Brian D. Richards
Our People

Brian D. Richards

Teacher

Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research

Biography

Brian D. Richards, Psy.D., completed a master’s degree in existential-phenomenological psychology at Duquesne University, a Psy.D. at the University of Denver School for Professional Psychology, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, where he contributed to original research involving administering psilocybin to cancer patients and healthy normal adults. He formerly served as a clinical director for MedOptions, the largest behavioral health provider in the United States. He was also a lead psychologist on a simultaneous group administration high-dose psilocybin trial with cancer patients at the Bill Richards Center for Healing. This psychedelic medicine clinic, located in an outpatient oncology center, is the first of its kind in the world. He now cares for patients with a cancer diagnosis at Maryland Oncology Hematology Aquilino Cancer Center. Dr. Richards also teaches and mentors students at CIIS in the Psychedelic Research Center’s certificate program. He is a subject matter expert on psilocybin for the Board of Psychedelic Medicine and Therapies, and is working with BrainFutures on coding and reimbursement for psychedelic-assisted therapy. Dr. Richards’ clinical and research interests include meaning-centered psychotherapy, mystical experience, brain science-based approaches to vibrant health and wellness, and working with treatment-refractory patients.