Chaplains in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: Rationale and Competencies
Stephen P. Lewis, Jaime Clark-Soles, Oriana Mayorga, Sarah K. Sawyer, Eliza Slavet, B. Jeffrey Vidt, Saundra Shanti, Rhiana Wiggins, Kathleen Willis, Jonathan Frey, R. Mark Grace, Aaron D. Cherniak
Journal of Religion and Health February 28, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s10943-026-02591-9 via OpenAlex
Summary
Psychedelic research has shown promise in treating mental health disorders, with participants often reporting mystical experiences that may aid in recovery from conditions like depression and PTSD. Professional clinical chaplains, skilled in providing spiritual support, are proposed as valuable assets in psychedelic-assisted therapies. The article outlines competencies necessary for chaplains to offer ethical care in this context and emphasizes the need for specialized training to help participants navigate their experiences safely.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Chaplains can enhance the safety and effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapies by providing spiritual support and guidance. |
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Abstract
The rapid expansion of psychedelic research has opened significant pathways of opportunity in treating mental health disorders. Participants in recent clinical trials consistently report mystical-type experiences during dosing sessions, and some scholars posit that such experiences themselves help mediate clinical improvements in depression, PTSD, anxiety, and substance use disorders. These reports are in keeping with the historical reality that the use of psychedelic substances and plant medicine has been tied to spiritual experience and shamanic ceremonial practice. Professional clinical chaplains are trained and experienced in providing spiritual and emotional support for people encountering illness, life change, and trauma. They regularly assist participants who seek to make meaning of their experiences in the context of their own beliefs and spirituality. This article argues that as subject matter experts in spirituality and health, chaplains are an asset to psychedelic assisted therapies and should be utilized in research trials and clinical practice, especially given a relative lack of training in spirituality and religion among interprofessional practitioners. We offer this set of competencies for chaplains to provide high quality, safe, and ethical care in the context of psychedelic medicines. These competencies include spiritual and religious care, spiritual inquiry, empathic presence, ethical engagement, and advocacy. We recognize that chaplains will need to pursue specialized education and supervised experience beyond their standard professional requirements, and pathways of personal preparation are discussed. The presence of qualified chaplains will help ensure that participants navigate non-ordinary states of consciousness with safety, sensitivity, and insight regarding improvement and growth.