Integrating the Gestalt Model of Self With Psychedelic‐Assisted Psychotherapy
Travis R. Fox
The Journal of Humanistic Counseling May 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/johc.70026 (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 the Gestalt model of self-as-process can be integrated with PSIP to introduce a 'healing function' of the self that emerges during trauma resolution in psychedelic contexts. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT This theoretical integration paper employs a conceptual analysis methodology to synthesize the Gestalt model of self‐as‐process with Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP). Unlike traditional psychedelic therapy models that defer therapeutic engagement to postsession integration, PSIP emphasizes an active, directive therapeutic approach during the medicine session itself. Through an examination of core Gestalt principles, particularly figure/ground, field theory, creative adjustment, paradoxical theory of change, and the Gestalt model of self‐as‐process, this paper introduces a novel contribution: the “healing function” of the self, a dynamic role that emerges in response to trauma resolution processes within psychedelic contexts. Findings suggest that Gestalt's process‐oriented view of self complements PSIP's interactional and somatically grounded methods, aligning with emerging understandings of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in psychedelic‐assisted therapy. A clinical vignette illustrates the application of this model in an outpatient setting. The paper concludes by outlining ethical and clinical implications for psychedelic therapy in an outpatient setting.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Awe: a putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- 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
- The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- Mechanisms of Ketamine Action as an Antidepressant Molecular Psychiatry March 13, 2018
- Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Journal of Humanistic Psychology June 19, 2017
and 5 more in the library