The Role of Psychedelics and Counseling in Mental Health Treatment
Russ Curtis, Lisen C. Roberts, Elizabeth Graves, Heather Thompson Rainey, D. D. Wynn, David S. Krantz, Verena Wieloch
Journal of Mental Health Counseling October 1, 2020 DOI: 10.17744/mehc.42.4.03 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Mental health Suicidal ideation Psychotherapist Substance abuse Clinical psychology Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 28 |
| Key findings | Psychedelic-assisted therapy can significantly reduce depression and suicidal ideation in treatment-resistant clients and may be efficacious for other mental health and addiction issues. |
Abstract
Psychedelics (i.e., ketamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, psilocybin) have been effectively used globally for centuries to treat mental health and addiction issues. However, in the 1950s–1970s, a number of factors, including misuse, abuse, and poorly conceptualized and conducted clinical trials, caused the Federal Drug Administration to classify most of the psychedelic substances as having no medical value. Now, however, recent research is indicating that psychedelic-assisted therapy can significantly reduce depression and suicidal ideation in treatment-resistant clients, and it may be efficacious in treating other mental health and addiction issues as well. Researchers have also identified the critical therapeutic components that ensure effective psychedelic-assisted therapy, not least the need for mental health counseling before, during, and after treatment. The purpose of this manuscript is to share the latest psychedelic therapy research and to discuss how mental health counselors can contribute to this reemerging therapeutic trend.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine | 2017 | Review | |
| DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin | 2018 | Review | |
| Psilocybin for treating substance use disorders? | 2016 | Narrative review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- Counselors’ attitudes toward psychedelics and their use in therapy Journal of Counseling & Development March 19, 2022
- Autonomy and autoheteronomy in psychedelically assisted psychotherapy November 30, 2022
- EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression March 6, 2024
- Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy preparing your target using psychohistoriography: a Jamaican perspective Frontiers in Psychiatry June 29, 2023
- Scientifically Integrating Psychedelics with Counseling: Education, Guidance, and Implications for Mental Health Practitioners Journal of Creativity in Mental Health July 24, 2023
and 17 more in the library
Cites 51
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Antidepressant Efficacy of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Two-Site Randomized Controlled Trial American Journal of Psychiatry August 28, 2013
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
and 46 more in the library