Whatever Happened to Eliza Dushku?

Former television and film star Eliza Dushku, best known for her role as Faith in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” has revealed a dramatic career shift into the field of mental health and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

The 43-year-old actress, who captured audiences’ attention in numerous Hollywood productions, disclosed in a recent Boston magazine interview that she has found what she describes as her “real calling.”

Dushku, whose acting credits include prominent roles in “True Lies,” “Bring It On,” and the television series “Tru Calling” and “Dollhouse,” is now on the verge of completing her master’s degree in counseling and clinical mental health.

She has also obtained certification in psychedelic-assisted therapy, a treatment approach gaining recognition in the mental health field.

The actress and her husband, Peter Palandjian, CEO of Intercontinental Real Estate Corp., are actively supporting the advancement of psychedelic therapy through funding research and clinical trials.

This emerging treatment modality, as described by the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, combines supervised use of substances such as MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine with traditional psychotherapy to address conditions including anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD.

Dushku’s transition to mental health work stems from personal experience with trauma. She has previously spoken about being sexually molested at age 12 by a prominent Hollywood stunt coordinator.

In 2018, she also publicly addressed her experiences of sexual harassment on the set of the CBS series “Bull,” publishing an op-ed in the Boston Globe detailing her experiences.

“I had the means to shift directions and choose a course in my life that focused on healing myself so that I could help heal others,” Dushku explained in the interview. “I would be remiss if I didn’t now share the transformation and the peace and the passion that I have.”

The mother of two emphasized that this career transition represents more than just a change of profession. “This is just absolutely so clearly my real calling, my real purpose,” she stated, highlighting her commitment to helping others who have experienced trauma and mental health challenges.

This career pivot represents a significant departure from her entertainment industry roots, where she began as a child actress and rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, it aligns with a growing trend of public figures advocating for mental health awareness and alternative therapeutic approaches.

Through this new chapter, Dushku joins a growing movement of professionals working to expand access to innovative mental health treatments, bringing her public platform and personal experiences to bear on advancing understanding and acceptance of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a legitimate treatment option.