Psychedelic-assisted therapy from a narrative therapy perspective: A map for practitioners
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is currently in its second wave and enjoying a renaissance of
sorts. This article describes a narrative therapy–inspired approach to working therapeutically
with psychedelics. My intent in writing this paper is to provide a model for how narrative therapy
ideas in practice can be applied to the three stages of psychedelic-assisted therapy: preparation,
medicine work and integration. In describing this map for practitioners, the rites of passage
metaphor, as applied therapeutically by Michael White, is used to outline the phases a person
will move through in their psychedelic-assisted therapy journey.
Improving access to psilocybin-assisted therapy: barriers, challenges, and recommendations
An introduction to psilocybin-assisted therapy
Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging intervention that combines the administration of psilocybin with structured psychological support to address profound psychological, emotional, and existential distress. Central to this model is the recognition that many forms of suffering—particularly at end of life—are relational in nature and require relational forms of healing. It is our belief that the relational wounds that keep us from connection can really only be healed in relationship with other humans (1). This emphasis on relational healing lies at the core of PAT, a treatment model designed to address profound psychological distress through both pharmacological and human-centered care.
Terri Robertson – A brief overview of the history, and current state, of the regulation of therapy across Canada.
Terri, an Expressive Arts Therapist (CREATE Institute), considers the Arts the original deep space of healing and transformation.
Since 2005, her equity practice has included Arts Drop-Ins for under-housed, street-involved adults in downtown Toronto, where she now supervises 20 students at 5 locations. In her private practice, she works with individuals, couples & ENM constellations with ExAT, NARM, AEDP, Compassionate Inquiry, Sex Therapy and now PAT.
Terri is one of the founders of, and ex-officio President, of OEATA
Chair, Partnership of Registered Psychotherapist Associations (PRPA is equivalent to FACT-BC)
Chair, PRPA/College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario Engagement Working Group (Meets with Registrar 4 times/year to discuss issues impacting RP’s)
Peer Circle Facilitator for the CRPO & OAMHP (Ontario Association Mental Health Professionals)
President, Canadian Expressive Arts Therapies Association
Teaches “Ethics, Law & Psychotherapy” at CREATE and WHEAT Institutes
This brief overview of the history, and current state, of the regulation of therapy across Canada will hopefully both inform, and raise questions leading to a lively discussion.
Huachuma/ San Pedro Presentation
PAT Team Orange of the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Graduate Certificate Program (2026) presentation examining Huachuma (San Pedro cactus) as part of the Entheogens Research Communication assignment.
PAT 502 Purple Group Ibogaine Video Project
PAT 502 Purple Group Ibogaine Video Project. A brief, 16min introductory recorded group presentation discussing Ibogaine.
Peyote Entheogenic Profile
Yellow Group
MDMA Presentation
Pharmacology, History, Cultural Practices, and Uses of MDMA
Cannabis: An Entheogen Hidden In Plain Sight
A presentation about Cannabis by the Blue Group for PaT 502 – assignment
PaT 502 Red Group Psilocybin Entheogens Presentation
Hello, fellow PaT students! 🙂
This video provides an overview of psilocybin- history, cultural practices, and ceremony alongside the science and current policies. Enjoy!
“Heal yourself with the light of the sun and the rays of the moon… always remember, you are the medicine.”- Maria Sabina
Link for our 1-page Psilocybin Pharmacology and Posology:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3UqUHas5q5ipbFVRD_upQ9gYrLHWRbd/view?usp=sharing
Erotic Transference & Countertransference in Psychedelic Therapy – Pat Song
Erotic feelings in psychedelic-assisted therapy: What practitioners tell us, and implications for practice
Sexual boundary violations by psychedelic practitioners are a recurring and serious problem. The aim of this psychodynamic study is to identify how erotic transference and countertransference (ETCT) can emerge in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) and how to reduce risk of harms. To this end I have interviewed, thus far, 16 PAT practitioners and participants about their experiences of ETCT.
The case studies richly demonstrate how psychedelics can evoke erotic feelings, material, relational experiences, therapeutic challenges, and transference and countertransference. Several examples will be presented.
For the participant, these medicines can evoke powerful experiences of erotic energy while also decreasing inhibition. If there are unaddressed problems in their intimate primary relationship, the participant can be vulnerable to developing an erotic transference to another in the psychedelic space.
For the practitioner, therapeutic challenges can arise in the form of ETCT driven by developmental or intrapsychic material, powerful relational experiences, and boundary challenges and confusion. In addition the practitioner’s life stressors can lead to increased risk of boundary violations.
Psychedelics can create difficulties for the practitioner providing therapeutic touch, especially if they received inadequate training on how to set boundaries and offer alternatives to touch. Almost all interviewed practitioners felt their training on touch had been insufficient.
The case studies point to urgently needed evolution in practice and training. For example, preparation should include an assessment of the participant’s primary relationship and discussion of possibilities with erotic energy, material, and transference. Training should provide thorough grounding in transference and countertransference, relevant psychodynamic therapy concepts, and management of boundaries and therapeutic touch.
Metamodernism & Psychedelics: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
This paper examines how psychedelic therapy reflects metamodern sensibilities – navigating between scepticism, hope, science and subjectivity. Rather than prescribing outcomes, it explores how patients engage psychedelic experiences as meaning-making processes within complex cultural and
psychological landscapes, inviting new perspectives on healing, integration and the role of consciousness in existential therapy.
