Altered States of Context

Wrapping up the year, we highlight some of the major developments in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and identify current trends in the psychedelic zeitgeist. While we discuss encouraging and positive news, we also identify some potential pitfalls and dangers in the future of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Additionally we share news regarding the future of Altered States of Context. We’d like to thank our audience and encourage you to contact us with feedback or ideas for future episodes. pilecki@gmail.com nathan@spoonrivercounseling.com)Also check out Nate's newsletter, and SUBSCRIBE trippingwithnate.substack.comMentioned in the show:Right-Wing Psychedelia: Case Studies in Cultural Plasticity and Political PluripotencyCover Story: Power TripThe False Promise of Psychedelic Utopia Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs

Love is a word that is often left out in traditional psychotherapy, though love remains perhaps the most central aspect of being human. Dr. Adele Lafrance discusses reasons why the concept of love is such a controversial topic and emphasizes the need to reincorporate love into psychotherapy. She discusses how experiences of love and our obstacles to feeling love are such as an important part of the healing process in psychedelic-assisted therapy. We discuss different types of love including love between people, love for ourselves, and the idea of being love. Additionally, we talk about self-care, working with eating disorders, and the emotional toll of living in a world in which social change feels like a necessity.

Stigma about psychedelics remains a problem and can cause harm when psychedelic users encounter judgment or other negative consequences in social contexts. Rooted in decades of misinformation and the failed war on drugs, there is a need for greater public education about the actual risks and benefits of psychedelics. In this episode we discuss a recent study that surveyed psychologists’ attitudes about the use of psychedelics and discuss findings that demonstrate evidence of stigma. We discuss our personal experiences of stigma and how cultural and other identities can impact one’s readiness to be assertive when encountering stigma in professional contexts. For more information about the study that was mentioned see: Attitudes and Beliefs about the Therapeutic Use of Psychedelic Drugs among Psychologists in the United States

We can't talk enough about integration on this show. To help broaden this conversation, Ryan Westrum, author of the “Psychedelic Integration Handbook”, joins us to talk about psychedelic integration and the importance of embodied action following psychedelic experiences. Ryan brings his expertise as a psychologist working in the areas of sexuality, addiction, and psychedelic integration.  We discuss common pitfalls in psychedelic integration such as not being an active participant in change and the danger of unrealistic expectations. We also discuss the importance of being mindful about sharing psychedelic experiences with others due to the potential for stigma and judgment.

During psychedelic experiences people are vulnerable and more at risk to abuses of power in relationships. In this episode we discuss the prevalence of power imbalances in mental health care in general, how the are traditionally dealt with, and the need for greater awareness around the potential for emotional or sexual abuse by therapists in psychedelic-assisted therapy. We highlight a recent study that interviewed underground guides and summarized challenges in working with clients during psychedelic sessions such as increased emotional intensity and attunement to therapist behaviors. We discuss the role of touch in psychedelic-assisted therapy and emphasize the importance of therapists “doing the work” themselves.For more information about the history of sexual abuse in psychedelic spaces, see:Ending The Silence Around Psychedelic Therapy AbusePsychedelic Therapy Has A Sexual Abuse Problem

In this show we interview Henry Whitfield, an ACBS peer reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy trainer who has also conducted legal psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands. We have the opportunity here to discuss applying ACT, not only in preparation and integration sessions, but in the course of a psychedelic journey itself. We talk about many of the useful aspects of an ACT-oriented perspective when making sense of and integrating the psychedelic space and talk about the ins and outs of actually running a psychedelic retreat.

In this episode Brian and Nate interview Eric Osborne. Eric is a Kentucky native and cofounder of Psanctuary, a 508(c)(1)(A) faith-based organization, which is a constitutionally protected church utilizing psilocybin containing mushrooms as a sacrament. Additionally, he is the founder of Mycomeditations, a group based psychedelic retreat center in Jamaica. Eric has a unique and very interesting perspective, as one with a front row seat for the developing "psychedelic renaissance" while also remaining outside the dominant therapeutic/medical/research institutions.In this conversation we cover a range of topics, from the importance of group work, popular misunderstandings regarding the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, religious contexts and much more. Once again, thanks for listening. If you are enjoying our show, please consider leaving a review in Apple podcasts or wherever you prefer to listen to podcasts.

Integration is a concept getting plenty of love in conversations about psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. It seems to be universally regarded as important, but what does it mean? In this episode, Brian and Nate offer a definition of integration, discuss its importance within psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, and talk briefly about what might be useful to aid in integration.

How long have psychedelics been around? How were they used by older cultures? What lessons from the past can we apply to the present? In this episode Nate and Brian zoom through thousands of years of history in about an hour, covering a range of historical facts, oddities, and tidbits. With a focus on the last century, we discuss how psychedelics have mostly existed outside of mainstream culture and are currently in transition to become more sanctioned by Western medicine. From the Eleusinian Mysteries to St. Anthony’s Fire, we cover some of the most interesting case examples of how psychedelics have held a long-standing prominent role in human history.

In this episode we share our interview with Dr. Gregory Wells, a clinician and researcher with Ketamine and MDMA based in San Francisco. We talk about clinical research, being in the room with a client on MDMA, and making sense of psychedelic medicine.Gregory Wells (he/him/queer) is a licensed psychologist based in San Francisco. He is a clinician and researcher in the field of psychedelic medicine and a supporter of cognitive liberty and decriminalization. He obtained his doctorate degree from UT-Austin and also holds a post-doctoral degree in clinical psychopharmacology. He currently works as a principal investigator and therapist on the MAPS-sponsored Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy to treat PTSD. He was one of the founding members of Polaris Insight Center, a cutting-edge ketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinic in San Francisco where he served as CEO and CFO. Gregory has a long-standing interest in and deep respect for plant medicines, entheogens, and indigenous wisdom and healing practices. He is eternally grateful for the lineage of elders, ancestors, healers, and teachers who came before him, who taught him, and who make this work possible.