In the realm of psychotherapy, the integration of psychodynamic principles with innovative modalities such as psychedelics is gaining traction. Dr. Ross McPherson, a distinguished psychiatrist originally from Fredericksburg, Texas, renowned for his expertise in psychodynamic therapy, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and its implications for understanding and healing interpersonal dynamics.

Karla: Dr. McPherson, thank you for joining us. Could you elaborate on your interest in psychedelics within the context of psychodynamic therapy?

Dr. McPherson: Certainly. Psychedelics can lead to profound experiences of introspection and self-discovery. When combined with psychodynamic therapy, they allow individuals to experience parts of themselves that they usually don't have access to, like the subconscious. This can lead to significant insights and permanent shifts in perspective. For some people, these experiences can be life changing. 

Karla: Fascinating. I understand you have a son. How does your personal journey as a father inform your professional exploration of relationships and human behavior?

Dr. McPherson: My experiences as a father have definitely shaped my view on interpersonal dynamics. Regrettably, my son has struggled with mental health issues and we grew estranged over the years. 

Karla: I'm sorry to hear that. Are you comfortable elaborating on that?

Dr. McPherson: My wife and I started our family in our hometown of Fredericksburg, but when our only son was around 10, my wife suffered a stroke and we relocated to Boston to get her better medical care. Our son's always been on the shy side, and as you know, those years are crucial for adolescents in terms of forming peer relationships. Well, our son struggled to adjust to the new environment and never really formed those relationships. My wife and I didn't want to intervene and make things worse, but in retrospect, I think that was a mistake. Our son has struggled with his mental health ever since and blames my wife and I for most of it. I have to admit, I sometimes blame myself a bit for it, too, which is why I think my wife and I allowed him to move back in with us briefly in 2011. My wife and I tried to mend things with him, but he was very angry with us by that point. He left a year later, and we haven't heard from him since.

Karla: I'm sorry to hear that. It must be difficult to feel partially responsible for what happened. How do you cope with that? On a lighter note, do you have a cherished possession that holds special significance for you?

Dr. McPherson: Thank you. It is, but I always remind myself that things can change. I've had clients who have been estranged from their families for years, and then out of the blue, someone reaches out and everything changes. It's always possible. You can't let that spark of hope die out. Staying hopeful, while remaining grounded in the present, is a delicate balance, but it's one I strive to maintain.

Karla: And how do you do that? Practically speaking.

Dr. McPherson: Well, it obviously looks different for everyone, but for myself, I like to carry a physical reminder. Some of my clients have tried this and found it helpful. It can be anything, as long as it makes you feel hopeful in some way. For me, it's a small glow-in-the-dark duck. When my son was younger, he won two of these ducks at an arcade. He kept one and gave me the other. It reminds me of how things used to be, back when he was young, and that things can always change.

Karla: That's lovely. Let's switch gears a bit for our last few questions. Where do you see psychiatry headed in the future? And how do you navigate your personal experiences within the realm of psychodynamic therapy?

Dr. McPherson: Well, I think psychedelics are going to become more commonly used in psychotherapy, particularly for treating depression. I also think we're going to see Electroconvulsive Therapy, which is typically referred to as ECT, become more mainstream in the coming years. It's gotten a bit of a bad rap, but it's actually a highly effective treatment for depression. And we need that right now, because there's a lot of people who are struggling to find sustainable ways to treat their depression. Antidepressants are hit and miss for a lot of people, and while therapy is great, not everyone has the time or money for it. People are looking for other ways to treat their depression, and I think they're going to look more and more to ECT and psychedelics.

Karla: Interesting! Why do you think ECT has a "bad rap"?

Dr. McPherson: Well, psychiatry is partly to blame. In the past, our field used ECT in unethical ways by giving it to people who didn't need it, and in some cases, using it to carry out experiments. I want to be clear that this wasn't all psychiatrists, but a lot of patients were treated very badly. We also used to "lock people up" for bad reasons. Female hysteria — which isn't a recognized term anymore — is one example. But to get back to your question, I think ECT also has a "bad rap" because it sounds scary. Imagine telling a patient that you have a new treatment for them that involves hooking their head up to a machine and shocking them. That doesn't sound appealing, right?

Karla: No, not particularly.

Dr. McPherson: Exactly. But it's actually quite safe, and once you explain that to patients, along with its benefits, a lot of patients will be open to it. But you have to get past that first hurdle. Even the word "Electroconvulsive" is scary. And beyond that, there's not enough psychiatrists trained in ECT. But with all of the studies that have come out about ECT's effectiveness, I'm hopeful that's going to change.

Karla: Well, thank you so much for your time Dr. McPherson. I'm looking forward to your talk.

Dr. McPherson: It's been my pleasure, Karla. Feel free to reach out if you have any follow up questions.