Peer support and psychedelics.
Zachary Skiles, James R Dixon, Dan Friedrich, Donny Reed, Christopher S. Stauffer
Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health December 1, 2023 DOI: 10.3138/jmvfh-2023-0008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Counseling Hallucinogens Peer support |
| Key points | Argues that peer support frameworks from psychedelic and Veteran communities can inform the training and certification of psychedelic facilitators, but gaps in training and supervision remain. |
Abstract
The field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and state-run psychedelic services will need to adequately train and certify facilitators to meet the anticipated demand for access. This article explores the role of peer support in the setting of medical and non-medical supervised psychedelic administration. Existing peer-support frameworks from both the psychedelic and the Veteran communities are reviewed, and core competencies of both peer support and psychedelic facilitation are compared to highlight synergies and identify training and supervision gaps. Future work will further refine the role of peer support in the legal facilitation of psychedelic experiences and deepen our understanding of psychedelic peership (i.e., when someone with previous firsthand experience with psychedelics facilitates the psychedelic experience of another).
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on MDMA and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The potential use of N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders comorbid with PTSD. | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in adolescents: rationale, potential, risks, and considerations. Adolescents with PTSD | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Couple Therapy With MDMA-Proposed Pathways of Action. | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Informed Consent in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The “Third” Eye: Ethics of Video Recording in the Context of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy | 2023 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Psychedelic group-based integration: ethical assessment and initial recommendations International Review of Psychiatry June 5, 2024
- Personal Psychedelic Experience as a Training Qualification for Facilitators: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Interviews with Psilocybin Experts Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 13, 2024
- Bringing MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD to traditional healthcare systems: tending to set and setting. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025
- Clinical conceptualisation of PTSD in psilocybin treatment: disrupting a pre-determined and over-determined maladaptive interpretive framework Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology June 8, 2025
- Safety in an Evolving Psychedelic Landscape: Knowledge and Use of Psilocybin Safety Strategies, Resources, and Support in a Naturalistic Oregon Sample Psychedelics October 1, 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 13
- Psychedelics, Mystical Experience, and Therapeutic Efficacy: A Systematic Review Frontiers in Psychiatry July 12, 2022
- Long-term effects of psychedelic drugs: A systematic review Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews March 16, 2020
- REACTIONS TO PSILOCYBJN ADMINISTERED IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease December 1, 1963
- Developing Guidelines and Competencies for the Training of Psychedelic Therapists Journal of Humanistic Psychology June 29, 2017
- Psychedelic Drug Legislative Reform and Legalization in the US JAMA Psychiatry December 7, 2022
and 8 more in the library