I. Executive Summary

The document critiques conventional psychiatry’s misconceptions of addiction and dissociation, its reliance on pharmaceutical interventions, and the professional incompetence and moral deficiencies perceived within its practitioners. Furthermore, it levels significant criticism against the legal and governmental systems, characterizing their actions as a “war on drugs” that criminalizes healing and knowledge, and as operating from a developmentally immature and self-serving logic. A core element of Dr. O’Brien’s argument is the re-classification of psychedelics as “superfoods” and natural agents of healing, contrasting them sharply with “industrialized drugs.”

The report will explore the philosophical underpinnings of Dr. O’Brien’s critique, including the concept of the body as the unconscious, the distinction between moral-ethics and legal-ethics, and the rejection of binary thinking only. Ultimately, the document serves as a powerful call for a fundamental paradigm shift, urging established systems to undergo a process of self-reflection and recovery, akin to an individual overcoming addiction, and to embrace a new leadership paradigm guided by Healers.

II. Introduction to “Industrialized Psychiatry”

This report delves into the provocative document titled “Industrialized Psychiatry,” authored by Adam O’Brien, PhD, and published by the Wounded Healers Institute. The document is presented as a direct address to “legal and psychological experts”, immediately signaling its confrontational and critical nature.

Context of the Document and Author

Adam O’Brien grounds his arguments in a rich tapestry of personal and professional experience, which he positions as the very foundation of his unique perspective. He states his background includes “15 years in the field of psychology,” “18 years addiction recovery,” and having been “a client of the drug addiction industrialized system since I was 15-years-old”. This extensive lived experience is not merely biographical detail; it is presented as the primary source of his epistemological authority. The author explicitly asserts that “lived experience is more valuable in the real world”, directly challenging conventional notions of expertise derived solely from academic credentials or professional training. This perspective suggests that profound personal suffering and subsequent recovery provide a unique lens through which to discern truths that remain obscured to conventionally trained professionals. The author’s personal journey of overcoming addiction and navigating the mental health system is thus portrayed as the wellspring of his insights, enabling him to identify systemic flaws and advocate for a different path to healing. This foundational claim establishes a central tension throughout the document: the perceived conflict between institutional knowledge and embodied wisdom, which carries significant implications for how expertise is defined and validated in society.

The Document’s Overarching Purpose

The overarching purpose of “Industrialized Psychiatry” is to deliver a radical and polemical critique of modern mental health, medical, and legal systems. The document aims to expose what the author perceives as pervasive systemic incompetence, moral bankruptcy, and “bureaucratic tyranny” within these established structures. Dr. O’Brien seeks to provoke a “recovery reckoning to the psychiatric level of the medical model”, advocating for a fundamental paradigm shift in how society understands and approaches healing, particularly concerning addiction and mental well-being. The document is not merely an academic critique but a passionate call for profound societal change.

The Author’s Foundational Premise

O’Brien’s core premise is that the wisdom embodied by “Healers,” which is derived from direct experience of suffering and recovery, is inherently superior to the knowledge and practices of conventional licensed professionals. He posits that the current systems are “industrialized” and fundamentally disconnected from innate healing processes, leading to harm rather than genuine care. This premise underpins all subsequent arguments, framing the entire discussion as a profound conflict between authentic, morally-driven healing and a flawed, profit-driven professional apparatus.

III. Core Critique of Industrialized Psychiatry and the Medical Model

The document presents a scathing critique of the prevailing psychiatric and medical paradigms, arguing that they are built upon fundamental misunderstandings and morally questionable practices.

Misconceptions of Addiction and Dissociation

A central pillar of O’Brien’s critique is the assertion that conventional psychiatry fundamentally misunderstands addiction and dissociation.

Psychiatry’s Failure to Accurately Define Addiction

The author contends that addiction has been “inaccurately defined and poorly understood scientifically” for decades, noting its ambiguous definition in the DSM-IV (1995) and its continued lack of a clear, operational definition in the DSM-5 (2013). He dismisses the 2012 definition of addiction as “a treatable disease” by organizations like ASAM and SAMHSA as an act of “audacity”, which become offensive because it is propaganda and a version of science that people and professionals can be made to or “must” follow. This definition, in O’Brien’s view, reflects a profound ignorance, allowing these entities to believe they can “eradicate, cure, and fix” a condition they do not truly comprehend.

