When everything else has been tried, there is a new frontier
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is one of the most significant developments in mental health treatment in decades. Chloe Rigg is training to offer this within New Zealand's approved clinical framework — for people with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD who haven't found lasting relief through conventional approaches.
This isn't what you think it is
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is not recreational drug use. It is not a wellness trend or a shortcut. It is a medically supervised clinical treatment in which carefully controlled doses of specific substances are used to support deep therapeutic work.
The substance itself doesn't do the healing. It opens a window — a period of heightened neuroplasticity and psychological openness — in which therapy can reach places that years of conventional talking therapy often cannot.
The clinical trial evidence behind this is serious. Research at Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, and other leading institutions has shown significant results for people with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD — people who had tried multiple medications and years of therapy without lasting relief.
That is exactly who this is designed for.
Two substances. Two specific clinical indications.
New Zealand's approved clinical framework closely follows the Australian model. Two substances sit at the centre of this work — each with a distinct evidence base and indication.
Treatment-resistant depression
When antidepressants and conventional therapy haven't been enough
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found in certain mushroom species. In controlled clinical settings it has produced rapid, sustained reductions in depressive symptoms — sometimes after a single guided session. In June 2025, New Zealand's first psychiatrist was granted Medsafe approval to prescribe psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression under Section 29 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
PTSD
When trauma hasn't shifted with conventional trauma therapy
MDMA creates a window of reduced fear response and increased psychological openness — making it possible to process traumatic memories without being overwhelmed by them. Phase 3 clinical trials showed 67% of participants no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD after MDMA-assisted therapy, compared to 32% in the placebo group. MDMA is approved for PTSD in Australia. The NZ regulatory pathway is actively developing.
Medicine delivered alongside therapy, not instead of it
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is a structured clinical protocol; not a single event. It is a therapeutic process with three distinct phases. The substance is only one part of it.
Preparation
Multiple sessions before any substance is involved. This phase establishes the therapeutic relationship, explores your history, sets intentions, and prepares you — psychologically and practically — for what lies ahead. Thorough screening for medical and psychological suitability happens here. Not everyone is a good candidate, and that assessment is taken seriously.
The guided session
The substance is administered in a controlled clinical setting, under medical supervision, with a trained therapist present throughout. Sessions typically last several hours. The therapist's role is to provide a safe, grounded presence — to help you navigate whatever arises, without directing or steering the experience.
Integration
This is where the real work happens. The insights and emotional shifts from the session need to be processed and woven into daily life — through follow-up therapy sessions over weeks and months. Without integration, a powerful experience remains a moment rather than a change. Integration is where Chloe's trauma expertise is most directly applied.
For people who've tried everything else
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is designed specifically for people for whom conventional approaches haven't held. It is not a first-line treatment — it is a clinically indicated option when other avenues have been exhausted.
Treatment-resistant depression — where two or more antidepressants haven't provided lasting relief
PTSD that hasn't shifted with conventional trauma-focused therapy
Complex trauma with entrenched patterns that feel impossible to move
You are stable, voluntary, and prepared to do significant therapeutic work over time
This is not for everyone
PAT is not appropriate for people with a personal or family history of psychosis or certain other conditions, those currently in active crisis or psychiatric instability, or anyone seeking a shortcut. Thorough screening is a clinical requirement — not a formality — and exists to protect you. If you're unsure whether this might be right for you, get in touch for an honest conversation.
Where New Zealand stands
New Zealand is developing its therapeutic psychedelics pathway following the Australian model — the first country to approve these substances for clinical use at a national level in 2023.
In June 2025, New Zealand's first psychiatrist received Medsafe approval to prescribe psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, using existing Section 29 provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Medsafe published formal prescriber application guidelines in July 2025.
In New Zealand's current framework, the prescribing role sits with psychiatrists — registered with the Medical Council and holding Medsafe approval. Trained therapists work alongside the prescribing psychiatrist as part of a clinical team, delivering preparation, holding the guided session, and providing integration therapy.
