Research Title:
Therapists’ Experience of the Therapeutic Relationship in Psychedelic-assisted Therapy using Psilocybin for Depression: A Thematic Analysis
Principal investigator:
Veronica Surfaro
About the researcher:
I am a 3rd year doctoral student in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy at Middlesex University (Metanoia Institute), London, UK. This qualitative study is part of my doctorate program.
Research Objective:
The aim of the study is to explore how therapists (counsellors, psychotherapist, or psychologists) experience the therapeutic relationship with clients who seek psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depression (clinical depression or depressed mood).
Affiliation:
Middlesex University (Metanoia Institute) UK.
Research proposal abstract
The last two decades have witnessed a growing research interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy, i.e., the use of psychedelics as an adjunct to psychotherapy for the treatment of a wide spectrum of mental and substances use disorders. Previous research has shown that the therapeutic relationship is a key component of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Quantitative studies have contributed to the measurement of this element. However, why or how the therapeutic relationship works is still not fully understood from a qualitative angle. Such lack of understanding has clinical implications as currently there is an absence of a clear, consistent framework that underpins the therapeutic process in psychedelic therapy. The proposed new study aims to advance the fields of counselling psychology and psychotherapy by filling this gap in the literature.
Participation
The study welcomes practitioners with any levels of experience, different modalities of practice, who work in different settings (for example, clinical trials or retreats) and can be based anywhere in the world! Therapists can be qualified or working towards qualification, but it is important that they have some experience of working relationally with clients and also some experience of providing psychotherapy without psychedelics.
For safeguarding reasons, it is essential for therapists to be legally allowed to work with psychedelics; for example, they have received a special permission as part of a clinical trial, or they practice in countries where psychedelics are decriminalised or legal.
Participants who are interested will have an interview with me. Interviews are conducted remotely and are held in English. This will be a qualitative study, using Thematic Analysis at the data analysis stage.