Addiction as Trauma-Related Dissociation

Dr. O’Brien fundamentally redefines addiction not as a standalone disease, but as “trauma-related dissociation”. He argues that many symptoms traditionally diagnosed as mental illness actually “stem from existential, spiritual, and moral betrayal wounds”. From this perspective, addiction is not “solely a disease”, and professionals who adhere to the disease model are “not qualified to judge at this point either, unless they are Healers already”. This re-framing suggests that the problem lies not with the individual, but with the systems that misdiagnose and fail to address the root causes of suffering. By mislabeling normal human responses as disorders, the DSM and the professions that rely on it effectively create pathology and perpetuate suffering, rather than alleviating it. This implies that the very diagnostic tools and professional frameworks are instruments of systemic harm, serving to maintain control and careerism rather than genuine healing.

Critique of the DSM’s Incompleteness and Pathologizing Nature

The document extensively criticizes the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), often referred to as psychiatry’s “bible”. It is deemed incomplete due to its lack of operational definitions for crucial terms such as addiction, dissociation, and the unconscious. O’Brien argues that the DSM “pathologies the human experience by making normal responses into diagnoses”. He highlights dissociation as a prime example, describing it as a “natural human response to injury, pain, or abuse” rather than an “abnormal response to an abnormal event”. The author further suggests that the DSM is “incomplete without a full spectrum of diagnoses, particularly perfectionism, altruism, and ambition addictions”, implying that the system overlooks common, yet unrecognized, forms of societal dysfunction.

Critique of Pharmaceutical Interventions

O’Brien expresses profound skepticism and condemnation regarding the widespread use of pharmaceutical interventions in psychiatry.

“Poisoning, Not Treatment”

Drawing on the words of Dr. Thomas Szasz, the author asserts that “Giving a child a psychiatric drug is poisoning, not treatment”. This strong statement encapsulates his view on the inherent harm of these substances. He questions the efficacy and safety of psychiatric drugs, specifically highlighting the oxymoronic nature of “non-addictive opiates” and criticizing the promotion of “substitute addictions with Methadone and Suboxone treatments”.

The “Chemical Imbalance” Myth

The document repeatedly dismisses the widely propagated notion that mental illness stems from “chemical imbalances” as pseudoscience. This dismissal implies a deliberate perpetuation of a false narrative, serving to justify the widespread prescription of medication rather than addressing underlying issues.

Lack of Relational Care in Drug Prescription

A central and deeply moral critique is directed at the practice of prescribing drugs without direct, relational engagement. O’Brien pointedly asks, “How can one send one home to take the drugs that they have prescribed? What kind of care is that? Industrialized or individualized?”. He sharply contrasts this with the “Healer’s” approach, where “care” involves “sitting with you while you take a medicine together and see what happens”. This critique is particularly emphasized in the context of ketamine administration, where the medical model often prescribes the drug for at-home use without direct supervision. The author argues that this approach reduces healing to a mere transaction, stripping it of its essential human and spiritual dimensions. The act of dispensing a product without genuine human connection or understanding is seen as a commodification of health, leading to dependency and a deeper societal pathology.

Creation of Dependency Issues and Spiritual Death

The author argues that pharmaceutical interventions contribute to “dependency issues, promoted pseudoscience (vaccine/flu shots), and caused the death of the human soul”. He suggests that the system encourages “bonding to a drug” rather than engaging the body’s innate healing systems. This perspective suggests that the “industrialized” approach, driven by profit and convenience, strips away the sacred and relational aspects of healing, leading to a profound spiritual and relational impoverishment in society. The medical model, by reducing complex human suffering to biochemical imbalances treatable by drugs, is thus seen as contributing to a deeper societal malaise.

Professional Incompetence and Moral Deficiency

O’Brien scrutinizes the competence and moral integrity of licensed professionals within the psychiatric and medical fields.

Psychiatrists and MDs Lacking Understanding

The author claims that “a trained and educated psychiatrist does not know addiction or how these drugs feel”, and that MDs “are not sufficiently trained in addiction” (citing the opiate epidemic and Gabor Mate). Implying a systemic incentive for ignorance or a narrow focus that prevents true understanding of complex human conditions like the unconscious, dissociation, or addiction. This suggests that the very structures designed to ensure competence and ethical practice paradoxically lead to incompetence and moral deficiency. Professionals become narrowly focused, their education instilling a rigid perspective that actively prevents them from understanding lived experience or complex, interdisciplinary truths.

Prioritizing Career and Liability Over Public Well-being

The document asserts that professionals are “busy doing their career” rather than “doing their job”. They are accused of “protect[ing] their liability at our expense” and prioritizing “social order” and “maintaining liability (not science)”. This is framed as a “professional hunger games” where self-preservation and career advancement trump genuine public service. This insular training, coupled with careerism and liability concerns, disconnects professionals from their moral compass and the genuine needs of citizens, leading to a system that is self-serving rather than truly healing.

