Eliza Dushku, the Ex-Vampire Slayer, Now Assisting Others in Battling Even More Troubling Enemies

Eliza Dushku, the actress celebrated for her iconic roles as Faith in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Missy in Bring It On, has stepped away from Hollywood to embrace a radically different life. After retiring from acting in 2017, Dushku turned to personal growth and psychedelic therapy to navigate her own challenges and to help others confront theirs.

Dushku's acting career began unexpectedly when, at age nine, she accompanied her brother to an audition in Boston and accidentally tripped in front of casting directors. Captivated, they cast her in the 1992 film That Night. From there, she appeared alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in This Boys Life, and with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies. Her breakout role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer expanded into the spin-off Angel and later led to her performance in Bring It On.

Despite her success, Dushku faced serious personal challenges. She revealed experiences of sexual assault at age 12 and later secured a settlement from CBS for harassment during the production of Bull. To address these traumas, she underwent guided sessions using MDMA and psilocybin with therapists, describing the experience as a mental health deep dive that ultimately reshaped her life's direction.

Following this transformative period, Dushku returned to Boston to pursue higher education. She earned a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling from Lesley University, focusing on addiction, trauma, and recovery. Additionally, she obtained certification in psychedelic-assisted therapy from a university in California. Through this work, Dushku now supports veterans and others grappling with trauma, promoting alternative therapeutic approaches alongside traditional care.

Her professional pivot also includes film production. Alongside her husband, philanthropist Peter Palandjian, she executive produced the Netflix documentary In Waves and War, which chronicles Navy SEALs exploring psychedelic therapies to heal from war-related trauma. The project underscores Dushku's dedication to educating the public about these therapies while highlighting their benefits and limitations.

Today, Dushku serves as a clinical and program development specialist for psychedelic-assisted therapies at Home Base, a partnership between Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation, supporting military veterans and their families. She emphasizes the scientific underpinnings of psychedelic treatment, noting the neurobiological mechanisms behind trauma healing, and continues to pursue further research and a doctorate in the field.

Reflecting on her journey, Dushku acknowledges the fulfillment of her Hollywood years but celebrates the profound purpose she now finds in guiding others through their healing journeys. She believes her experience as an actor prepared her to empathize deeply, now applying that skill in therapy rather than on screen. Her work bridges science, personal experience, and advocacy, embodying a unique blend of compassion and expertise.

While Dushku no longer acts for entertainment, she remains connected to storytelling through projects that amplify important social issues. Her life demonstrates a remarkable transformation from celebrated actress to a dedicated advocate for mental health and psychedelic therapy, showing that new chapters can emerge from even the most unexpected beginnings.

Author: Jackson Miller