Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
Gabe Charalambides doesn’t fit the stereotype of a psychedelic pioneer. A former NASA-trained engineer, he spent years immersed in the world of science and precision before turning his focus to psilocybin therapy. His company, Odyssey, is among the first licensed providers of psilocybin services in the U.S., where state-regulated models in Oregon and Colorado are opening the door for broader therapeutic use.
Charalambides says the pivot wasn’t just professional; it was deeply personal. “Psychedelics first helped me with my own mental health and sparked a fascination with the human mind,” he explains. “I realized improving mental health is the mission I feel most called to pursue, and psychedelics are one of the most powerful tools we have.”
A Personal Spark Meets Scientific Validation
His conviction grew not only from lived experience but also from a growing body of research. Studies from Johns Hopkins, NYU, and other leading institutions show that psilocybin, in structured settings, can reduce depression, anxiety, and even addiction, sometimes after just a single guided session.
“Reading the research only reinforced what I already felt,” Charalambides says. “The science is compelling, but what struck me most was how many participants described these sessions as among the most meaningful experiences of their lives.”
That combination of personal healing and scientific backing convinced him that psychedelics could move far beyond underground culture and reshape how America approaches mental health.
From Counterculture to Clinics
For decades, psilocybin has carried the baggage of counterculture, but Charalambides believes that’s changing quickly. “I’m constantly surprised at how open people are,” he says. Books like How to Change Your Mindand ongoing research at Harvard, Stanford, and other notable institutions have begun shifting public perception.
Odyssey, like other licensed providers, is working to ensure these experiences happen in a regulated, professional environment. “Once people have these sessions, they often share them with family and friends. That ripple effect is powerful. In five to ten years, psychedelics could feel far more normalized than ever before.”
Clearing Up Misconceptions
Despite growing acceptance, misconceptions persist. The biggest? That psilocybin is a cure-all. “It’s not a silver bullet,” Charalambides says. “It creates an opening—relief, perspective, possibility—but sustaining that requires ongoing effort and integration.”
Another point of confusion is microdosing. While popular in Silicon Valley and beyond, Charalambides emphasizes that microdosing doesn’t yet have strong scientific evidence behind it. “What we do is not microdosing,” he clarifies. “Psilocybin therapy is centered on macrodosing—guided, immersive sessions that can create lasting transformation.”
How It Compares to Traditional Treatment
Psilocybin therapy differs sharply from conventional treatments like SSRIs. Instead of daily pills that manage symptoms, psilocybin involves just a handful of guided sessions designed to address root causes. Sessions are paired with talk therapy, which often accelerates breakthroughs that might otherwise take years.
“It brings people face-to-face with their challenges,” Charalambides says. “That can be hard, but it’s also what makes the healing profound.”
Who Benefits Most
Research has shown promise across depression, PTSD, and end-of-life anxiety. But Charalambides notes that the most dramatic impact often comes when a person’s struggles are tied to a specific life event. “Maybe it’s childhood trauma, a divorce, or a health scare. Psilocybin can help shift those individuals in a significant way.”
By contrast, those with treatment-resistant depression unlinked to specific causes may find the outcomes less consistent. “They hope for a cure, but it often doesn’t work that way, which can be disappointing.”
A Spark of Aliveness
For Charalambides, the stories that resonate most aren’t the rare overnight transformations, but the quieter, enduring ones. He recalls a woman in her 70s who had struggled with depression for decades. After her first psilocybin session, she emailed him: “There is such aliveness that has been kindled inside of me.”
“That sentence captures it perfectly,” he says. “These experiences can bring back a spark of life—and that can change the trajectory of someone’s future.”
Beyond Mental Health
Psilocybin’s potential may not stop at clinical treatment. Charalambides believes it could also play a role in broader wellness and performance. “If you think of mental health on a spectrum from illness to flourishing, psychedelics can help shift anyone toward greater well-being,” he says.
For readers curious about resilience, focus, or simply unlocking new levels of connection and joy, psilocybin might soon become part of the conversation. “There’s almost nothing else you can do in a single day that has the power to so meaningfully change your life,” Charalambides says.
