Month: March 2026

When time softens: psychedelic-assisted therapy in life’s final chapter

In this story, we sit down with clinical psychologist Dr Margaret Ross in the dosing room where she supports terminally ill patients in Melbourne. She was the Chief Principal Investigator and Clinical Lead for Australia’s first psychedelic-assisted therapy trial, conducted at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. Her psychotherapy practice is dedicated to supporting individuals living with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses, as well as those navigating profound life transitions. Her ongoing research centres on mental health conditions that may benefit from psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, alongside advancing the training of mental health clinicians in this specialised field.

Death is an inevitable part of this physical life – a truth none of us can escape. It becomes even more immediate and confronting for patients who, in a single moment, are told they are living with a terminal illness and may have only months, sometimes even weeks remaining. For patients who receive a terminal diagnosis, a single appointment, a single scan result or a single conversation can redraw the entire landscape of a life.

For Dr Ross, her work in psychedelic-assisted therapy with patients living with terminal illness was driven by a desire to reimagine palliative care.

Interview with Bee Mohamed, 20 February 2024

Death is an inevitable part of this physical life – a truth none of us can escape. It becomes even more immediate and confronting for patients who, in a single moment, are told they are living with a terminal illness and may have only months, sometimes even weeks remaining. For patients who receive a terminal diagnosis, a single appointment, a single scan result or a single conversation can redraw the entire landscape of a life.

For Dr Ross, her work in psychedelic-assisted therapy with patients living with terminal illness was driven by a desire to reimagine palliative care.

She wanted to ensure that those approaching the end of life are supported with dignity, compassion, and the space to transition from this life in a way that feels meaningful and whole. In January 2020, Australia’s first clinical trial for psychedelic-assisted therapy commenced at St Vincents hospital in Melbourne.

Contributors

Antonella Morelli

Practising photographer based in Byron Bay

Bee Mohamed

Founder of Mata and natural medicines advocate