Heather Curtis MD, Creator & Executive Director of I THRIVE
Heather Curtis, MD, is the creator of I THRIVE, a platform dedicated to supporting trauma survivors and advocating for harm reduction in psychedelic medicine. With extensive training in psychiatry, integrative medicine, and trauma-informed care, Dr. Curtis has a background rooted in both conventional and alternative approaches to mental health. Her journey into harm reduction began through personal experiences in the field, which exposed her to the transformative potential of psychedelics alongside the significant risks they can pose without proper oversight. Driven by her commitment to survivor advocacy and ethical practice, Dr. Curtis developed I THRIVE to address the gaps in support, accountability, and safety within the psychedelic and mental health communities, helping create a safer and more supportive environment for healing and growth.
I THRIVE’s journey into psychedelic harm reduction began during a personal crisis for Heather Curtis, MD. In June 2019, while in Thailand, Heather’s mother faced a serious hospitalization in the U.S. To process the fear and distance, Heather turned to psychedelic medicine. Under its influence, she sent a vulnerable email to her fellow trainees and select faculty at the University of Utah, disclosing harms and abuses she had endured during residency. This act set off a ripple effect, triggering retaliation and leaving Heather to navigate the fallout alone. Reflecting on these events, Heather realized the powerful potential for both healing and harm within psychedelics—a potential that demands responsible care and structured support.
In June 2020, Heather experienced additional psychedelic trauma when she was assaulted by University of Utah professor while under the influence of MDMA. Seeking support, she enrolled in a course led by Parth Gandhi, PhD, in July 2020, hoping the field could offer ways to process or expose harm. It wasn’t until Heather disclosed her assault to him in 2021 that she learned Gandhi himself posed potential risks to others. Despite her warnings, Gandhi’s respected position shielded him from scrutiny.
In early 2022, Gandhi made inappropriate advances toward Heather, and by July she reported his behavior to the broader psychedelic and mental health communities, as well as to the Utah Department of Professional Licensing (DOPL) and police. From 2022 to 2024, I THRIVE participated in investigations that uncovered misconduct patterns including sexual misconduct, involuntary drugging (Heather herself was drugged by a peer in June 2022), violence, and pressure to cover up harm in the field including episodes of negligence that contributed to recurrent community harms.
These experiences reshaped Heather’s view of the psychedelic community. Initially hopeful about finding a supportive, healing space, she instead experienced a mixed landscape and encountered a field shadowed by insufficient oversight and accountability. Recognizing the need for harm reduction, I THRIVE now advocates for a model based on three key strategies:
1. Independent Oversight: Establish impartial organizations dedicated to investigating misconduct and ensuring accountability.
2. Survivor-Centered Support Systems: Provide confidential channels for survivors to report harm without fear of retaliation.
3. Standardized Training and Certification: Implement rigorous training standards, including ethics education and experience-based qualifications, to ensure responsible practice.
Through these harm reduction strategies, and a reminder to stay legal to stay safe, I THRIVE envisions a safer, more transparent, and ethically grounded psychedelic field that realizes the therapeutic potential of psychedelics while safeguarding participant welfare.
We Suggest Three Key Strategies for Harm Reduction
Through these steps, I THRIVE aims to promote a safer, more accountable, and ethically sound psychedelic field that prioritizes participant well-being and respects the healing potential of this work.
We have advocated for these strategies at the Utah Division of Professional Licensing as well as with key leaders in the international Psychedelic Science Community.
I THRIVE
Learn more about our efforts at harm reduction on the following pages:
Nonviolent Resistance in Action
Civil Disobedience & Survivor Rights
Navigating Psychedelic Harms
We want psychedelic medicine to be safe. Unfortunately, bad actors exist, as do bad trips. Here are a few tips to assist you to navigate some of the more difficult psychedelic experiences that can occur:
1) To report a provider for misconduct, you can contact your state’s Division of Professional Licensing, often known as the medical board. Each state has an online reporting portal where you can submit complaints about licensed providers. It’s helpful to include specific details of the incident, supporting documentation, and any witnesses who can corroborate the complaint. Reports to these boards initiate investigations that can lead to disciplinary actions if misconduct is verified. HERE is a link to Utah's medical board to get you started.
2) For reporting psychedelic harms, including assault, it’s best to reach out to both local law enforcement and any related professional licensing boards, especially if the provider is licensed. Additionally, organizations like the Psychedelic Abuse Advocacy Network (PAAN) can provide guidance on navigating these sensitive situations. Documentation of the incident and any medical or psychological harm sustained can be essential for these reports. Be sure to also check out our crisis line resources HERE.
​
3) To reduce the likelihood of a “bad trip,” it’s important to prepare a safe environment with a trusted guide or sitter, ideally one trained in harm reduction techniques. If someone is experiencing a difficult psychedelic experience, grounding techniques—like breathing exercises, calm reassurance, and sensory redirection—can help. Staying hydrated and moving to a quiet, comfortable space can also ease distress. In the event of a bad trip, you can also contact the Fireside Project Psychedelic Support Line HERE.
Psychedelic & Alternative Healing Communities:
Risks in Psychedelic and Alternative Healing Communities
Psychedelic and alternative healing practices hold immense potential for transformation but also carry risks. Unchecked power dynamics, heightened impressionability, and institutional failures can lead to harm. Entering these spaces requires awareness and discernment.
Leadership Risks and Abuse of Power
In some spaces, “authoritarian leadership” fosters harm, where leaders—spiritual guides, gurus, shamans, or therapists—exploit their influence. Examples include:
• Chögyam Trungpa: A Buddhist teacher accused of power abuses.
• Yogi Bhajan: Kundalini Yoga leader implicated in misconduct.
• Carlos Castaneda: New Age shamanic figure criticized for manipulation.
• Agama Yoga: Where Heather Curtis witnessed exploitation masked as spiritual growth.
• Utah Providers: Local healers and spiritual leaders engaging in negligence, abuse of power, and institutional failures like mishandled reports of harm and failures of duty to report.
• Ayahuasca Retreats: Unregulated shamans exploiting participants during ceremonies.
These dynamics thrive where participants place blind trust in leaders, enabling exploitation and harm.
Safeguards to Consider
To navigate these risks, prioritize spaces that:
• Practice transparency and ethics: Clear boundaries, informed consent, and participant autonomy.
• Offer trauma-informed care: Providers who respect vulnerabilities and prioritize safety.
• Provide accountability systems: Mechanisms for reporting and addressing misconduct.
Be cautious of unchecked authority, blurred boundaries, or environments that romanticize surrendering personal agency. Research facilitators, ask questions, and trust your instincts.
Healing with Awareness
Psychedelics and alternative practices can be transformative when approached with caution. Ethical, well-regulated spaces maximize benefits while minimizing risks. Stay informed, stay legal, prioritize your safety, and empower yourself in your healing journey.
Have additional ideas on how to keep psychedelic medicine safe?
Contact us!
