Culture and psychedelic psychotherapy: Ethnic and racial themes from three Black women therapists

Abstract Psychedelic medicine is an emerging field of research and practice that examines the psychotherapeutic effects substances classified as hallucinogens on human mind, body, spirit. Current explores safety efficacy these for mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although current studies explore from a biomedical perspective, gaps in awareness around cultural issues therapeutic process are prominent. African Americans have been absent psychedelic both participants researchers, little attention has paid to potential psychedelics address traumas caused by racialization. This paper themes clinical applications one-time use 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) part US Food Drug Administration (FDA)-approved trial training exercise three American female therapists. The primary emerged across varied experiences centered strength, safety, connection, managing oppression/racialization. participants' were found be personally meaningful instructive how Western models psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy could more effective accessible Black community. Included discussion importance facilitator make best material when it includes cultural, racial, spiritual themes. A lack knowledge epistemic humility can create barriers treatment underserved populations. Implications future marginalized groups also discussed, consideration Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) adjunct psychedelic-therapy approaches currently advanced. As women color among most stigmatized people, essential incorporate their perspectives into literature expand conversations about equity.