Psychedelics for Perinatal Mental Health With Kate Kincaid CMHC LPC
- Andrea Hanson
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
This article is not legal or medical advice
The postpartum period is a profound and often challenging transition, yet perinatal mental health remains one of the most overlooked areas of mental healthcare. At the Psychedelic Society of Utah Conference, Kate Kincaid, CMHC, shared her expertise on the potential of psychedelics to help process birth trauma and postpartum depression. As a licensed clinical mental health counselor with practices in Arizona and Utah (Soma Psychotherapy), Kincaid specializes in perinatal mental health, relationship therapy, and psychedelic integration.
The Transformative & Traumatic Nature of Birth
Birth is often described as a psychedelic experience—a state of non-ordinary consciousness, deeply emotional and physically overwhelming. While childbirth can be beautiful, it can also be traumatic, even when everything goes according to plan.
“I think all births are traumatic,” Kincaid said. “If trauma is anything that is too big, too fast, or too strong, birth inherently meets that definition.”
For Kincaid, birth was life-altering, leading to postpartum depression despite her extensive therapeutic tools and preparation. She highlighted that postpartum depression can happen to anyone, and current treatments often fail to meet the needs of new parents.
The Need for New Approaches to Postpartum Depression
1 in 5-7 women experience postpartum depression.
60-80% experience “baby blues” (tearfulness, mood swings).
Suicide is the #1 cause of maternal mortality.
Current treatments—SSRIs, SNRIs, and antipsychotics—often take weeks to work and may require stopping breastfeeding, adding another layer of stress for new parents. “We need new ideas,” Kincaid emphasized.
How Psychedelics Can Help
While research on psychedelics and perinatal mood disorders is still in its infancy, early data and clinical experiences suggest promising benefits. Psychedelics have been shown to:
Reduce depression and anxiety (65% of reviewed studies in a 2020 meta-analysis).
Promote neuroplasticity (helping the brain adapt and recover).
Assist in processing trauma, including birth-related PTSD.
Ketamine: A Legal & Immediate Option
Kincaid has found ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) to be particularly effective for postpartum depression.
Ketamine is currently the only legal psychedelic in all U.S. states.
It is non-serotonergic, meaning it can be used alongside SSRIs.
Neurogenic effects help restore brain function and relieve depression rapidly.
Breastfeeding considerations: A study found ketamine clears from breast milk within 12 hours, giving mothers an informed choice about feeding.
“I wasn’t that excited about ketamine at first,” Kincaid admitted, “but after my own postpartum experience, I realized its power to process trauma and have been working with it ever since.”
Emerging Research on Psychedelics & Postpartum Care
Several clinical trials are now exploring psychedelics for postpartum depression:
University of Arizona: Studying 4-OH-DiPT, a short-acting psychedelic similar to DMT.
RECONNECT Study (36 U.S. sites): Investigating RE-104, a novel psychedelic for postpartum depression.
“We still need more research,” Kincaid noted. “But I’m hopeful that we’re on the brink of new, effective treatments.”
Reframing the Postpartum Experience with Psychedelics
Kincaid encouraged a paradigm shift—viewing postpartum as a hero’s journey rather than a medical condition to “fix.”
The Hero’s Journey of Birth & Postpartum
Preparation – Pregnancy & birth planning (mirrors psychedelic set & setting).
The Ordeal – The peak experience (birth or the psychedelic journey).
Integration – The often-overlooked postpartum period and emotional processing.
“In postpartum, we rush back to normal because the in-between space is uncomfortable,” Kincaid explained. “But we’re missing the opportunity to fully integrate the experience.”
Psychedelics, particularly when paired with therapy and somatic practices, can help parents process their transformation, rather than simply “getting back to normal.”
A Call for More Research & Support
Kincaid closed with a call for increased awareness, research, and support for new parents navigating postpartum mental health. “We need to keep this conversation going and give parents more tools to process birth and postpartum in a meaningful way.”
For therapists and parents interested in psychedelic-informed postpartum care, Kincaid offers sessions through Soma Psychotherapy and has published articles on psychedelic support for birth and perinatal health.
Apply to become a Psych Society expert contributor here.
Apply to be part of an upcoming psych society conference here.
