Psychedelic-assisted therapy from a narrative therapy perspective: A map for practitioners
International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work September 19, 2025 DOI: 10.4320/ngoq2236 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Key points | Proposes that narrative therapy ideas can be applied to the three stages of psychedelic-assisted therapy using the rites of passage metaphor. |
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.