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)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA narrative therapy-inspired model for psychedelic-assisted therapy is proposed, structured around the three stages of preparation, medicine work, and integration. The rites of passage metaphor, as applied therapeutically by Michael White, is used to outline the phases a person moves through in their psychedelic-assisted therapy journey. The paper provides a map for practitioners to apply narrative therapy ideas in practice to each stage.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | 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.