Welcome to Between Calls, your weekly dose of hand-picked stories from the worlds of digital marketing, wellness and science. Blending commerce, consciousness and curiosity Between Calls brings you insights to make you think and think again.

This week, we explore three fascinating topics. First, discover how smart hashtag strategies can elevate your social media presence and help you join the global conversation with ease. Next, we delve into the emerging realm of psychedelic therapy, a groundbreaking approach that is redefining mental health treatment through controlled, transformative experiences. Finally, we unravel the mystery of sensing an unseen presence, a phenomenon that challenges our understanding of perception and the brain’s intricate workings. So, we have hashtags, psychedelics and an unseen presence this week. Happy Reading!

To hashtag or not to hashtag, what would it be? On social media I would do the former than the latter. Today hashtags are more than just trendy symbols; they’re powerful tools to connect your content to broader conversations. Keep in mind that adding 1537 trending hashtags to every post will not work.

Read this guide which walks you through the basics of what hashtags are, why they work, and the dos and don’ts of using them across every social network. Learn how to balance popular, relevant and branded hashtags to boost engagement and expand your reach without falling into the trap of overuse. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, mastering hashtags can transform your social strategy.

Can a controlled psychedelic trip help heal the mind? It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel or a hippie dream, but the latest research on psychedelics is turning heads in the medical community. This innovative approach uses substances like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA not to induce hallucinations for their own sake, but to help patients confront trauma, alleviate depression and spark neuroplasticity.

In controlled settings with professional support, psychedelic-assisted therapy is showing rapid, lasting benefits for mental health, offering a promising alternative to traditional treatments. This is a fast-evolving field and has a lot of potential to revolutionize mental health.

Have you ever felt that someone was with you even when no one was around? This phenomenon, known as felt presence, happens when your mind misaligns expectation with reality especially in moments of stress, isolation or sensory confusion. Recent research reveals that our brains sometimes generate a phantom presence when expectations aren’t met.

Drawing on accounts from explorers and insights from modern neuroscience, this piece examines how disruptions in neural pathways, especially in the temporoparietal junction which can trick our senses into perceiving a presence. It’s a captivating look at how our minds construct reality, sometimes filling in the gaps with the unseen. This is my pick of the week, and a riveting read.

As a leading psychotherapist specializing in psychedelic assisted therapy, create a comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide to the emerging field of psychedelic therapy. Define psychedelic therapy and explain its current applications in mental health, including treatment for depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders. Break down the different psychedelic medicines being researched and their unique therapeutic mechanisms using accessible analogies. Explore the therapeutic process, from preparation and screening to integration practices, emphasizing the importance of set, setting, and professional guidance. Address common misconceptions about psychedelic therapy and clarify the distinctions between clinical use and recreational consumption. Maintain an informative, balanced tone throughout, neither sensationalizing nor dismissing the potential benefits and risks. Your goal is to provide readers with a thorough understanding of psychedelic therapy as an emerging treatment modality, making complex neurobiological and psychological concepts accessible while emphasizing safety, ethical considerations, and the importance of proper therapeutic contexts.