Psilocybin Experiential Therapist Training: Insights from a World-First Study

First-hand experience with psychedelics may help clinicians develop skills and knowledge needed to work with the profound changes to conscious awareness occasioned by psychedelics. However, the topic remains contentious and underexplored. In this world-first study, we investigated the utility of psilocybin experiential therapist training in a sample of 14 mental healthcare professionals training to provide psilocybin-assisted therapy. Participants received one 25 mg dose of psilocybin in a clinical research context alongside psychological support before, during, and after dosing. Quantitative measures and semi-structured interviews were then undertaken by participants to explore their experiences and reflections. Through the intervention, participants reported developing a greater and embodied understanding of key therapeutic principles and processes. Moreover, they reported increases in therapeutic qualities (e.g., empathy, attunement, emotion regulation) that underpin therapeutic alliance and promote trust and safety. While participants did not report experiencing harms from participation, they speculated about two potential risks of psychedelic experiential therapist training: first, that it could elicit challenging material that feels destabilising for a period; and second, that therapists could project their experience onto clients in a manner that narrows interpretative range and reduces attunement. Recommendations were made for psychedelic experiential therapist training design and implementation, including strategies to mitigate such risks. Participants indicated that psychedelic experiential therapist training is necessary but not sufficient for providing the highest quality of care in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Findings support the inclusion of an optional psychedelic experiential component within psychedelic therapist training programs for clinicians with prior psychotherapeutic training and well-developed reflective capacity.