Blindness to Systemic Issues equals denial and addiction to dissociation

Professionals are depicted as “too blind to see the lines between pathology and disorder, psychology and religion, and spirituality and science”. Their inability to define addiction means they “do not see it”, even when it manifests as “unconscious bureaucratic tyranny”. This collective “dissociation” within the system itself prevents it from recognizing its own flaws and the broader societal implications of its practices.

IV. The “Healer” Paradigm: A Counter-Narrative to Traditional Therapy

Dr. O’Brien introduces the “Healer” paradigm as a radical alternative to conventional licensed psychological professions, emphasizing a profound shift in the understanding of expertise and the process of healing.

Definition and Qualities of a “Healer”

The concept of a “Healer” is central to Dr. O’Brien’s proposed framework, standing in stark contrast to the traditional professional model.

Rooted in Lived Experience and Recovery

Healers are described as “Citizen and Recovery Healers”, a “class of moral professionals” whose authority is not derived from academic degrees but from having “been there and comeback” from profound experiences of “sanity and insanity”. This aligns with the concept of the “wounded healer”, where personal suffering and successful navigation of those experiences become the very source of their capacity to guide others. The “Healer” paradigm fundamentally democratizes expertise by shifting its locus from institutional credentials to personal transformation and lived experience. The assertion that one cannot be “trained” but must “already be one” directly undermines the professional education system, suggesting that personal suffering and successful recovery produce the capacity for healing, making it an inherent quality rather than a learned skill.

Moral Fortitude and Innate Knowledge

Healers are characterized by their “moral fortitude” and their connection to “innate healing systems”. They are not individuals who become Healers through external training; rather, they “are already Healers” because they have “healed enough from their near-death wounds”. This implies an inherent, rather than acquired, capacity for healing, suggesting a deeper, intuitive understanding that transcends formal education.

“Undiagnosing” and Holistic Approach

A key practice of Healers is to “undiagnose”, recognizing that many symptoms traditionally labeled as mental illness actually stem from “existential, spiritual, and moral betrayal wounds”. Their approach is holistic, supporting “nature’s innate ways of supporting existing healing (e.g., breathwork, meditation, food, diet, education) by being with, not performing”. This emphasizes a non-pathologizing, relational, and natural approach to well-being.

Relational Engagement

A critical differentiator between Healers and traditional therapists is the depth of their engagement. The document states that “the therapist cannot travel with the client, whereas a Healer can”. This signifies a deeper, more personal, and transformative relationship that transcends conventional professional boundaries, implying a shared journey rather than a hierarchical intervention.

Distinction from Licensed Psychological Professionals

Dr. O’Brien draws a sharp distinction between the Healer and the licensed psychological professional, portraying the latter as constrained and compromised by the very system they operate within.

Bound by “Immature Laws” and “Legal-Ethics”

Licensed therapists are depicted as operating under the burden of “immature laws that are not psychologically informed”. They are said to “have to obey their ethics but not their morals because that would be unethical (which is actually moral when the science is clear enough)”. This creates a profound moral dilemma where adherence to professional regulations conflicts with a higher, more authentic moral truth. The professionalization of healing, particularly through licensing and mandated ethics, is seen as forcing practitioners into a moral compromise. The requirement to prioritize external, legally mandated ethics over internal moral principles implies a systemic ethical dilemma where external rules supersede internal integrity, limiting the capacity for genuine, morally-driven healing.

Lack of True Understanding and Qualification

The author questions the fundamental qualifications of licensed professionals to truly understand or teach deep psychological states, especially those related to psychedelics or complex dissociation. He suggests they are “psychologically unequipped to discuss what talk[s] about” because they were “trained by an out-of-date generation”. This implies that their education has left them ill-prepared for the complexities of authentic healing.

The “Tollbooth” or “DWI” Nature of State Licensing

State licensing is dismissed as “nothing more than a tollbooth that is funded by taxes”. It is portrayed as serving to maintain “social order” and “liability” rather than ensuring genuine competence or public benefit. This suggests that licensing acts as a bureaucratic barrier, hindering those with true healing capacity from practicing freely and effectively.

V. Psychedelics as “Superfoods” and Agents of Healing

A pivotal aspect of O’Brien’s document is the radical re-conceptualization of psychedelics, contrasting them sharply with conventional “drugs” and advocating for their recognition as powerful, natural healing agents.

“Drugs” vs. “Psychedelic Superfoods”

O’Brien establishes a critical definitional distinction between what he terms “drugs” and “psychedelic superfoods.”

