Dr Shevaugn Johnson is originally from Canada, where she trained as a surgical and mental health nurse and obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology with honours. In 2016 Dr Johnson was awarded the Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to study a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology, graduating in May of 2019. She specialised in the research of body dysmorphic disorder, winning two higher degree research publication awards. Throughout the completion of her Doctorate, Dr Johnson developed a special interest in the use of psychedelics to alleviate symptoms of mental health problems.
Drawing upon a Canadian database, she is currently collaborating with North American researchers to replicate a 2015 population-based study, which found that lifetime use of classic psychedelics predicted lower suicidality and psychological distress. Currently employed as a nurse and clinical psychologist at PsychMed, Dr Johnson has been collaborating with the Program Director, Dr Quentin Black, to publish case reports of individuals who claimed to have benefited from their use of psychedelics. Moreover, she is currently working on a protocol for psychedelic-assisted therapy in South Australia; she plans to work in the field of psychedelic psychotherapy, with the long-term goal of targeting populations with body image disturbance.