Ayahuasca in Western society and the metacognitive counselling approach

Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic plant used in South American ceremonies, is gaining popularity in Western therapy, but its social context is often overlooked. Combining micro-level effects (physiological and psychological) with macro-level issues (cultural appropriation), an autoethnographic case study highlights risks: individuals may have intrapsychic experiences that deter them from seeking proper treatment, and popularity without contextual understanding can be problematic. The authors suggest a metacognitive counseling approach for both clients and therapists to integrate indigenous methods effectively, though larger studies are needed to support this recommendation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic plant used throughout South America for religious, cultural and healing ceremonies. Previous studies have analysed it as a therapy method from either the microperspective, such as physiological and psychological effects of substance use, or the macroperspective, such as legal issues or cultural appropriation of ayahuasca by Westerners. There is a need to combine those two aspects to fully understand the effects of ayahuasca for therapists and clients in Western communities. By utilising an autoethnographic instrumental case study, we discuss the possible risk of ayahuasca gaining popularity in Western societies without an understanding of how the social context plays a tremendous part in healing using this method. We also discuss the risk of intrapsychic experiences brought about by ayahuasca that may deter individuals from seeking appropriate treatment. It is not our intention to present ayahuasca as an illegitimate or invalid method of healing; rather, we emphasise the importance of integrating micro‐ and macroperspectives in psychotherapy practice. We suggest that the metacognitive counselling approach be taken by both clients and therapists when adopting indigenous methods of therapy which may add a significantly positive effect. Although we hope this study offers realistic and lived experiences to generate pragmatic solutions for therapists and clients, we recognise that it is necessary to collect data from a larger number of both clients and therapists to better support our suggestion of the metacognitive counselling approach.