Defining “Drugs” as Industrialized Products

The author meticulously defines a “drug” as a “man-made, cognitively conceived, industrialized, production-based product, and usually synthesized or manufactured and sold as a material item to provide relief or address some condition for improvement”. He emphasizes that even if originating from plants, drugs are “altered through some technological process or chemical innovation to enhance potency”. Examples provided include ketamine, MDMA, nicotine, alcohol, heroin, speed, cocaine, Ritalin, Adderall, SSRIs, MAOIs, and Naltrexone. This definition imbues “drugs” with negative connotations of artificiality, disconnection from nature, and a focus on symptomatic relief rather than holistic healing.

Defining “Psychedelic Superfoods” as Natural Agents

In stark contrast, “psychedelic superfoods” are defined as naturally occurring plants, fungi, cacti, roots, or molds that have not been chemically altered for increased potency. They are described as “spiritual plants and psychedelic foods” that, despite being deemed to have “no medical value” by conventional systems, possess significant “psychological value”. Cannabis is explicitly named as a psychedelic. This re-classification is a powerful rhetorical strategy, aiming to strip the medical and legal systems of their authority to define and control these substances. By framing them as natural and sacred, O’Brien attempts to establish a moral framework for their use based on natural law and inherent human rights, effectively reclaiming the narrative from dominant institutions.

Mechanism of Psychedelic Healing

Dr. O’Brien’s understanding of how psychedelics facilitate healing deviates significantly from the conventional medical model. See O’Brien, 2023a; O’Brien, 2023b; O’Brien, 2025.

Activation of Innate Healing Systems

The author posits that psychedelics do not “heal” directly in the way a drug might “fix” a problem. Instead, they “activate existing healing centers inside the unconscious body (e.g., endogenous cannabinoid, DMT, and opiate systems)”. They are described as being “infused into our innate healing systems”, which O’Brien refers to as the “psychedelic healing system”. This perspective suggests that the healing capacity resides within the individual, and psychedelics serve as catalysts.

Memory Reconsolidation and Trauma Resolution

Healing through psychedelics is intricately linked to the process of “memory reconsolidation”. This involves the “body and mind resolv[ing] their differences in an ethereal way”, leading to the release of “the score that the body knows”. This implies a deep, embodied process of trauma integration, where the physical and psychological aspects of past experiences are reconciled.

Psychedelic Healing as Evidence-Based Meditation

O’Brien boldly argues that “psychedelic healing is meditation, which would mean that it is already evidence-based”. This statement challenges the scientific community’s perceived bias against qualitative science and psychedelics, asserting that the inherent mechanisms of psychedelic experience align with established, evidence-based practices like meditation.

Comparative Efficacy: SSRIs vs. Psilocybin

To further substantiate the arguments for psychedelic healing, the document provides a comparative table outlining key aspects of SSRIs (conventional antidepressants) and psilocybin (psychedelic therapy). This table serves as a direct, comparative analysis, lending a quasi-scientific veneer to the author’s claims and challenging the perceived effectiveness and safety profile of pharmaceutical interventions.

Aspect	SSRIs (e.g., Prozac, Zoloft)	Psilocybin (psychedelic therapy)
Mechanism	Blocks serotonin reuptake	Activates 5-HT2A serotonin receptors, inducing altered states
Onset of Action	Several weeks (typically 4-8 weeks)	Often rapid (within 1-3 sessions)
Efficacy (General)	~40-60% respond, ~30% achieve	~70-60% show significant response in clinical trials
Duration of Effect	Requires daily, long-term use	Effects can last weeks to months after 1-2 sessions
Therapy Requirement	Optional, though recommended	Therapy support is essential for full benefit
Side Effects	Sexual dysfunction, emotional blunting, weight gain	Nausea, temporary anxiety, intense emotional experiences
Addiction Potential	Very low	Very low
FDA Status	Approved for depression	FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation (not yet fully approved)

This comparison highlights the author’s contention that psilocybin offers a more rapid and potentially more enduring therapeutic effect, with a different mechanism of action and a crucial requirement for therapeutic support, unlike the often solitary administration of SSRIs.

Critique of Current Legalization and Monetization

Dr. O’Brien expresses deep concern regarding the current trend of legalizing, clinical applications, and monetizing psychedelics, viewing it as a continuation of systemic exploitation rather than a genuine step towards healing.

Monetization Without Social Justice

The author condemns the current trend of “making psychedelics legal, charging for them, and offering no social justice to the recovery community after going against science and making them illegal”. This highlights a perceived pattern of exploitation where the system profits from substances it previously criminalized, without offering restitution or addressing the historical harms inflicted by the “war on drugs.” This suggests that the “industrialized” logic of the medical and legal systems is simply extending its flawed paradigm to new substances, replicating the same commodified, dehumanizing approach it applies to other “drugs.”

