Introduction

Abstract

At the same time and place that Ken Kesey became introduced to hallucinogenic drugs, I did a postdoctoral in clinical psychology. It seemed a good institution, as large mental hospitals go, and there is no doubt that most of the staff were very good; and some were—are—outstanding psychologists. For the first few months, I was assigned to work on an “open ward,” where, for the most part, the patients were considered to be in fairly good remission—not acting crazy. My training consisted mainly of acting as co-therapist with an experienced psychologist in small groups which were designed to prepare patients for the move from the hospital to an acceptable arrangement in the outside world.