The Power of Togetherness
Article Title: “Psychedelic Communitas: Intersubjective Experience During Psychedelic Group Sessions Predicts Enduring Changes in Psychological Wellbeing and Social Connectedness”
Author: H. Kettner, F. E. Rosas, C. Timmermann, L. Kärtner, R. L. Carhart-Harris, L. Roseman
Publication Date: 25 March 2021
Background
In recent years, psychedelics have made a scientific comeback, showing promise for treating mood disorders and improving mental health. Traditionally, the importance of “set and setting” – one’s mindset and environment – has been recognised in shaping the psychedelic experience. However, a major missing piece in many clinical trials has been the social dimension, despite its prevalence in natural settings such as retreats and ceremonies.
This study, conducted by researchers at Imperial College London, explores the role of “communitas” – a powerful shared sense of togetherness – in psychedelic group settings, and its influence on long-term psychological outcomes.
Study Overview
The researchers followed 886 participants attending psychedelic retreats, collecting data across five time points: before, during, and after the retreat, and again four weeks later. Most participants used psilocybin or ayahuasca in facilitated group settings.
To measure social and emotional dynamics, they introduced the Communitas Scale (COMS) – a tool to assess feelings of unity, equality, and shared humanity experienced during the retreat. Participants also reported on wellbeing, social connectedness, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and interpersonal tolerance.
Key Findings
Communitas Predicts Positive Change: Higher levels of communitas during the retreat strongly correlated with improved wellbeing and social connectedness four weeks later.
Emotional Support is Key: Feeling emotionally supported by facilitators and fellow participants significantly increased communitas.
Self-Disclosure Matters: Participants who openly shared their thoughts and feelings were more likely to experience strong communitas.
Stronger Together: Communitas experienced during the ceremony influenced long-term outcomes only when it extended across the whole retreat, showing that sustained group connection is vital.
Broader Benefits: Communitas was also linked to reduced depression and anxiety and greater interpersonal tolerance.
Discussion
The study sheds light on why group psychedelic experiences are often described as life-changing. It’s not just the substance, but the environment and relationships that shape outcomes. The researchers found that communitas has a psychological structure of its own, distinct from individual mystical experiences, and that it plays a measurable role in fostering mental health.
Increased openness, mutual support, and the temporary breakdown of social barriers during retreats create the conditions for transformative personal and collective growth.
Implications
This research suggests that group psychedelic experiences can be more than therapeutic—they can also be deeply humanising. Integrating practices like sharing circles and fostering emotional safety could significantly enhance retreat outcomes.
The findings offer a roadmap for retreat facilitators: focus on community-building, prepare participants for emotional openness, and provide consistent support before, during, and after the ceremonies.
Potential Application
For retreat providers, these insights can shape more effective and meaningful programmes. Creating rituals that encourage communitas—such as group sharing, music, and collective preparation—can amplify the positive impacts of the psychedelic experience. These findings also open the door to exploring psychedelic-assisted group therapies in clinical settings.
Conclusions
The study is a compelling call to embrace the social fabric of psychedelic experiences. Communitas—the feeling of profound connection—emerges not as a side effect but as a central mechanism of transformation. For retreat participants and facilitators alike, this highlights the immense value of journeying together.
Reference:
Kettner, H., Rosas, F. E., Timmermann, C., Kärtner, L., Carhart-Harris, R. L., & Roseman, L. (2021). Psychedelic Communitas: Intersubjective Experience During Psychedelic Group Sessions Predicts Enduring Changes in Psychological Wellbeing and Social Connectedness. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 623985. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.623985
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