Ignoring Set, Setting, and the Healing Relationship

The document criticizes the medical model’s approach to psychedelic administration (e.g., ketamine), stating that they “believe that the drug does the healing” and fail to use it as a “supplementary tool to engage the body’s innate healing systems”. This is seen as a fundamental misunderstanding, as “No guide is necessary with a drug because it ‘heals’ you instead of you healing with it”. This approach, in Dr. O’Brien’s view, critically ignores the crucial elements of “set, setting, and the healing relationship” that are vital for true psychedelic healing. Without a fundamental shift in underlying values and conceptual frameworks, even the “legalization” of psychedelics will merely serve to perpetuate the existing systemic pathologies rather than ushering in genuine healing.

VI. Critique of the Legal and Governmental Systems

O’Brien extends his critique beyond psychiatry to encompass the legal and governmental frameworks, portraying them as deeply flawed and complicit in societal harm.

The “War on Drugs” as a “Crime Against Humanity”

The author’s condemnation of the “war on drugs” is unequivocal, labeling it a “crime against humanity” because the qualitative science had showed that these “drug” states are healing. When one considered the methods they used to fight against what science now shows to be agents of healing, this is not a leap of faith but a willingness to go there.

Loss of Credibility and Intergenerational Criminality

Dr. O’Brien asserts that the “war on drugs” has caused the legal system to “lost all creditability” due to its historical inability to recognize the medical value of psychedelics. He labels those who support it as “intergenerational criminals”, creating a “prison pipeline” and a parallel “academic one too”. This strong language suggests a deliberate, systemic act of harm rather than mere policy error. By criminalizing natural healing agents and suppressing scientific inquiry, the legal system actively impedes human well-being and fosters ignorance, leading to mass incarceration and societal trauma. This implies that the legal system, rather than protecting citizens, has become an oppressive force that criminalizes natural human processes and restricts access to beneficial knowledge, serving its own power structures rather than justice or health.

Suppression of Research and Science

The government and businesses are accused of actively suppressing research, citing cannabis as an example. Dr. O’Brien argues that they failed to conduct “basic scientific exploration first (i.e., see if psychedelics were objectively bad before making them illegal)”. This is presented as a deliberate act of ignorance, prioritizing control and political agendas over scientific inquiry and public welfare.

Laws as Psychologically Uninformed and Immature

A recurring and central critique is that the legal system operates from a fundamentally underdeveloped psychological and moral framework, based on psychological science.

Disavowal of Responsibility for Citizen Safety

The document cites Castlerock vs. Gonzalez to argue that “the law and government do not have to serve or protect the citizen when they did not directly cause harm”. Dr. O’Brien contends that this legal stance enables indirect harm through “incompetence or illegal laws”, effectively absolving the system of responsibility for the suffering it inadvertently causes.

Developmentally Immature Logic

A profound psychological critique is leveled against the legal system, asserting that the “logic of law is between 7-12 years old”. This implies a fundamental lack of abstract thinking, emotional maturity, and capacity to handle “conflicting information”. This perceived developmental immaturity, Dr. O’Brien argues, leads to the creation of “immature laws that are not psychologically informed”. This suggests that the legal system, despite its power, operates from an underdeveloped cognitive and emotional framework, unable to grasp complexity, nuance, or the long-term human impact of its decisions. This developmental immaturity leads to laws and actions that cause systemic trauma, mirroring the trauma experienced by individuals forced to obey “irrational drug laws” or “immature laws”. Society is thus structured by a “parental” legal system that, due to its own arrested development, perpetuates cycles of trauma and control, preventing citizens from reaching full “developmental maturity”.

Harmful Governmental Actions

The document provides several examples of governmental actions deemed harmful and indicative of this immature logic, including COVID lockdowns, placing psychedelics in the same drug class as heroin, mandatory vaccine policies, and the Patriot Act. These actions are presented as causing harm, violating individual rights, and demonstrating a profound disconnect from the best interests of the public.

Bureaucratic Tyranny and Systemic Dysfunction

Dr. O’Brien portrays the legal and governmental systems as self-serving entities driven by the imperative of self-preservation and liability protection.

Prioritizing Employment and Liability

The author argues that the goal of public safety is, in practice, to “keep those that work for the government employed” and that professional systems “maintain liability (not science)”. This self-serving motivation, Dr. O’Brien contends, leads to “bureaucratic tyranny”, where institutional self-interest outweighs genuine public good. This internal focus on career and control leads to the creation of “tollbooths”, and DWI-like conditions, and unnecessary regulations, which then become barriers to genuine healing and citizen autonomy. These systems are thus seen as “addicted” to their own power and perpetuation, creating a cycle of dysfunction that actively works against the well-being and freedom of the citizens they ostensibly serve.

