Wolves Among Sheep: Sexual Violations in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.
Tahlia R. Harrison, Sonya C. Faber, Manzar Zare, Matthieu Fontaine, Monnica T. Williams
The American Journal of Bioethics January 13, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2024.2433423 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Patient vulnerability Patient welfare Patient security Professional abuse Exploitation Unethical behavior Malpractice Abuse of power Psychedelic medicine Psychedelic treatment Ethical oversight Regulation Professional responsibility Boundaries |
| Citations | 22 |
| Key points | Argues that power dynamics in psychedelic-assisted therapy can lead to sexual abuse, and that ethical practice and regulatory frameworks are needed to address these issues. |
Abstract
The integration of psychedelic substances into modern Western therapeutic practice has sparked a critical examination of many topics including: efficacy of psychedelics to treat mental health diagnoses without psychotherapeutic intervention, what models of therapy to use, and ethical implications related to altered states of consciousness. Of utmost concern are issues of power dynamics leading to incidents of sexual abuse. These issues underscore the importance of understanding therapeutic dynamics within the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy. This paper aims to explore these intersections, addressing sexual abuse issues in Western psychedelic-assisted therapy while elucidating pathways towards ethical practice and regulatory frameworks.
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
Cited by 17
- Supportive Touch in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. The American Journal of Bioethics 2025
- Ethical issues with psychedelic-assisted treatments in psychiatry: A systematic scoping review Psychological Medicine 2025
- Patient-therapist relationship in psychedelic-assisted therapy: Implications for future real-world settings. General Hospital Psychiatry June 6, 2025
- From Safe Touch to Sexual Abuse: Walking the Tightrope of Patient Safety in Psychedelic Therapy The American Journal of Bioethics January 2, 2025
- Set and setting in psilocybin-assisted therapy: A qualitative study of patients with cancer and depression. General Hospital Psychiatry 2025
and 12 more in the library
Cites 22
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 2020
- The psychedelic renaissance and the limitations of a White-dominant medical framework: A call for indigenous and ethnic minority inclusion Journal of Psychedelic Studies July 1, 2019
- Ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, and psychosis: a systematic review of human studies Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology February 23, 2017
and 17 more in the library