--- title: "‘In Waves and War’ doc explores psychedelic healing among Navy SEALS" description: "\"In Waves and War\" follows special operators getting treatment via first-of-its-kind research from the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab. " date: "2025-11-04" modified: "2025-11-04" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/entertainment/in-waves-and-war-netflix/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Movies and TV" tags: - "Movies" - "Special Operations" - "Veterans" --- # ‘In Waves and War’ doc explores psychedelic healing among Navy SEALS ![a screenshot of in waves and war]() *"In Waves and War" is streaming on Netflix now. (Actual Films)* Premiering on Netflix Nov. 3, 2025, "In Waves and War" offers an intimate look into the private lives of Navy SEALs and their families as they embark on a revolutionary model of healing with psychedelics in the aftermath of combat and trauma. Directed by award-winning filmmakers Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen ("Athlete A," "Lost Boys of Sudan," "Audrie & Daisy") of Actual Films, the documentary follows the lives of [Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)]() founders Marcus and Amber Capone and two retired Navy SEAL teammates, Matthew Roberts and D.J. Shipley, as they discover the transformative power of psychedelic-assisted ibogaine therapy to combat treatment-resistant PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and severe depression. #### Related: [The 10 most lethal special operations units from around the world]() https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8tiqnuS3Y “We think the film offers hope for anybody who has experienced trauma of any sort, and it brings much-needed attention to issues of mental health, especially within the veteran community, which is suffering from a suicide epidemic,” shared Shenk and Cohen in a press release for the film. “In many ways, this is the most complex film we have ever made. We had the incredible privilege to work intimately with Navy SEALs and their families who are unaccustomed to opening up.” From the perspective of Western medicine, psychedelics are still a new option for healing; it’s rather intriguing to hear about some of our nation’s most tested heroes traveling to Mexico to seek treatment for their trauma. Indeed, the documentary promises that their journey will find the men rescuing one another with “powerful psychedelics whose unworldly effects shake them to their core and open a path toward healing.” With so many veterans suffering from service-connected trauma and depression, a breakthrough in healing modalities promises hope. The film itself follows first-of-its-kind scientific research, unfolding in real time from the [Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab](), that gives credence to the treatment and inspires hope for a future in which its use can extend into and beyond the veteran community. “At the cutting edge of psychedelic science and wellbeing, the treatment brings astonishing relief to the pain these men and their families have long endured, often in silence,” reads the press release. “Ibogaine—believed to also address, if not altogether reverse, issues of addiction and other trauma—is sending shockwaves of hope through not just the veteran community, but also across the spectrum of people suffering debilitating psychological disorders.” ![in waves and war poster]() *(Actual Films)* "In Waves and War" premiered at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival in 2024 to critical acclaim. Utilizing a unique animation style to present the vivid journeys that the SEALs experienced under the influence of psychedelics, the film appears to be visually and thematically impactful. Check out "In Waves and War" on Netflix now, and to learn more about the film, visit [https://www.inwavesandwarfilm.com](). ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty #### • [Together We Served reconnects veterans with their old friends and connects them new ones]() #### • [How to make $1 million with your military pay]() #### • [Army veteran Ryan Curtis brings action to ‘Hollywood Grit’]() ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()