Speaking & Workshops
BRENDAN CALDWELL | SOMATIC TRAUMA THERAPIST & PSYCHEDELIC GUIDE
About Me
I’m a trauma therapist specializing in shame, sex, and the therapeutic use of psychedelics. I use a combination of somatic therapy, IFS, mindfulness, and psychedelic-assisted therapy to help people find themselves and begin to heal.
I combine my background in research with years of contemplative practice to bring both a grounded and insightful perspective. I approach complex or taboo topics with clarity and authenticity, sparking engaging and authentic conversations.
I’m qualified to speak on a number of topics, all of which I can tailor to specific audiences’ needs:
Trauma-informed, Body-based Therapy (somatics, IFS, mindfulness, and healing trauma from the body up)
Sexuality, Relationships, & Erotic Authenticity (kink, poly & queer specialties)
Psychedelics, Spirituality, & Harm Reduction (psilocybin, cannabis, ketamine, DMT, and more)
No matter the forum, I strive to provide information and stimulate discussions that are clearly applicable and useful to my audiences.
Past Collaborators
Areas of Expertise
Psychedelics, Spirituality & Harm Reduction
Inside the Guide’s Role: How I Facilitate Psychedelic Journeys
Maximizing Benefits & Minimizing Risks of Psychedelic Use
The Neuropharmacology of Psychedelics
Rave as Ritual: Finding Awe through Recreation
Microdosing: Hype, Hope, & What the Research Says
Sexuality, Relationships, & Erotic Authenticity
How Understanding Attachment can Transform our Erotic Lives
Building Security & Connection in Polyamorous Relationships
Power, Play, & Consent: Lessons from the Kink Community
Queer-Allied Therapy: Creating Space for Erotic Authenticity
Erotic Aliveness as a Path to Healing and Wholeness
Trauma-informed & Body-based Therapy
Body Memory: How Trauma Lives in the Body and How We Release It
Befriending Your Nervous System: Somatic Tools for Everyday Regulation
Mindfulness for People Who Hate Sitting Still
Overcoming Chronic Shame: An Parts Work Approach
Past Appearances
-
Presentation for the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy's Society of Herbal and Integrative Medicine Pharmacists. Discussed common forms of microdosing psychedelics, the science behind its potential efficacy, extant research on psychedelic microdosing, and screening clients appropriately who are considering microdosing.
-
Interview with the MBT IFS Group on 07/29/2025. Discussing my history in becoming a therapist, his draw towards IFS, the foundations of Gestalt therapy and how it informs IFS, and elements of practicing IFS from a trauma-informed lens.
-
Presentation for the Naropa Alliance for Psychedelic Studies. Discussed how healing with psilocybin works, how to assess clients for readiness to try psilocybin-assisted therapy and gave a practical demonstration of how I guide a psychedelic session.
-
Interview with Mindscape Psychedelic Institute. Explored how I bring a trauma-informed approach to psilocybin facilitation, including careful client screening, pacing the dosage to avoid overwhelming the nervous system, and obtaining consent from inner parts rather than forcing breakthroughs. We also discussed the emerging industry of psilocybin-assisted therapy and its implications for safe, ethical practice.
-
Presentation for the Psychedelic Club of Denver. Walked participants through the flow of a psilocybin-assisted session, explained how facilitators prepare and assess readiness, and demonstrated core somatically-oriented elements of my guiding practice.
-
Interview on Fox News ("Psychedelic City: Magic mushrooms grow in therapy use but some at-home users may face ‘psychedelic trauma’"). Examined the rise of psilocybin therapy alongside the dangers that unsupervised use can present—including a vivid case study of prolonged anxiety and trauma from a single difficult mushroom experience—and discussed the need for trauma-sensitive, professionally guided approaches.
-
Presentation at Naropa University. Discussed ethical boundaries and guidelines to prevent abuse in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Covered special considerations related to establishing robust consent, navigating the use of touch, establishing boundaries both in-session and outside of session and practicing from a trauma-informed lens.
-
Workshop for the Naropa Alliance for Psychedelic Studies. Covered substance checking, testing for fentanyl, responding to a suspected opioid overdose, harm reduction for novel psychoactive substances, polysubstance use, how to minimize traumatic psychedelic experiences, and much more.
-
Keynote presentation on Day 3 of PsychedelX 2022, hosted by the Intercollegiate Psychedelics Network. Discussed the sharp rise in opioid overdoses and deaths following the federal government’s crackdown on prescription pain medication. Covered the role that prohibition played in the rise of fentanyl contamination in the US illicit drug supply.
-
Presentation for the Naropa Alliance for Psychedelic Studies. Reviewed the philosophical arguments for cognitive liberty concerning the use of consciousness-altering substances. Posed the argument that individuals in a free society should be able to alter their consciousness however they see fit, so long as doing so does not cause direct and undue harm to others.
Looking for a speaker or facilitator?
Fill out this form and I’ll respond within 3 business days. Let’s discuss how I can provide value and insight to your community.