Psychological flexibility may be a core process behind the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin. In a pilot study, nine participants attended a 7-day psilocybin retreat and completed measures at baseline, 2 months, and 6 months. They showed significant improvements in cognitive defusion, valued living, and self-compassion, along with a trend toward increased overall psychological flexibility. Other measures included acute drug effects, belief in oneness, social safeness, mental health, burnout, and emotion expressivity. These results offer preliminary evidence that psilocybin experiences may improve psychological flexibility.
Touch can be a valuable therapeutic tool in psychedelic- and MDMA-assisted therapy, but its use requires careful guidelines to ensure safety and efficacy. This paper presents a model for practitioners and researchers outlining practical recommendations for supportive touch, emphasizing consent, attunement, and clear boundaries. The guidelines address when and how to use touch, such as during moments of distress or to ground a client, while minimizing risks of re-traumatization or boundary violations. The model aims to standardize practices, support training, and inform future research on touch in these therapies.