Lucy da Silva is a recovering addict, now 10 years clean, whose passion for helping others was sparked after her own profound experience with psychedelics in a healing context five years ago. Following this life-changing event, she pursued extensive training in both traditional shamanic settings and clinical environments, delivering psychedelic therapy. Her journey led her to specialise in ketamine-assisted therapy, and she achieved full certification in early 2023. This week, she launched Silva Wellness, a new treatment centre offering innovative therapies for mental health.
Lucy holds an MSc in psychotherapy and is a member of several professional bodies, including the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP). Her expertise covers a wide range of conditions, including PTSD, eating disorders, addictions, depression, anxiety, and OCD.
“I truly believe psychedelic-assisted therapy is the future of mental health treatment,” Lucy says. She’s particularly passionate about the integration aspect of therapy, which has driven her to create Silva Wellness, where holistic therapies complement psychedelic treatments to promote deep healing.
Lucy’s mother raised her and her three siblings in East London, where her life first began. Her father, a famous musician, was mostly absent, leaving her mother to support the family. From a young age, Lucy showed exceptional talent as a singer and dreamt of becoming a pop star. However, her life took a dark turn after her parents divorced when she was six. Her mother remarried, bringing an abusive stepfather into Lucy’s life. The physical, emotional, and sexual abuse continued until her teens. Lucy mustered the courage to tell a teacher about the abuse, but when her mother fell prey to her stepfather’s manipulation, Lucy was under pressure to change her story to the authorities.
By the age of 16, their mother had abandoned Lucy and her sister and left them to fend for themselves. Struggling with an eating disorder, Lucy began drinking heavily and, by her early 20s, started using cocaine. Her addiction spiralled, leading to multiple overdoses and suicide attempts. It wasn’t until her 30th birthday, after a two-week binge and an ultimatum from her flatmate, that Lucy sought help. A referral to a treatment centre marked the beginning of her recovery, where for the first time she felt understood.
Lucy has since become a published author, a psychotherapist, and an inspirational speaker. She has worked as an ambassador for the Amy Winehouse Foundation, speaking at schools and facilitating workshops, and she has campaigned against childhood sexual abuse with the charity One in Four. Her activism influenced changes in UK regulations related to child sexual abuse, and she has appeared in Channel 5’s documentary My Extreme Drugs Diary, where she shared her battle with MDMA addiction.
Today, Lucy is a proud mother of two and living proof that anyone can overcome adversity and achieve their dreams. As co-founder of Silva Wellness, the leading provider of ketamine-assisted therapy in the UK, she continues to break new ground in mental health treatment. Based in Farringdon, London, Silva Wellness offers a range of innovative therapies aimed at healing the mind, body, and spirit.
