Medicine Sessions
EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression April 23, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/9780197762622.003.0007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or practical guide (clinical manual chapter) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes that the therapist's role in PAT medicine sessions centers on support, responsiveness, and skillful following, with attention to physical safety, boundaries, and mindful presence. Provides specific interventions and language for the six EMBARK domains and guidance for responding to challenging events and placebo concerns. |
Abstract
AbstractChapter 6 focuses on the medicine sessions of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), where the psychedelic medicine is administered. The chapter outlines the therapist’s role in these sessions, emphasizing the importance of support, responsiveness, and skillful following, ensuring the participant’s physical well-being, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and providing mindful, compassionate attention. The chapter also details how to work within the six EMBARK psychedelic therapy domains during the medicine sessions, providing specific suggestions for interventions and explanatory language for a variety of clinical phenomena that may emerge in the session. The chapter further discusses how to respond to common and challenging events that may arise during the psychedelic medicine session, emphasizing the importance of the therapist’s presence and the quality of their attention. The chapter concludes with a note on challenging experiences and advice for researchers on what to do if a participant believes they received a placebo.