Centering Trans Communities In Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Exploring Social Work’s Role In Advancing Equitable Access

Purpose:

Psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT), an emerging model of care that combines psychedelic medicines with psychotherapy, have largely developed without meaningful inclusion of transgender and gender-expansive (trans) communities. Social work, a discipline grounded in equity and systems-level intervention, is uniquely positioned to address this gap by advancing equitable approaches to PAT in research, practice, and training that center marginalized communities. This roundtable brings together interdisciplinary experts across career levels to examine the intersections of psychedelics and gender, with a focus on how social work can shape the equitable development, implementation, and dissemination of PAT. Moving beyond questions of efficacy alone, the session will explore how PAT may either reinforce or challenge systems that reproduce inequities and what it would mean to center trans communities in shaping the future of this field.

Framing:

This roundtable is grounded in intersectional, anti-oppressive, and liberation-oriented frameworks that positions inequities in clinical care as products of structural forces. Building on emerging empirical research, clinical innovation, and community-based knowledge, panelists will critically examine how psychedelic research and practice reflect broader patterns of exclusion, including the underrepresentation of trans people in clinical trials and the limited integration of gender-affirming and culturally responsive care models. At the same time, the discussion will consider how psychedelics may offer distinct opportunities for supporting identity integration, reducing stigma-related distress, and fostering connection and collective healing. By situating PAT within broader systems of power, including medicalization, regulation, and access, the roundtable will interrogate how this rapidly evolving field can either reinforce or disrupt existing inequities. In doing so, the session identifies key leverage points through which social work research and practice can shape more equitable and responsive systems of psychedelic care.

Structure:

This roundtable will feature four panelists and one facilitator spanning career levels, with expertise in psychedelic research, gender-affirming clinical practice, and social work education. The session will begin with brief framing remarks from the facilitator, followed by short reflections from each panelist. A guided discussion will then focus on three domains: (1) current evidence and gaps in psychedelic research involving trans populations, (2) clinical and community-based approaches to delivering gender-affirming and anti-oppressive PAT, and (3) implications for training, implementation, and access across systems. The majority of the session will be dedicated to interactive dialogue, engaging participants in critical discussion of tensions, opportunities, and future directions for the field. Discussion prompts will center how to ensure that emerging psychedelic practices are responsive to trans communities and aligned with principles of equity, safety, and collective care.

Relevance to Social Work:

This roundtable examines how social work can shape the development of psychedelic care to advance equitable access, culturally responsive practice, and community-informed models of healing. It positions psychedelic care as an emerging area of social work practice requiring critical attention to equity, inclusion, and systems change. In doing so, the roundtable aligns with the conference theme by demonstrating how rigorous, critically engaged inquiry can contribute to more inclusive systems of care and promote the well-being of communities historically excluded from mental health innovation.