Divinity and The Abyss: A Myth of Creation, Delusion and Revelation
This is a non-religious / non-sectarian myth. It aims to provide an inclusive, non-dogmatic perspective on spirituality and the human experience through the lens of story.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems & Psychedelic Science: Towards Ethical and Reciprocal Collaboration
Abstract
Indigenous Peoples have cultivated and protected natural psychoactive medicines through ceremony, kinship, and spiritual responsibility across
generations, yet their long-standing contributions have often been marginalized through extractive research, commercialization, and policy
exclusion. It is Indigenous communities that have stewarded and gained expertise working with psychoactive medicines for centuries, yet
they remain underrepresented within the scientific discourse. This commentary advances the case for reciprocal and equitable collaboration
in psychedelic science, grounded in Indigenous sovereignty, cultural and intellectual property rights, and governance. Drawing on traditions
involving ayahuasca, psilocybin, peyote, and iboga, we illustrate how Indigenous methodologies, including ritual, community-based practices,
and ecological approaches, offer insights critical to both safety and efficacy. We argue that research and policy must embed free, prior, and
informed consent, equitable benefit-sharing, and Indigenous leadership. Such efforts require moving past tokenistic inclusion toward meaningful
collaboration and systemic change in psychedelic research that is both scientifically rigorous and culturally just. We conclude by calling for more
formal, transparent, and globally legitimate convening processes, such as those modeled on WHO global consultations, that can bring Indigenous
leaders, researchers, and policymakers together in dialogue. These steps represent profound acts of inclusion essential for these medicines to
realize their full potential to heal and transform.
Altered States, Altered Bodies
Thank you for watching. I look forward to your feedback! There’s so much I would have liked to share on this topic, that I’ll indulge myself a bit to include in this post for anyone interested! I didn’t get much of a chance to describe why I believe that these changes to the body are […]
Back to the future: Psychedelic drugs in psychiatry
Recently, psychedelic drugs have once again taken popular culture by storm. From the psychedelic startup companies newly forming on Wall Street to a recent New York Times article that claims “psychedelic drugs are closer to medicinal use,” it seems that there is a renewed media and medical interest in acid (LSD), mushrooms (psilocybin), ecstasy (MDMA), ayahuasca, DMT (dimethyltryptamine), and ketamine.
Metta Grove
Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE)
This is a brief introduction into Thomas Huebl’s approach of transparent communication.
Restorying
Danielle and I decided to work together as we connected and felt our presentations were quiet similar already and shared a lot of the same principals.
Balancing Equations
Reflections on Internal Family Systems
It’s been a big learning. I really resonate with the framework of Internal Family Systems and have been working with the model in my personal life.
In the Presence of Wonder
I had to go down that rabbit hole in order to find my feet with this assignment (and still maybe have only found a few toes:) Because I don’t identify as a therapist and I don’t use the language of ‘therapeutic modalities’ to understand what I do and how I do it. And I’ve discovered that speaking into the void (all alone on zoomland) is not my jam.Â
IFS, Spirituality and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Emotion-Focused/Family Therapy (EFT/EFFT)
I chose to share about Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), and a bit about Emotion-Focused Family Therapy(EFFT) which is my primary theory and approach. I use a lot of teachings in EFFT from Dr. Adele Lafrance and Natasha Files and both of them are involved in using EFFT/EFT within the PAT realm. Adele and Dr. Reid Robison […]
Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy
I’ve been studying Psychedelic Somatic Interaction Psychotherapy (PSIP) for a few years now – this is the work of Saj Rasvi. In the video I refer to Saj’s characterization of the autonomic nervous system’s response to overwhelming experiences. I should have said that this is his version of the defense cascade (not a new contribution as […]
Cultivating curiosity
Hi there, here’s the video adaptation of a powerpoint presentation on cultivating curiosity. I’ve also posted the slides with references. I hope to continue to build on this over time, so feel free to add your own curiosity practices! In retrospect, I would have liked to have added another slide about how to be curious […]
Acupuncture as Integration Modality for PAT
Holotropic breathwork
Respect, Rites, Permissions, Consent and Collaborative Cultures
My role is described as “Indigenous Counsellor, counseling using traditional healing and cultural practice techniques…” I do have extensive trauma counselling training but I have been taught many different modalities. I use my cultural teachings to guide me and have been trained to show up and “be who you are, do what you do.” (Yvonne […]
Astrology & Psychedelic Work
Transparent Communication
It’s been a big learning. I really resonate with the framework of Internal Family Systems and have been working with the model in my personal life. As well, it has been a really helpful framework to use in my work and I will continue to use this framework in years to come. I am especially […]
Introduction to Guiding Meditations
Unfortunately I forgot to edit my Zoom Audio settings to turn Original Sound for Musicians “ON” so the arrival practice video fails to transmit the sound – and it’s garbled later in the lesson during a YouTube video clip. I’ve included the open source links here for them so you can properly listen to them: […]
The Treasure in the Cave of Wonders
One day, two brothers went out in search of The Cave of Wonders. They had been told by the village Elders that The Cave was a place of profound healing and wisdom, filled with magic and treasure. After a long journey, the brothers found The Cave and, though its dark, mysterious entrance filled them with […]
Taking on New Stories
Maybe stories shouldn’t be re-written But added onto If we attempt to change what is, we close our eyes to truth Yet, we can see anew Once we gaze through our past, our lineage, ourselves Re-writing has been a colonial practice As is Halloween on Samhain Recess at school Your tenancy agreement Cream in your […]
The Experience of a Psychedelic Journey
Tremulous, trembling heart Deep sighs, Wracked by waves of kaleidoscopic merry-go-round nausea Nervous system lighting up, senses alive Edges blurring, blending, bending… BREATHE. Steady, feel the earth beneath, settle in Wave upon wave upon wave upon wave upon wave… Wave goodbye to the shiny image of you on the surface, resistant but resolute Desolate in […]