24 February 2025
From Hope to Disillusionment:
A Black Therapist’s Exit from Psychedelic Clinical Trials
A Letter to the Psychedelic Scientific Community
By Candace Oglesby-Adepoju
MAPS Bulletin: Volume XXXIV
For those who don’t know me, my name is Candace Oglesby-Adepoju (she/her), and I bring a unique perspective shaped by my experiences and expertise around psychedelic clinical trials. I believe it’s important for me to begin this paper by sharing my social location, which includes being a lighter-skinned African-American woman, middle-class, heterosexual, cisgender, advanced-degree holder, urban Baltimore City resident, neuro-expansive, able-bodied, married, therapist, and peacebuilder. I have been a licensed psychotherapist for the past 10 years and have served as a psychedelic clinical trial therapist off and on for the past 4 years. My journey into becoming a therapist was deeply personal, rooted in my own search for resolution and healing from personal and intergenerational trauma.
My motivation for writing this paper is equally personal and systemic. As a peacebuilder committed to addressing systemic oppression, I have spent most of my life advocating for behavioral health equity, which also includes the psychedelic clinical trial space. My experiences as the only Black therapist in the clinical trials I’ve participated in have been profoundly challenging. I have had to navigate microaggressions, biases, and prejudices while persistently advocating for Global Majority communities. I’ve been told that issues of diversity and equity are “not a priority” or “something we are working on,” only to have these conversations abruptly ghosted or ignored.
The impact of these experiences is not just external but internal. The consistent invalidation of my advocacy and the systemic neglect of people who look like me have left a deep mark, reinforcing the painful message that my Black body—and the bodies of those who share oppressed intersections—do not matter. I am tired. I write this paper as a way of passing the torch, hoping that someone else will take up this mantle and carry this work forward because there is still so much to be done.
Why This Paper Is Important
Statistics on Therapists and Clients of Color
The underrepresentation of therapists of color in counseling, psychology, and social work underscores the systemic inequities within the mental health industrial complex. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), only 4% of psychologists identify as Black, 5% as Hispanic, and 4% as Asian. Similarly, data from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) reveals that 86% of social workers are White, with only 6% identifying as Black and 6% as Hispanic or Latinx. These statistics reflect the lack of diversity among mental health professionals, limiting culturally responsive care for historically marginalized communities.
Moreover, disparities extend to those seeking mental health services. Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicate that in 2019, 16.6% of White adults received mental health services, compared to 8.6% of Black adults, 7.3% of Hispanic adults, and 4.9% of Asian adults. These statistics highlight significant gaps in service utilization among different racial and ethnic groups, underscoring the need for more inclusive and accessible mental health care.
The Promise of Psychedelic Assisted-Therapy
Psychedelic-assisted therapy holds immense promise as a groundbreaking mental health intervention, offering pathways to healing that transcend conventional treatments. These therapies have shown promise in tackling issues such as racial trauma, intergenerational burdens, and the effects of social determinants of health. However, systemic inequities remain a significant barrier. A 2018 literature review by Michaels et al. revealed that 82% of participants in psychedelic clinical trials were non- Hispanic White, with only minimal representation from Black (3%), Latinx (2%), Asian (2%), and Indigenous (5%) communities. This stark underrepresentation highlights a systemic exclusion that limits access to transformative healing and perpetuates a knowledge gap about how these medicines might uniquely benefit communities of color.
Research, such as the study by Williams et al. (2020), has underscored psychedelics’ potential to reduce symptoms of racial trauma, depression, anxiety, and stress among BIPOC individuals. These findings emphasize the urgent need to address disparities in participation and to prioritize diverse representation among therapists, participants, and researchers. Behavioral health equity within psychedelic research is not only an ethical imperative but also essential for understanding the nuanced ways these therapies interact with varied cultural, social, and historical contexts. Without intentional action to dismantle these inequities, the field risks reinforcing systemic barriers and missing the opportunity to create transformative, culturally informed interventions.
A Personal Lens: Observations from the Clinical Trial Space
My introduction to psychedelic clinical trials was filled with hope and optimism. As a Black therapist, I was invited to support diversity efforts, and I eagerly stepped into a space that I believed could offer transformative healing for all communities. My earliest experiences included supporting my first participant in a study—a moment that remains etched in my memory. Witnessing the profound healing this individual experienced was powerful, yet it was also accompanied by deep grief. While I saw firsthand the potential of these medicines to heal, I couldn’t ignore the stark reality that members of my own community largely lacked access to such opportunities.
Over time, the systemic barriers in the psychedelic research field became undeniable. My needs as a Black therapist were overlooked, even as I worked in a space that claimed to value diversity. As I transitioned into diversity advisory roles, the veneer of inclusion began to crack. These positions often felt performative, with little meaningful change. When I questioned or challenged the status quo, I was subtly removed from projects or not invited back into certain spaces, underscoring the tokenism attached to these roles. I also had colleagues question my intentions and actions in the space.
Adding to this disillusionment, I observed that no clinical trials are currently being conducted at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or medical schools. This absence highlights a glaring gap in the inclusion of Black academic institutions and their communities in this groundbreaking research. When I have had the rare opportunity to lecture at HBCUs or predominantly Black conferences, I am often met with blank stares or surprise when I mention psychedelic-assisted therapy or clinical trials. The lack of awareness is profound and speaks to the systemic neglect of engaging these communities in the conversation.