Corporate Control Over Professions

The shift from a “professional union to protect their members” to a “corporate association” is seen as a move towards control and away from collective member protection, further entrenching the “industrialized” model.

“Tollbooths” and Unnecessary Regulations (DWI Law-like structures)

State licensing is characterized as a “tollbooth that is funded by taxes”, implying unnecessary financial and bureaucratic hurdles that serve primarily to maintain control and generate revenue rather than to ensure quality or benefit the public. What are our taxes for again?

VII. Philosophical and Conceptual Underpinnings

Dr. O’Brien’s critique and proposed solutions are deeply rooted in specific philosophical and conceptual frameworks that challenge conventional understandings of mind, ethics, and reality.

The Body as the Unconscious

A core tenet of Dr. O’Brien’s philosophy is the assertion that “the body is the unconscious and memories physically become a part of us.” This perspective fundamentally challenges traditional views of the unconscious as a purely mental construct, instead positing an embodied, somatic understanding. As professions appear to be in a power and control dynamic, this would be a professional leveler.

Embodied Memory and Healing

If the body is the unconscious, then healing must necessarily involve embodied processes. O’Brien suggests that “the body knows the score” and can release “the score that the body knows” through processes like the release of DMT from the pineal gland. This implies that healing is a physical, experiential process, not merely a cognitive one. Traditional psychology and psychiatry, by neglecting the body’s central role in trauma and healing, are inherently limited and incomplete in their approach, leading to superficial or ineffective interventions.

Somatic Memory and Dissociation

This concept is further connected to “memory reconsolidation of somatic memory”. O’Brien argues that “people who have lived dissociatively in these states of consciousness are better prepared to guide people though them than those who have not been in these states”. This suggests that direct, embodied experience of dissociative states provides a unique and superior form of knowledge for guiding others through similar experiences.

Moral-Ethics vs. Legal-Ethics

Dr. O’Brien draws a sharp and critical distinction between what he terms “Moral-Ethics” and “Legal-Ethics”.

Conflict of Principles

He claims that licensed professionals are often forced to “obey their ethics but not their morals”, creating an “unethical” situation from a moral standpoint, especially “when the science is clear enough that you can watch it on Netflix or have ketamine legally delivered to your front door”. This highlights a deep ethical crisis within modern professionalism, where external rules can compel actions that conflict with an individual’s intrinsic moral compass. The consistent emphasis on this conflict implies a fundamental misalignment between the values of the system and genuine human well-being.

Unconscious Informed Consent

The concept of “unconscious informed consent” is introduced as a higher standard of consent. This implies that true agreement goes beyond mere legal forms to encompass a deeper, embodied understanding and willingness, which O’Brien suggests is often violated by systemic practices. When professionals prioritize external, legally mandated ethics over internal moral principles, it leads to actions that are perceived as morally bankrupt, contributing to public mistrust and perpetuating systemic harm. The current ethical frameworks of professions are thus seen as insufficient and potentially harmful, as they compel individuals to act against their moral compass, leading to internal conflict and systemic pathology.

The “1+1=3” Concept

The metaphor “1+1=3” is employed by O’Brien to critique the rigid, reductionist thinking prevalent in the systems he criticizes.

Critique of Binary Thinking

The author uses this metaphor to challenge a “binary world where one plus one can only equal two and multiplying by one produces a singularity”. This represents a rigid, simplistic mode of thought that fails to grasp complexity and nuance. This rigid, reductionist thinking, characteristic of the “industrialized” systems, leads to incomplete understanding, flawed diagnoses, and ineffective interventions because it fails to grasp the emergent properties and synergistic complexities of human experience and healing.

Advocacy for Multiplicity and Pluralism

The “3” in the equation signifies a call for embracing “multiplicity and pluralisms”, acknowledging that reality is more complex and synergistic than simplistic, linear logic allows. This applies to understanding human experience, healing, and societal dynamics, suggesting that a fundamental shift in how society thinks about and perceives reality—moving beyond simplistic, either/or frameworks—is necessary for true progress and healing.

The Power of Lived Experience

O’Brien consistently elevates “lived experience” as the most valuable form of knowledge, contrasting it sharply with traditional academic and professional credentials.

