials Canada is supporting. These aren’t just fringe experiments; they’re well-designed, government-approved, and often university-led clinical trials that could reshape how we approach mental health conditions.
Let’s explore what’s happening right now.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Canada is serious about psilocybin research, the answer is yes. Health Canada allows researchers to conduct clinical trials under the Food and Drugs Act and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
You can search the official Health Canada Clinical Trials Database for psilocybin studies here: Health Canada Clinical Trials Database.
In 2023, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced $3 million in funding for three major psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy trials: CIHR Announcement.
These trials are at various stages, from feasibility studies to large-scale randomized trials. What ties them together is the search for new treatments that are safe, effective, and grounded in medical knowledge.
Across the country, clinical trials are being run in partnership with major universities, healthcare providers, and experienced research teams. The University of Toronto and CAMH are central hubs, with UHN (University Health Network) leading some of the cancer-related studies.
For example:
CAMH Psilocybin for Depression: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health received the first federal grant to study psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (CAMH News).
PEARL Trial at UHN: PEARL (Psilocybin Assisted Existential, Attachment, and Relational Therapy) is testing psilocybin’s therapeutic effects on patients with advanced cancer–related psychological distress (UHN Research).
Filament Health at UBC: Filament received Health Canada approval for a Phase II trial studying botanical psilocybin for opioid and alcohol use disorder (Filament Health).
Each trial recruits participants — sometimes patients, sometimes healthy volunteers — to measure safety, efficacy, and effectiveness.
One of the conditions being studied is post-traumatic stress disorder. While most attention in the psychedelic world has gone to MDMA for PTSD, psilocybin is now entering the conversation.
A new study is listed in the registry for psilocybin-assisted cognitive processing therapy for chronic PTSD (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Researchers hope psilocybin assisted psychotherapy can help reduce symptoms by unlocking deep emotional processing.
This research is still early, but if efficacy is proven, psilocybin could offer new treatments for stress disorder PTSD that go beyond selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
When it comes to mental health, psilocybin therapy is making headlines for its impact on major depression and treatment-resistant depression.
Patients who don’t respond to traditional treatments like SSRIs are enrolling in psilocybin assisted psychotherapy trials. The idea is that psilocybin induces neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to create space for healing and form new pathways.
Study design often involves two psilocybin assisted sessions, supported by psychotherapy and integration. Participants describe profound psychological shifts, reduced anxiety, and longer-term benefits compared to conventional drugs.
What makes these trials different is the structure of psychedelic-assisted therapy. This isn’t about just taking a drug. It’s about:
Preparation sessions with therapists
A guided psilocybin assisted psychotherapy session
Integration work afterward to translate insights into daily practice
The therapeutic model is built around harm reduction, safety, and maximizing therapeutic effects.
Psilocybin assisted psychotherapy is the centerpiece of most current research. Clinical trials are testing how well it works for:
Major depression
Alcohol use disorder
Advanced cancer–related end of life distress
Post-traumatic stress disorder
The results so far show feasibility and safety, with significant improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms.
If you’ve ever felt like no treatment worked, you’ll understand why treatment resistant depression is such a focus. At the University of Toronto, a randomized trial is comparing one vs two doses of psilocybin for patients who have not improved with traditional therapy.
This trial is led by Dr. Joshua Rosenblat as lead researcher (CIHR Grant Details).
The team believes psilocybin could be the breakthrough intervention patients have been waiting for.
When people hear “assisted therapy,” they sometimes imagine something experimental. In reality, it’s carefully structured:
Group or individual therapy formats
Licensed therapists and researchers involved
Ethical oversight by Canadian institutes and universities
This model ensures that patients are never alone, and safety protocols are in place. It’s therapy at its most holistic — combining psychotherapy, drug, and human connection.
Canada is contributing to global psychedelic research that goes beyond depression. Researchers are studying psilocybin’s impact on brain health, exploring how it affects neural pathways and long-term resilience.
One open label feasibility trial showed psilocybin may reduce alcohol consumption in people with alcohol use disorder. This aligns with research worldwide showing psilocybin assisted therapy’s potential to tackle substance disorders.
Alcohol misuse affects millions, and psilocybin may help. A new study funded by CIHR focuses on psilocybin assisted psychotherapy for alcohol use disorder, aiming to measure efficacy and long-term effectiveness.
Patients report reductions in alcohol consumption, less craving, and improved psychological health. For adults stuck in cycles of addiction, psilocybin could offer new interventions with measurable benefits.
British Columbia is home to several trials, thanks to partnerships with Filament Health and UBC. Researchers are testing psilocybin assisted therapies for substance use disorders.
These studies emphasize feasibility, safety, and real-world applicability, ensuring that future treatments are grounded in robust health research.
Looking ahead, some researchers are asking whether psychedelics combined — like psilocybin with ketamine or MDMA — might create even greater therapeutic effects. These interventions are still experimental, but the world of psychedelic assisted therapy is expanding fast.
The psychedelic association in Canada is pushing for more funding and expanded public health access as evidence grows.
While clinical trials are vital for patients, some readers are interested in personal exploration through safe, well-crafted products. At Good Friday Wellness, we offer ethically sourced options aligned with harm reduction and safety:
Magic Multi Mushroom Complex (75mg) — ideal for microdosing psychedelics to support brain health.
Elevate: Psilocybin Nootropic (250mg) — designed for deeper psilocybin assisted sessions.
Dried Golden Teacher Mushroom — one of the most studied strains in psychedelic research.
Albino Penis Envy Mushroom (APE) — powerful and transformative.
Daily Dosing Journal — track your practice, benefits, and integration course.
For those who prefer variety, check out our mushroom capsules, mushroom edibles, and whole dried mushrooms.
Q: How do psilocybin clinical trials in Canada work?
A: Trials are approved by Health Canada, run at universities, and follow strict safety protocols. Participants usually include patients with depression, PTSD, or alcohol use disorder.
Q: What are the main conditions being studied?
A: Treatment resistant depression, post traumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorder, and advanced cancer–related end of life distress.
Q: Who can participate?
A: Eligibility varies, but trials often recruit adults with diagnosed disorders. Some include healthy volunteers for comparison.
Q: What about risks?
A: Like all drugs, psilocybin carries risks. That’s why trials emphasize safety, psychological support, and harm reduction.
Q: How can I explore psilocybin outside of trials?
A: Good Friday Wellness offers safe products. Subscribe today to save 10% on your first order.
Canada is at the forefront of psilocybin assisted psychotherapy. From the University of Toronto to British Columbia, researchers, therapists, and patients are working together to test new treatments and expand medical knowledge.
As someone who’s passionate about both research and wellness, I believe these trials represent more than science — they represent hope. Whether it’s reducing suicide risk in major depression, easing anxiety for cancer patients, or helping adults break free from alcohol use disorder, the therapeutic effects of psilocybin could reshape public health.
And yes, it’s happening right here in Canada.
