Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Insights From 25 Years of Research

After a dormant period of more than two decades, investigations with psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, DMT, LSD, and MMDA have resumed in the United States and Europe. Drawing on 25 years of clinical research experience, the author discusses the cartography of inner space, the therapeutic potential of transcendental states of consciousness, the entelechy of the interpersonally grounded psyche, the importance of integration in drug-free therapy sessions, the roles of expectation, religious education and faith, the role of music, and future research directions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Presented at a conference titled “Psychedelic Science 2013,” highlighting the resumption of investigations with psychedelic substances (i.e., psilocybin, DMT, LSD, MMDA, etc.) in the United States and Europe after a dormant period of more than two decades, the author presents insights and perspectives gleaned from his 25 years of clinical research experience. After acknowledging the vastness and potential significance of this research frontier, the article focuses on the “cartography of inner space”; the unique therapeutic potential of transcendental states of consciousness; the entelechy of the interpersonally grounded psyche; the importance of integration in drug-free therapy sessions; the roles of expectation, religious education and faith; the role of music; and future research directions.