Superiority of Experiential Knowledge

The author states that lived experience is “more valuable in the real world”, arguing that academic degrees and professional training are merely “an expensive piece of paper helping them keep social order, helping them maintain liability (not science)”. This is a direct act of reclaiming agency from professional hegemony, asserting that personal suffering and transformation provide a superior form of knowledge.

Empowerment of the Marginalized

The document suggests that those traditionally marginalized or pathologized, such as “drug addicts”, possess crucial insights that established professionals lack. This perspective advocates for a reversal of traditional hierarchies of knowledge, implying that the suppression of lived experience by credentialed systems leads to a distorted understanding of reality and ineffective interventions. Genuine societal transformation, it is argued, requires a fundamental shift in power and authority, from institutional control to the wisdom of those who have directly experienced and overcome suffering, thereby challenging the very foundation of professional power structures.

VIII. Implications and Call to Action

Dr. O’Brien’s document synthesizes its extensive critique into broader implications, culminating in a powerful, albeit implicit, call for profound societal transformation.

Systemic Pathologies and the Need for Recovery

A central implication of O’Brien’s analysis is the pathologization of the very systems that claim to treat pathology.

Systems as “Dissociated and Addicted”

The author explicitly states that “psychiatry and its associated professions are living dissociated and addicted”. This is not merely a metaphor; it suggests that these systems exhibit the same dysfunctions they diagnose in individuals. They are characterized by “bureaucratic tyranny,” reliance on an “outdated and incomplete foundation,” and an “obsession over credentials”. The systems’ inherent flaws and self-serving motivations lead to a state of collective denial and dysfunction, which then perpetuates harm.

Call for Systemic Self-Reflection

Just as an individual in recovery must “admit you are wrong or that you do not know”, the author implies that the systems themselves need to undergo a similar process of self-awareness and accountability to begin healing. Genuine societal healing, therefore, cannot occur until the systems acknowledge their own pathologies and commit to a process of “recovery,” mirroring the individual journey of overcoming addiction.

The Role of Healers in Societal Transformation

Recovery Healers are presented not just as alternative practitioners, but as essential agents for guiding society through a necessary transformative process.

Guides for Collective “Death and Resurrection”

Healers are positioned as crucial figures for navigating a “national death and resurrection”, a profound societal transformation. They are described as “ferryman, a sherpa, a guide, a sitter, a holder, and a universal lover”, emphasizing their supportive, empathetic, and transformative role. This implies that traditional forms of leadership (political, medical, legal) are incapable of navigating the current societal crisis. The Healer’s unique blend of lived experience, moral clarity, and relational capacity makes them uniquely equipped to guide collective healing, which is fundamentally different from the control-oriented approach of existing systems. This suggests a radical re-imagining of leadership, where authority is derived from authentic human connection and transformative experience, rather than institutional power or academic credentials.

Empathy and Relational Healing

Healers possess the unique ability to “see both sides of the story and truly empathize with, related to, attune to, and heal with others” because they have “been there and come back”. This relational capacity is presented as a fundamental requirement for genuine healing, both individual and collective.

Challenges to Current Professional Standards

The document directly challenges the established professional standards and hierarchies of knowledge.

Re-education for MDs and Lawyers

Dr. O’Brien provocatively states that “MDs do not have to be trained in psychology (e.g., addiction)” and that “Psychiatry does not understand addiction”. He asserts that “someone must train them on addiction” and similarly, “the law also needs to be trained”. In a striking inversion of traditional knowledge hierarchies, he suggests that “The drug addicts” should be informing MDs and psychiatrists about psychedelics. This is a direct statement that lived experience provides a superior form of knowledge in these domains than formal academic training, implying that current educational standards are insufficient and perpetuate ignorance, leading to systemic failures.

Questioning Scope of Practice

The document challenges the scope of practice for various psychological professions, arguing that they are “not qualified to talk with someone on medication” or to understand dissociation and addiction without a Healer’s perspective. This suggests that their training is inadequate for the complexities of real-world healing.

Advocacy for Citizen Self-Determination

A powerful implication of Dr. O’Brien’s work is a strong advocacy for individual autonomy and sovereignty in matters of health and consciousness.

Right to Self-Medicate with “Superfoods”

The author frames self-medication with “superfoods” as a fundamental right in a “free country”, arguing it is a “God-given right to use them as we see fit to explore our own consciousness”. This directly challenges governmental and professional control over individual well-being and consciousness. When external systems dictate individual well-being and restrict access to natural healing agents, it infringes upon basic human rights and fosters dependency.

