Sunstone Therapies

04/29/2026

The relationship and trust between a participant and their care team is the foundation of everything we do at Sunstone.

04/24/2026

Nearly 1 in 4 cancer patients experience major depression, and for many, it goes undertreated alongside their medical care.

Our first psilocybin therapy study enrolled cancer patients with major depression at our Rockville clinic. The results, published in two peer-reviewed journals, showed meaningful and lasting improvement in both depression and anxiety from a single dose.

Sunstone Therapies is continuing this research. To learn more about our current clinical trials, visit https://www.sunstonetherapies.com/clinical-trials/

04/21/2026

What makes a good psychedelic-assisted therapist?

For Rachel Winzer, our Therapist Program Director, it comes back to one word: grounded. Grounded in the research and how these medicines actually work, grounded in their own ongoing learning and supervision, and patient enough to sit with someone through a long session without rushing toward an answer.

So much of what happens in a dosing session is quiet. The therapist's role is to be a steady presence in the room, someone comfortable with not knowing exactly where things are headed, and trusted enough that the person they're sitting with can let their guard down. That's the kind of care our team carefully trains for.

04/15/2026

A serious diagnosis changes more than a body. It changes how a person moves through their days, what they think about in quiet moments, how they sit with the people they love, what they hope for and what they grieve.

A lot of that emotional undercurrent goes unspoken.There isn't always a name for it, and it doesn't always look like what we picture when we think of someone struggling. It's quieter than that, and it tends to live underneath everything else.

This is what Sunstone was built to sit with — what a person is carrying on the inside, in the middle of everything else they're going through.

So much of what an illness asks of a person happens below the surface of the iceberg. We think that part deserves care too.

04/06/2026

One afternoon at Sunstone, a table got covered in paint, brushes, and river rocks. Through a program called Kindness Rocks, our team painted stones that live in our treatment rooms.

Each one carries something a little different, because the people who sit in those rooms do too.

04/02/2026

When someone receives a cancer diagnosis, the medical response moves quickly—appointments, imaging, labs, and treatment plans. There is often very little space to address how the diagnosis itself has reshaped a person’s emotional life.

Dr. Manish Agrawal, CEO and Principal Investigator at Sunstone Therapies, observed this pattern throughout his years in oncology. Patients would complete treatment and, by clinical measures, be doing well. But many described feeling disconnected from their lives, their relationships, and their sense of purpose. It’s something he has seen across all stages of cancer, including long-term survivorship.

This experience, known as adjustment disorder, is a recognized clinical diagnosis. Today, there are no FDA-approved treatments specifically for it.

On Empowered Patient Radio, Dr. Agrawal discusses why he founded Sunstone Therapies, how adjustment disorder presents in clinical practice, and how the Rekindle Phase 2 trial is studying whether psychedelic-assisted therapy may offer a new approach.

🎧 Listen here: https://empoweredpatientradio.com/psychedelic-treatment-for-adjustment-disorder-in-cancer-patients-with-greg-mayes-reunion-neuroscience-and-dr-manish-agrawal-sunstone-therapies

03/25/2026

If someone you love is considering psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), you might be wondering what your role looks like.

You may have questions. About safety, what the process involves, or how to support someone through something that may feel unfamiliar.

That’s a very natural place to be. And the fact that you’re thinking about it already says a lot.

Here are a few things we’ve seen help families and loved ones along the way:

1. Learn alongside them.
Even a basic understanding of how the therapy works can make conversations easier. You don’t need to have all the answers, just being open to learning together can go a long way.

2. Ask how they’d like to be supported.
Some people want to talk things through. Others need a little more space. What someone needs may shift over time, and checking in matters more than getting it perfect.

3. Remember that the process unfolds over time.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy includes preparation, the session itself, and integration afterward. The days and weeks that follow can bring reflection, emotion, and change. Often, patience and presence matter more than the right words.

4. Trust the care team.
At Sunstone, every participant is supported by trained therapists and clinical staff throughout the process. Your person isn’t going through it alone.

And just as importantly, take care of yourself too.

Supporting someone through a meaningful experience can also bring up your own feelings. That’s a normal part of being close to someone going through something significant.

You can learn more about PAT and our process here:

Explore M**A, DMT, and psilocybin therapy in a safe, physician-led setting. Clinical trials open for cancer, PTSD, trauma, and depression.

03/18/2026

If you or someone you care about is exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy, one of the first questions that might come up is: what does the process actually look like?

One of the things we hear most from families is that they're surprised by how much preparation and support occur before the dosing session(s).

Eloise Cherian, part of our clinical care team, walks through what beginning steps look like.

03/17/2026

“This is a normal response to a devastating experience.”

When someone receives a cancer diagnosis, so much attention understandably goes to the medical side of things: appointments, treatments, and decisions about care.

But the emotional impact of a diagnosis deserves attention, too.

For some people, the stress and upheaval that follow can lead to something called adjustment disorder. It may show up as feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward after life has suddenly changed.

Many people experience this without realizing that what they’re feeling is both common and understandable.

Our CEO and co-founder, Dr. Manish Agrawal, recently spoke with Great Day Washington about why recognizing this emotional toll matters and why opening up to the people around you can be an important step.

Support can take many forms, from talking with loved ones to working with a therapist to exploring clinical research, such as the Rekindle study Sunstone is enrolling as a study site for Reunion Neuroscience, Inc..

Sometimes simply knowing that support and options exist can make the next step feel a little more possible.

03/08/2026

Psychedelic treatment shows promise for veterans, but its success relies on coordination:
• skilled providers
• informed patients, and
• systems built for continuity and safety.

Learn how this integrated approach can help ensure responsible adoption.

Read the full feature in Psychology Today: https://www.sunstonetherapies.com/how-psychedelic-treatment-could-transform-veteran-care/

03/05/2026

There’s a growing conversation about psychedelics and mental health.

Many people come to us with questions about how psychedelic-assisted therapy actually works, what the research shows, what’s happening in the brain, and how the therapeutic process fits alongside the medicine.

This article walks through those questions in a clear, research-informed way.

If you or someone you care about is looking for a grounded place to begin, this is a helpful starting point: https://www.sunstonetherapies.com/how-do-psychedelic-treatments-work-webmd/

11/13/2025

Announcing Talk Therapy with Sunstone Therapies!

We're excited to launch a new way to experience our compassionate, trauma-informed care outside of clinical trials.
We recognize that healing is often nonlinear, and we approach symptoms not just as problems to be fixed, but as part of your unique history. Our approach is grounded in clinical integrity and a deep respect for the human capacity to recover, reconnect, and grow.

Why Choose a Sunstone Therapist?

✔️ Trauma-Informed Expertise: Our team takes a trauma informed approach to your care. Our therapists specialize in understanding how challenging experiences can impact every part of a person's life.

✔️ Creating Safety: We are committed to fostering an environment built on trust, helping create a secure base so you can explore your experiences without fear of judgment.

✔️ Process-Oriented: We embrace ambiguity and the journey of healing, supporting you to explore your own meaning without imposing a predetermined narrative. We work with you to identify actionable steps to help improve your life and circumstances.

Learn more and schedule your consultation: https://www.sunstonetherapies.com/talk-therapy/