Reflections from the Past
I am aware of the tension that comes with being a clinical trial therapist while also challenging the very system in which I take up space. This tension is not just intellectual—it is deeply somatic, residing within my body as a constant reminder of the work that remains unfinished.
One day, while driving in silence and reflecting, an answer to a question I had long asked myself surfaced. For the past four years, I’ve wondered: why do I continue fighting and advocating in this space despite the challenges and setbacks? While I had often attributed it to the collective trauma surrounding clinical trial research, a quiet voice within me revealed a deeper truth: my father.
This realization is deeply personal. My father has muscular dystrophy and has lived with the condition for as long as I can remember. As a child, I watched him make the long journey to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for medical care, and I began to wonder whether he was ever offered opportunities to participate in clinical trials. To better understand, I decided to ask my parents.
My mother shared, “I remember them offering your father the opportunity to participate in treatments, including one that involved shots for his hands. At the time, I couldn’t understand why he refused something that might help. Even now, resources are occasionally offered, but he often declines them. My father was the same way. As a World War II vet, he had access to VA services, but like your dad, he often turned down the assistance. I do wish they had offered me the opportunity to join a support group. That would have been helpful.”
My father explained, “From what I understood, the clinical trials—though never directly offered to me—came with risks, including side effects and some people even died. While I did take advantage of support like physical therapy, there were no additional supports or even support groups offered to me.”
Hearing their reflections provided clarity of what was missing: emotional connection and community support. A support group or additional resources might have transformed their experience—not only providing tools to navigate their circumstances but also alleviating the isolation they carried. This underscores the urgent need for equity and accessibility in the psychedelic research community. True equity extends beyond participation in clinical trials or therapeutic interventions; it requires a comprehensive system of care that addresses individuals’ holistic needs. Such care must be culturally attuned, trauma-informed, and designed to build trust and foster engagement.
Reflecting inward, I think of little Candace navigating the complexities of being an only child in a family under immense stress. Would I have felt less alone or less isolated if there had been resources or support systems for my family and me? While these questions remain unanswered, they fuel my hope and vision for a more equitable and accessible psychedelic research community—one that prioritizes not only research but also the well-being of all individuals and their families. It is this vision, rooted in my own experiences and the legacies of those who came before me, that keeps me advocating for meaningful change. This dreamscape, built on the foundations laid by ancestors and trailblazers, inspires my continued fight for a system that empowers and supports every person it touches.
Call to Action
The time for performative gestures and token diversity in psychedelic research has long passed. The field must take bold and courageous steps to dismantle the white-dominant Westernized medical model and replace it with community-centered frameworks that prioritize equity, inclusion, and decolonization. Psychedelic research cannot remain confined to capitalism and gatekept systems. Instead, it must adopt collective models that amplify the voices, needs, and lived experiences of those closest to the pain and suffering of the world.
Community-driven access models should actively partner with HBCUs, tribal communities, and grassroots organizations rooted in anti-oppression. These partnerships must go beyond token diversity efforts to foster community-led research that centers healing practices and lived realities. Governance and decision-making power should be shifted to those most impacted, with community research boards guiding trials with transparency, reciprocity, and accountability.
To honor cultural identities, research must integrate spiritual, ritualistic, and collective healing practices while training facilitators to align with participants’ frameworks. Post-trial care should extend to broader communities through trauma-informed, culturally responsive programs. Reparative practices, such as redistributing resources and supporting Global Majority-led initiatives, are essential to address historical harms.
This work demands embedding anti-oppression frameworks into every stage of research. By committing to these actions, psychedelic research can catalyze systemic change and build a future rooted in equity, healing, and liberation.
As Nikki Giovanni once said, “If we don’t like the world we’re living in, change it. And if we can’t change it, we change ourselves. We can do something.”
References
Michaels, T. I., Purdon, J., Collins, A., & Williams, M. T. (2018). Inclusion of people of color in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a review of the literature. BMC psychiatry, 18(1), 245. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1824-6
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP20-07-01-001, NSDUH Series H-55). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/
Williams, M. T., Davis, A. K., Xin, Y., Sepeda, N. D., Grigas, P. C., Sinnott, S., & Haeny, A. M. (2021). People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences. Drugs (Abingdon, England), 28(3), 215–226. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2020.1854688
Candace Oglesby-Adepoju, LCPC
Candace Oglesby-Adepoju is a licensed professional counselor (LCPC) and board approved supervisor in the state of Maryland. She also holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Candace specializes in working with diverse adult populations, specifically women of color, who present with substance use addiction and trauma like symptoms. Candace is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS). She is a consultant in training for EMDR. Candace also specializes in providing culturally competent/humility care for black and brown clients who have experienced racial trauma.
Candace is also the founder and owner of Jurnee Mental Health Consulting, LLC, a consulting business that provides support to individuals and businesses looking to deepen their understanding of mental health and provides support and resources to marginalized communities. Within her consulting business, she hosts healing circles for black women, which is a safe space for like-minded black women to come together to discuss issues around racial trauma and isolation. Candace is a DEI consultant, research clinical therapist, and featured presenter. The purpose of her work is to help bring awareness to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In addition, Candace is a community ambassador for Black Therapist Rock (BTR) which is a non-profit organization that increases awareness of social and psychological issues impacting vulnerable communities and reducing stigma related to mental health. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. When Candace is not acting as psychotherapist, CEO, board member, and volunteer she is spending time with her partner, family, and friends.
