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Gary Fisher
Photo by Jon Hanna, December 2010
Gary Fisher
Nancy before her psychedelic treatment.
Photographer unknown, early 1962
Gary Fisher
Gary and Nancy, after five treatments.
Photographer unknown, August 1962
Erowid Character Vaults
Gary Fisher
Summary
Born in Canada, Gary Fisher was a psychologist who did pioneering work with LSD and psilocybin at a Southern California hospital in the late 1950s and early 1960s treating children who suffered from schizophrenia and autism. The children ranged in age from as young as four years old up to nearly thirteen years old. Although not all of the subjects responded positively to treatment, many did and there were a number of remarkable successes. One such case was his first patient, Nancy, who was wasting away, incoherent, suicidal, and had to be kept in restraints at all times (see middle photo). She underwent eleven psychedelic treatments over the course of less than a year, and got well enough that she was able to attend school at the hopital (see bottom photo). Fisher's work with psychedelics and children came to an end in late 1962, when he was no longer able to obtain LSD legally.

For a short while, Fisher and his family traveled with Timothy Leary, as Leary attempted to locate an overseas location to set up a psychedelic research facility. Fisher also did work at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center treating cancer patients who had intractable pain with LSD, helping them to psychologically prepare for death. Gary was also an accomplished artist, and he credited some of his inspiration to his use of psychedelics.

Author of (Book Chapters)
  • "Treating the Untreatable", in Higher Wisdom: Eminent Elders Explore the Continuing Impact of Psychedelics [edited by Charles S. Grob and Roger Walsh] (2005)
  • Author of (Articles)
  • A list of journal articles, reprints, and unpublished papers complied by Gary Fisher, including a few additional papers by others, donated to the Albert Hofmann Foundation (Dec 1992)
  • "A Note of the Successful Outcome of a Single Dose LSD Experience in a Patient Suffering from Grand Mal Epilepsy" The Albert Hofmann Foundation (2000)
  • "Counter-Transference Issues in Psychedelic Psychotherapy". MAPS Bulletin, 10(2):4 (2000)
  • "Successful Outcome of a Single LSD Treatment in a Chronically Dysfunctional Man". MAPS Bulletin, 9(2):11-14 (1999)
  • "Treatment of Childhood Schizophrenia Utilizing LSD and Psilocybin". MAPS Bulletin, 7(3):18-25 (1997)
  • "The Psycholytic Treatment of a Childhood Schizophrenic Girl". International Journal of Social Psychiatry (London), 16(2):112-130 (1970)
  • "The Psychotherapeutic Use of Psychodysleptic Drugs" [with J. Martin]. Voices: The Art and Science of Psychotherapy, (5):69-72 (1970)
  • "Psychotherapy for the Dying: Principles and Illustrative Cases with Special Reference to the Use of LSD". Omega, (1):3-16 (1970)
  • "Death, Identity and Creativity". Voices: Art and Science of Psychotherapy, (5):36-39 (1969)
  • "Psychedelic Drug Usage: Psychological and Socio-Political Considerations". California School Health 4:40-54 (1968)
  • "Drugs and Psychological Sequelae--Problems and Interventive Measures". Comments given at the L.A. County Mental Health Department's Conference on Problems of Disaffiliated Youth, Sept 18, 1967
  • "Loneliness". Voices: Art and Science of Psychotherapy, (3):34-35 (1967)
  • "An Investigation to Determine Therapeutic Effectiveness of LSD-25 and Psilocybin on Hospitalized Severely Emotionally Disturbed Children" [with D. Castile] (1963)
  • "Some Comments Concerning Dosage Levels of Psychedelic Compounds for Psychotherapeutic Experiences". Psychedelic Rev., (1):208-18 (1963)