Chloe's role in this model is as the trained PAT practitioner — bringing her decade of trauma-focused clinical experience to the preparation and integration work, and to the guided session alongside the prescribing psychiatrist. This reflects the same model used in Australia and in international clinical trials.
The research is serious
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is backed by clinical trial data from leading global institutions. This is not fringe — it is some of the most promising research in mental health treatment in decades.
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression
Clinical trials have shown significant reductions in depressive symptoms after one to two guided sessions, with effects sustained at 12-month follow-up in some studies. Remission rates in treatment-resistant populations have exceeded those seen with conventional antidepressants in trial comparisons.
MDMA for PTSD
Phase 3 MAPS trials showed 67% of participants receiving MDMA-assisted therapy no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD after treatment, compared to 32% in the placebo group. Participants had chronic, severe PTSD and had not responded to prior treatment — the same profile as Chloe's typical client.
Why it may work where other treatments don't
Current research suggests psychedelics create a temporary period of heightened neuroplasticity — the brain becomes more open to change. For trauma especially, this may allow the nervous system to process experiences that previously overwhelmed it. The therapy is the active ingredient. The substance creates the conditions for the therapy to reach deeper.
What people ask
Is psychedelic-assisted therapy legal in New Zealand?
Yes — within an approved clinical framework. New Zealand's first Medsafe approval for psilocybin prescribing was granted in June 2025 under existing provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. Access is tightly regulated. This service will only be offered within that legal framework, in partnership with an authorised prescribing psychiatrist.
Is this available now in Tauranga or Papamoa?
Not yet. Chloe is currently completing specialist PAT training through an accredited Australian institute. Once fully qualified and with the clinical pathway established — including a prescribing psychiatrist partner — this service will be offered from Papamoa, Tauranga. Register your interest below to be notified when availability opens.
Do I need to be based in Tauranga to access this?
Preparation and integration sessions may be offered online for clients outside the Bay of Plenty. The guided session itself requires an in-person clinical setting. Location logistics will be confirmed as the service develops — get in touch to discuss your situation.
I've heard magic mushrooms can help with depression. Is this the same thing?
Psilocybin — the active compound in certain mushroom species — is the substance used in clinical settings. However, the therapeutic outcomes documented in trials depend entirely on set, setting, dose precision, and the therapeutic support surrounding the experience. Using these substances outside an approved clinical framework is illegal in New Zealand and removes the safety and therapeutic structures that make the treatment effective.
I've tried antidepressants and years of therapy and nothing has worked. Could this help?
Treatment-resistant depression and PTSD are the primary indications for this treatment within NZ's current framework. If that describes your situation, this may be worth exploring. The best first step is to register your interest and have a no-obligation conversation about whether you might be a suitable candidate.
Is this covered by ACC or the New Zealand public health system?
Currently, psychedelic-assisted therapy is not publicly funded in New Zealand. It is a privately funded treatment. Costs will depend on the clinical team and number of sessions required — full details will be provided once the service structure is confirmed.
What training does Chloe have in this area?
Chloe is completing specialist psychedelic-assisted therapy training through an accredited Australian institute. She brings over 10 years of trauma-focused clinical experience — including advanced EMDR, IFS, schema therapy, and complex PTSD — that is directly relevant to PAT, particularly the preparation and integration work. Trauma expertise is not incidental to this treatment. It is central to it.
I'm a therapist interested in this space. Can I talk to Chloe?
Yes. Chloe welcomes conversations with other clinicians about this emerging field. Get in touch via the contact page.
Be the first to know when this service opens
This service is not yet available. If you've been looking for something different — for yourself, or a client you're working with — register your interest now. No commitment. Just a way to stay informed and start a conversation.
Join the waitlist All enquiries are responded to personally.If you are in crisis right now, please contact Lifeline 0800 543 354 | Text or call 1737 | Healthline 0800 611 116