A Danish psychologist in Stevns Kommune received severe criticism from Styrelsen for Patientklager for using psychedelic mushrooms twice with a suicidal client being treated for sexual assault. The patient received full vindication on all complaint points, including substandard treatment and grossly inadequate record keeping.
Lærke Marie Rebekkan Trunjé works as a psychologist in Strøby Ladeplads under Stevns Kommune. She decided that psychedelic mushrooms were an appropriate therapeutic intervention for a client at risk of suicide who was recovering from sexual assault. She was wrong on every count, according to Denmark’s patient complaint authority.
The patient filed a formal complaint. Styrelsen for Patientklager sided with the patient completely. The treatment fell significantly below professional standards, the authority found. The record keeping was particularly deficient.
Two Sessions, No Safety Net
The psychologist administered the mushrooms twice during the treatment process. As reported by local media, Trunjé considered this an intentional therapeutic approach. The patient experienced something else entirely.
I have covered Danish healthcare controversies for years. This one stands out for its recklessness. A suicidal patient undergoing trauma therapy is among the most vulnerable people a psychologist will ever treat. The decision to introduce an unregulated psychedelic substance into that context shows staggering misjudgment.
Psychedelic therapy has gained research momentum across Europe. Clinical trials in the Netherlands and UK explore psilocybin for depression and trauma. Those studies operate under strict protocols with medical oversight, screening procedures, and emergency support. None of that appears to have been present in Stevns Kommune.
Where Denmark Draws the Line
Denmark maintains strict narcotics regulations. Psychedelic mushrooms fall clearly on the illegal side of that line. Therapeutic use requires specific authorization, clinical trial frameworks, and institutional backing. A solo psychologist cannot simply decide to experiment with controlled substances because they believe it might help.
The criticism from Styrelsen for Patientklager was not mild. The language used indicates serious professional violations. When a patient complaint authority describes record keeping as particularly deficient alongside treatment that falls well below standards, it signals potential consequences for the practitioner’s license.
Stevns Kommune has not issued any public statement about the case. Trunjé herself has not responded publicly through available media channels. The silence is notable given the severity of the findings.
What This Means for Vulnerable Patients
The case raises uncomfortable questions about oversight of individual psychology practices in Denmark. Most psychologists operate ethically and within established boundaries. But the system depends partly on self-regulation and patient complaints to catch violations.
This patient was brave enough to file a complaint despite being in an extremely vulnerable position. Many would not. The power dynamic between therapist and client creates natural barriers to reporting. When someone is suicidal and seeking help, challenging their therapist’s methods requires enormous strength.
Denmark has strong patient protection mechanisms through Styrelsen for Patientklager. The system worked in this case. The patient received full vindication. But the question remains how many sessions occurred before the complaint was filed, and whether earlier intervention might have been possible.
The Alternative Therapy Problem
Interest in alternative and experimental therapies continues growing. Some approaches have merit and evidence behind them. Others do not. The line between innovation and recklessness matters enormously when dealing with mental health crises.
Psychedelic research may eventually produce approved treatments. That future possibility does not justify unauthorized experimentation on vulnerable patients today. Clinical trials exist precisely to establish safety and efficacy before general therapeutic use.
The physiotherapy sector recently saw proposals for easier access to treatment. Mental health services need clearer guidelines too, particularly around alternative methods. When a psychologist can administer illegal psychedelic substances to a suicidal patient without immediate detection, the regulatory framework has gaps.
Denmark prides itself on healthcare quality. That reputation requires constant vigilance. This case from Stevns Kommune shows what happens when professional standards collapse. The patient complaint system caught it eventually. Prevention would have been better.
Sources and References
TV2: Psykolog tog svampe med klient
The Danish Dream: Niels Ryberg Finsen pioneer in phototherapy
The Danish Dream: ALK Abello A S
The Danish Dream: Physiotherapy in Denmark could get easier with new proposal
