Richards, William A.
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1940
Biographical Information
William A. Richards is a clinical psychologist at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is a pioneer in researching the therapeutic effects of psychedelic substances, with a career that spans more than five decades. His graduate work includes a Master’s in Divinity from the Yale Divinity School (1965), Master of Sacred Theology from the Andover-Newton Theology School (1966), and a PhD in Counseling from Catholic University in Washington, DC (1975). He studied with Abraham Maslow at Brandeis University and with Hanscarl Leuner at the University of Göttingen (Germany), which initiated his interest in psychedelic research in 1963. From 1967 until 1977, he carried out psychotherapy research with psychedelics at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, alongside colleagues Stanislav Grof, Walter Pahnke, Sanford Unger, Charles Savage, and others. This research investigated the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in the treatment of alcoholism, depression, narcotic addiction, and in the psychological distress associated with terminal cancer. He was a member of the psychology faculty of Antioch University in Maryland from 1977 until 1981. In 1999, with Roland Griffiths, Robert Jesse, and Una McCann, he was instrumental in ushering in a new era of psychedelic research, embarking on a study that resulted in the landmark article “Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance,” which was published in the journal Psychopharmacology in 2006. This was the first rigorously designed, placebo controlled clinical study in more than four decades to examining the therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin, and thus, opened the door to a new era of psychedelic research. In addition to his appointment at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Richards is Chief Therapist for Sunstone Therapies at the Aquilino Cancer Center in Rockville, Maryland. He is a trainer and consultant for psychedelic training programs internationally and is closely involved with the Program of Psychedelic Therapy and Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Citation
Winkelman, Michael J. and Thomas B. Roberts (eds.). Psychedelic Medicine: New Evidence for Hallucinogenic Substances as Treatments. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers, 2007.Citation
William Richards, PhD. Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Accessed May 2, 2023. https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/richardsCitation
Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research 2022. Accessed May 15, 2023 https://icpr-conference.com/speakers/bill-richards/Citation
MSO 1, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program collection, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.Found in 21 Collections and/or Records:
Articles, 1966 - 1980
File — Box: 1, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 67, File 2
Scope and Contents
This file contains "Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism" by Walter N. Pahnke and William A. Richards, "LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy with Terminal Cancer Patients" by Walter H. Pahnke, M.D., Ph.D. Albert A. Kurland, M.D., Louis E. Goodman, M.D., and William A. Richards, S.T.M. (Psychology), "Psychedelic Drug-Assisted Psychotherapy with Persons Suffering from Terminal Cancer" by William A. Richards, "DPT as an Adjunct in Brief Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients" by William A. Richards,...
Dates:
1966 - 1980
"Dipropltyptamine (DPT) as an Adjunct in the Counseling of Cancer Patients", undated
File — Box: 1, Folder: 1
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 1, Sub-Series 1, File 5
Scope and Contents
Co-authored with William A. Richards, John C. Rhead, Louis E. Goodman, Francesco DiLeo, and Albert A. Kurland. Signature on first page.
Dates:
undated
"DPT as an Adjunct in Psychotherapy of Alcoholics," International Pharmacopsychiatry, Vol. 8, 1973
Item — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 1, Sub-Series 2, Item 17
Scope and Contents
Co-authored with R.A. Soskin, W.A. Richards and A.A. Kurland. Three copies, one in Box 1 and two in Box 20.
Dates:
1973
Grof, Stanislav et al. "DPT as an Adjunct in Psychotherapy of Alcoholics." Presented at the Collegium International Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, Copenhagen, Denmark, August 14 - 17, 1972
Item — Box: 6, Folder: 3
Identifier: MSP 70, Series 4, File 3, Item 5
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
Contains manuscripts and undated manuscripts documenting Savage’s research, as well as miscellaneous manuscripts possibly created by Savage, his patients, or his colleagues. Materials are arranged chronologically when possible. Undated materials are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name.
Dates:
August 14 - 17, 1972
Harvard Research Group materials, 1962 - 1976
File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 67, File 7
Scope and Contents
This file includes two folders that consist of materials related to Timothy Leary's Research Group at Harvard University in addition to the International Federation for Internal Freedom (IFIF) and the League for Spiritual Discovery. Materials include the text of a lecture by Timothy Leary; articles, reprints, photocopies about or authored by Timothy Leary and other colleagues; Research Program on Consciousness- Altering Substances, Newsletter No. 1, February 1962; International Federation for...
