Journal article
Presence, Trust, and Empathy: Preferred characteristics of psychedelic carers
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
2022
Abstract
Research into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is rapidly increasing with best practice guidelines being continuously updated. Yet the key principals of such guidelines are based on evidence accumulated during earlier research into these treatments and trans-disciplinary psychotherapeutic knowledge. One area of practice-based evidence that has not been considered is that accumulated by people who use psychedelics (PWUP) outside of clinical contexts. We conducted a thematic analysis of 403 posts on two online discussion forums with the aim of gathering information regarding the preferences of PWUP for characteristics they value in their carers in nonclinical contexts. We found three key distinct characteristics that PWUP preferred among their carers: presence, trust, and empathy. The characteristics were often consistent with the existing literature on PAP, though at times extended current understandings of key characteristics of PAP therapists, with the notion of carers being able to “hold space” during the psychedelic experience seen as an integral component of effective therapeutic outcomes that deserves more attention. Data obtained from PWUP in nonclinical contexts can be used to triangulate existing principles contained within PAP treatment guidelines and identify areas for further investigation.
Details
- Title
- Presence, Trust, and Empathy: Preferred characteristics of psychedelic carers
- Authors/Creators
- S. Thal (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityL.B. Engel (Author/Creator) - Edith Cowan UniversityS.J. Bright (Author/Creator) - Edith Cowan University
- Publication Details
- Journal of Humanistic Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Identifiers
- 991005544957007891
- Copyright
- © 2022 by SAGE Publications
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Allied Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Source: InCites
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.100 Substance Abuse
- 1.100.809 Psychoactive Substances
- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychology, Multidisciplinary
- ESI research areas
- Psychiatry/Psychology