Dr Simon Ruffell

Simon Ruffell is a Lecturer in Psychology and Psychedelics at the University of Exeter. He trained in psychiatry as a medical doctor and holds a PhD in research psychology examining ayahuasca use and mental health in Amazonian contexts. His research explores psychedelic-assisted interventions, psychological integration processes, and the cultural and ethical dimensions of plant medicine use.

Alongside his academic training, he has undertaken long-term study of Shipibo-Konibo healing practices in the Peruvian Amazon. This experience informs his work on decolonial and culturally responsive approaches to psychology, with particular attention to how Indigenous knowledge systems conceptualise mental health, healing, and relational wellbeing.

His work draws on clinical, qualitative, and interdisciplinary methods to examine the interface between Western psychiatry and Indigenous medical systems. His research activity includes collaborative projects with academic institutions, non-profit partners, and Indigenous-led organisations exploring naturalistic ayahuasca use and the translation of emerging evidence into clinically, culturally, and ethically informed frameworks.