Matt Xavier: From Psychedelic DJ to Therapeutic Innovator

Richard Zwicky welcomed Matt Xavier , detailing his diverse career path, from DJing in rave culture and running a record label to becoming an addiction counselor and, eventually, a practitioner of psychedelic-assisted therapy, emphasizing how all his experiences, including waitering, contributed to his current role. Matt defines music as an "active co-therapist," explaining its role in therapeutic settings by softening defenses and guiding clients through emotional experiences, with his DJing background informing his "psychedelic soundtracking" and real-time music curation. Matt also highlighted the importance of instrumental music over vocals to avoid imposing narratives and discussed how he prepares clients for emotional responses to music, shifting to neutral tracks when clients are overstimulated. He advised aspiring practitioners to acquire a deep understanding of psychology and counseling modalities, cautioning against those who lack foundational therapeutic knowledge.