Women & Therapy
May 12, 2026
Esenia K. Cassidy, Juliana Riccardi, Britt Healy et al.
Background The use of psychedelics for clinical purposes and psychological healing is well-documented across many settings, often addressing trauma or mood disorders. Two gaps remain underexplored: (1) the use of psychedelics for psychological healing by gender-diverse individuals, and (2) the personal therapeutic use of psychedelics in non-clinical settings and how this shows up in...
Contemporary Drug Problems
April 25, 2026
J. Robinson, Noah Wallace, Esenia Cassidy et al.
Psychedelics are being used globally in a variety of contexts, from recreational use to controlled clinical trials of therapeutic applications. Much of what is known about psychedelic user experiences comes from quantitative studies, while qualitative research is limited and has received comparatively less attention. Qualitative research, particularly personal narratives, can highlight the...
Psychedelics
December 23, 2025
Esenia K. Cassidy, Alan K. Davis, Smitha Rao
Attachment theory suggests that early-life interactions with caregivers define lifelong outcomes, including mental and physical health, problematic substance use, and well-being. However, little is known on how the resulting attachment orientations interact with outcomes of a novel treatment approach, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies, or non-clinical psychedelic use. This critical...
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 30, 2025
Esenia K. Cassidy, David Dupuis, Christopher Timmermann et al.
4 citations
Abstract Background & aims This conceptual paper explores the intersection of attachment theory, psychedelic research, and enculturation dynamics. We aim to understand how both attachment patterns and psychedelic use may jointly influence worldview transformations and enculturation processes. Methods We synthesize theoretical perspectives and empirical findings from multiple fields, including...