Dates:
1962 - 1976
“Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism” by Walter N. Pahnke and William A. Richards, (Photocopy of a reprint from the Journal of Religion and Health, Volume 5, Number 3), 1966
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 69, File 2, Item 6
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Sanford Unger papers (1961-1974; 0.2 cubic feet) contains writings exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances. The collection also contains the correspondence between Aldous and Laura Huxley and Sanford Unger, and an excerpt from the 1966 CBS Reports feature, “LSD The Spring Grove Experiment.”
Dates:
1966
Lenox, John R. and William A. Richards. An Experimental Mysticism Scale. (photocopy of typed manuscript), undated
Item — Box: 7, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 12, Item 13
Scope and Contents
Photocopied handwritten editorial notes throughout.
Dates:
undated
"LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy and the Human Encounter with Death," The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Vol. 2, 1972
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 1, Sub-Series 2, Item 52
Scope and Contents
Co-authored with William Richards
Dates:
1972
Ralph Metzner collection
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 56
Abstract
This collection contains articles and publications collected by Ralph Metzner that explore different aspects of the progression of psychoactive substance research, including scientific research, politics, and religion.
Dates:
1958 - 2008; Majority of material found within 1960 - 1990
Myron Stolaroff memorial celebration program
Unprocessed — Box: Box 1
Identifier: 20140311
Dates:
2013
Pahnke, Walter and William Richards. "Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism," Journal of Religion and Health. Vol. 5, No. 3, July 1966
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 21
Scope and Contents
Two copies, one reprint and one photocopy.
Dates:
July 1966
William Richards collection on Walter Pahnke
Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSP 68
Scope and Contents
The William Richards Collection on Walter Pahnke (1952-1972; 0.2 cubic feet) contains materials collected and donated by William Richards that document the life and work of his close colleague, Walter Pahnke. It includes some of Pahnke's important academic writings, copies of personal manuscripts, some biographical information, writings by his wife (Eva Sontum Pahnke), and materials memorializing his untimely passing.
Dates:
1950 - 2009; Majority of material found within 1964 - 1971
Richards, William A. and Margret Berendes. "LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy and Dynamics of Creativity: A Case Report," Journal of Altered States of Consciousness. Vol. 3, No. 2 (reprint), 1977 - 1978
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 5
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 17, Item 16
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Dates:
1977 - 1978
Richards, William A., et al. "DPT as an Adjunct in Brief Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients," OMEGA. Vo. 10, No. 1 (reprint), 1979
Item — Box: 20, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 17, Item 15
Scope and Contents
Three copies.
Dates:
1979
Richards, William A., John C. Rhead, Francesco B. DiLeo, et al. "The Peak Experience Variable in DPT-Assisted Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients." Journal of Psychedelic Drugs 9, no. 1, January - March 1977
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 5
Identifier: MSP 56, File 5, Item 13
Scope and Contents
Photocopy. This article is available electronically in the database JSTOR.
Dates:
January - March 1977
Richards, William A., John C. Rhead, Stanislav Grof, et al. "DPT as an Adjunct in Brief Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients." Omega 10, no. 1, 1979
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 5
Identifier: MSP 56, File 5, Item 14
Scope and Contents
Reprint.
Dates:
1979
Richards, William A. "Mystical and Archetypal Experiences of Terminal Patients in DPT-Assisted Psychotherapy." Journal of Religion and Health 17, no. 2 , 1978
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 5
Identifier: MSP 56, File 5, Item 12
Scope and Contents
Reprint. This article is available electronically in the database JSTOR.
Dates:
1978
Richards, William. "Entheogens in the Study of Religious Experiences: Current Status," Journal of Religion and Health. Vol. 44, No. 4 (reprint), Winter 2005
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 5
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 17, Item 17
Scope and Contents
Handwritten note from Richards to Grof on front page.
Dates:
Winter 2005
William Richards papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 67
Scope and Contents
The William Richards papers is a collection of articles and article reprints written by William Richards and other colleagues including Stanislav Grof and Walter Pahnke. The articles discuss the use of LSD, DPT, psilocybin, and other psychedelics for treating terminal cancer patients and alcoholism, as well as for the study of religious and spiritual experiences. A collection of writings and clippings related to Timothy Leary and his research at Harvard University are also included. There is...
Dates:
1962 - 2014
Richards, William. "The Rebirth of Research with Entheogens: Lessons from the Past and Hypotheses for the Future," The Journal of Tanspersonal Psychology. Vol. 41, No. 2 (reprint), 2009
Item — Box: 20, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 17, Item 17
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Dates:
2009
Soskin, Robert A., Stanislav Grof, and William A. Richards. "Low Doses of Dipropyltryptamine in Psychotherapy," Arch. Gen. Psychiatry. Vol. 28 (reprint), June 1973
Item — Box: 20, Folder: 5
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 18, Item 85
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Dates:
June 1973