A Missing Voice? Peer Support Workers' Perceptions of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Australia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.
Aloysius Amos Lau, Shalini Arunogiri, Boen Raner-galutera, Siegfried Lichtwark, Sarah J Catchlove
Brain and behavior June 1, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1002/brb3.71521 via PubMed
Summary
Peer Support Workers (PSWs) show strong support for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), with most willing to recommend it to clients. However, concerns about client safety, psychoeducation, stigma, and accessibility were also highlighted. A mixed methods design was used to gather PSWs' perspectives through a survey and follow-up interviews, revealing both enthusiasm for PAT and significant barriers to its adoption.
Study at a glance
| Design | mixed methods |
|---|---|
| Population | Peer Support Workers in mental health and substance use treatment |
| Key finding | Most Peer Support Workers expressed willingness to recommend psychedelic-assisted therapy to clients, while also identifying concerns regarding client safety and other barriers. |
Abstract
Peer Support Workers (PSWs) in mental health and substance use treatment draw on their lived experience (LE) to support clients through mutual understanding and trust. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is emerging as a mental health and substance use treatment modality. As interest grows, understanding PSWs' perspectives on PAT is critical to inform safe and effective implementation, and the potential role PSWs can play in models of care. This study examined factors shaping PSWs' perspectives toward PAT and perceived barriers to its adoption and implementation. A mixed methods design was employed. A cross-sectional survey informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) captured PSWs' perceptions of PAT and potential barriers to its use. This was followed by semi-structured interviews with five survey participants. Interview transcripts were analyzed to provide a qualitative description and identify topics and patterns to enrich and contextualize the survey findings. Survey responses indicated strong PSW support for PAT, with most participants expressing willingness to recommend it to clients. Qualitative findings expanded on this interest, highlighting concerns around client safety, psychoeducation, stigma, and accessibility. The qualitative description of interview results identified key influences on PSWs' attitudes toward PAT, complementing survey results and aligning with existing literature.