Bill Richards was trained in both theology and psychology. He has conducted research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics as well as their potential as a spiritual tool. In the late 1960s, Richards worked with Stan Grof, Walter Pahnke, and Richard Yensen at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (Center) where LSD and later DPT were administered to terminal cancer patients as well as people suffering from alcoholism and severe neurosis.

Dr Richards received a BA from Albion College in 1962, a M.Div. in "Religion: Teaching & Research" from Yale University in 1965, a STM from Andover-Newton Theological School in 1966, studied psychology at Brandeis from 1966-1967, and received a PhD in "Education: Counseling" from Catholic University in 1975. He has been a licensed psychologist in Maryland and Washington D.C. and has supervised several research projects involving spirituality, psychology, and the use of entheogens/psychedelics.

Dr Richards participated in research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine showing psilocybin can precipitate mystical experiences (Griffiths et al).