Expanding the Map, Drawing New Territories

This chapter presents an interdisciplinary framework that blends psychedelic and queer art therapies for LGBTQIA+ communities. Drawing on the author's experience as a practitioner, researcher, and community member, it outlines a practice lineage for queer worldmaking with clients. The chapter reviews literature on psychedelics' use for and against LGBTQIA+ individuals, highlights recent efforts to create supportive queer spaces in psychedelic research, and offers theoretical and practical analyses of how art and psychedelic therapies can enhance support. Clinical insights show how creativity and non-ordinary states help clients embody queer worldmaking, affirm identities, and reframe outdated narratives, while emphasizing ethical considerations and harm reduction.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This chapter explores the intersection of psychedelic and queer art therapies within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities. The author's experiences as a practitioner, researcher, and community member contextualize this interdisciplinary approach to queer worldmaking with clients. It outlines a practice lineage for this emerging framework, blending lived experiences with literature examining the use of psychedelics for and against LGBTQIA+ individuals. The chapter highlights recent efforts to create supportive queer spaces in psychedelic research, alongside theoretical and practical analyses of how art and psychedelic therapies can enhance support for the LGBTQIA+ community. The author demonstrates how creativity and non-ordinary states enable clients to embody queer worldmaking, with clinical insights illustrating how art therapy can affirm identities and reframe outdated narratives, all while emphasizing ethical considerations and harm reduction.