Lt. Sarko Gergerian Joins Body of Wonder to Discuss Psychedelics, Policing, and First Responder Mental Health
How can we better support the people who respond to crisis—and bring greater compassion into the systems responsible for care?
SoundMind Institute’s Co-Program Director, Lt. Sarko Gergerian, joins Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes on Body of Wonder for a conversation about psychedelics, policing, and first responder mental health. He also discusses what makes SoundMind’s approach to psychedelic facilitator education unique.
Connecting Public Safety and Community Care
As a Massachusetts police lieutenant, clinical mental health counselor, and co-founder of Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR), Sarko brings perspectives from both law enforcement and mental health care.
Throughout the episode, he discusses the trauma first responders can experience, his criticism of the war on drugs, and his advocacy for legal access to psychedelic care. He also describes CLEAR’s work connecting people with community support.
The conversation raises questions that reach beyond policing: What responsibilities do we have when we recognize someone’s suffering? How can institutions respond with greater understanding? And what does it take to support the people who support others?
What Makes SoundMind’s Approach Unique
Near the end of the episode, Sarko discusses SoundMind Institute, founded by Dr. Hannah McLane, and what he values about its training. He highlights the program’s engagement with Western science, Indigenous wisdom, and sacredness—describing an educational approach that holds these perspectives in relationship.
For readers considering facilitator education, his comments offer a starting point for exploring SoundMind’s approach and the perspectives that inform its training.
Watch the Conversation
Hear Sarko’s perspective on first responder care, community responsibility, and what makes SoundMind’s educational approach unique.
