Existential feelings as a phenomenological framework for psychedelic therapy

Summary

The article explores how existential feelings play a crucial role in both the immediate and enduring effects of psychedelic therapy. It discusses Matthew Ratcliffe’s theory to identify common phenomenological traits among mental disorders and examines oceanic feelings as a key aspect of psychedelic experiences. The framework presented helps characterize the therapeutic process of psychedelics and outlines conditions necessary for effective treatment.

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Abstract

This article provides a phenomenological account of the role of existential feelings in the acute and lasting effects of psychedelic therapy and attempts to elucidate phenomenologically why certain psychedelic experiences in specific contexts have the potential of providing long-term relief from mental suffering. First, we explain Matthew Ratcliffe’s theory of existential feelings and use it to highlight shared phenomenological characteristics between various mental disorders. Next, we discuss the phenomenology of oceanic feelings to specify the kind of existential feeling that is involved in acute psychedelic experiences and connect this to the existential reorientation that may occur after the use of psychedelics. Following this, we show how this framework of existential feelings allows us to (1) characterize the phenomenological process that takes during therapeutic use of psychedelics, and (2) describe various conditions required for a successful therapeutic psychedelic experience.

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