Rejection of External Authority

The document expresses disdain for needing “a permission slip from the profession that once declared these substances had ‘no medical value'” and questions why citizens should “blindly follow their lead”. This reflects a profound rejection of external authority in matters of personal health and spiritual growth, calling for citizens to reclaim their inherent power and wisdom, asserting their right to self-determination in matters of health and consciousness, thereby dismantling the “industrialized” system’s control.

IX. Conclusion

The document “Industrialized Psychiatry” culminates in a powerful and urgent message: the imperative for a fundamental paradigm shift away from what is characterized as an “industrialized” and “pathological” system towards a “Healer”-led, morally informed, and experientially grounded approach to well-being.

Reiteration of Central Message

The document concludes by reiterating its central critique: “psychiatry and its associated professions are living dissociated and addicted”. This state is characterized by “bureaucratic tyranny,” reliance upon an “outdated and incomplete foundation,” and an “obsession over credentials”. The DSM, despite being a source of professional pride, is highlighted for its continued failure to define key psychological concepts and its tendency to “pathologize the human experience” by labeling normal responses as diagnoses. Furthermore, it is asserted that professionals within this system prioritize “liability and regulation rather than moral-ethics, lived experience, and doing what is best for the client”.

The Healer’s Path and Systemic Accountability

The author re-emphasizes the unique role of Healers, stating that they “can do these things because they are not bound by manmade society or law; they walk alongside clients because they have already been there themselves”. This contrasts sharply with the historical criminalization and current monetization of psychedelics by the existing system, which is presented as further evidence of its ongoing pathology and its failure to learn from past mistakes. The continued denial and adherence to outdated paradigms will, it is argued, perpetuate suffering, while admitting flaws and embracing the “Healer” paradigm offers a path to genuine societal healing.

Call for Systemic Recovery

The document ends with a direct and challenging call to the psychiatric field, suggesting that “the first step to getting help is admitting you are wrong or that you do not know or that what you are doing is not working”. This implies that the system itself is in need of a recovery process, mirroring the individual journey of overcoming addiction. It asserts that “Healers know them and have answers” and extends an invitation to “walk the path with you to these truths”. This concluding statement serves as a prophetic warning and an invitation, urging a fundamental shift in values from control and profit to compassion and authentic well-being, suggesting that the very survival of “Western culture” depends on this transformation.

Executive Summary

This report provides a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of Adam O’Brien’s document, “Industrialized Psychiatry.” The central thesis of the document posits that contemporary mental health, medical, and legal systems operate under an “industrialized” paradigm that is fundamentally flawed, morally compromised, and actively detrimental to genuine healing. O’Brien, drawing heavily on his extensive personal and professional background, argues for a radical re-framing of mental health, addiction, and well-being, advocating for a “Healer” paradigm rooted in lived experience, moral fortitude, and relational engagement. The document critiques conventional psychiatry’s misconceptions of addiction and dissociation, its reliance on pharmaceutical interventions, and the professional incompetence and moral deficiencies perceived within its practitioners. Furthermore, it levels significant criticism against the legal and governmental systems, characterizing their actions as a “war on drugs” that criminalizes healing and knowledge, and as operating from a developmentally immature and self-serving logic. A core element of O’Brien’s argument is the re-classification of psychedelics as “superfoods” and natural agents of healing, contrasting them sharply with “industrialized drugs.” The report will explore the philosophical underpinnings of O’Brien’s critique, including the concept of the body as the unconscious, the distinction between moral-ethics and legal-ethics, and the rejection of binary thinking. Ultimately, the document serves as a powerful call for a fundamental paradigm shift, urging established systems to undergo a process of self-reflection and recovery, akin to an individual overcoming addiction, and to embrace a new leadership paradigm guided by Healers.

References

O’Brien, A. (2023a). Addiction as Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Phenomenological Investigation of the Addictive State. International University of Graduate Studies. (Dissertation). Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/courses/addiction-as-dissociation-model-course/

O’Brien, A. (2023b). Memory Reconsolidation in Psychedelics Therapy. In Path of the Wounded Healer: A Dissociative-Focused Phase Model for Normative and Pathological States of Consciousness: Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/courses/addiction-as-dissociation-model-course/

O’Brien, A. (2023c). Path of the Wounded Healer: A Dissociative-Focused Phase Model for Normative and Pathological States of Consciousness: Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2024a). Healer and Healing: The re-education of the healer and healing professions as an advocation. Re-educational and Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2024e). Path of the Wounded Healers for Thrivers: Perfectionism, Altruism, and Ambition Addictions; Re-education and training manual for Abusers, Activists, Batterers, Bullies, Enablers, Killers, Narcissists, Offenders, Parents, Perpetrators, and Warriors. Re-Education and Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2025). American Made Addiction Recovery: a healer’s journey through professional recovery. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/