Journal of Psychedelic Studies
March 5, 2024
Mitch Earleywine, Alyssa B. Oliva, Joseph A. de Leo et al.
6 citations
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which views the mind as composed of multiple subpersonalities or 'parts' shaped by trauma, has gained popularity, particularly in psychedelic-assisted treatments. However, outcome data for applying IFS to post-traumatic stress disorder are limited, and its theoretical assumptions are difficult to test. The model's appeal highlights a problem with how empirically supported treatments are perceived. Ethical recommendations for presenting IFS include providing detailed psychoeducation about evidence-based treatments, being candid about the experimental nature of alternatives, monitoring progress, and watching for harm. Drawing on IFS's appealing features to improve perceptions of validated treatments may attract more clients and reduce dropout while awaiting empirical evidence.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2026
Philip Kamilar-Britt, Alyssa B. Oliva, Mitch Earleywine
Familiarity with treatment options predicts how credible nicotine users find both standard cessation methods and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. In a survey of 534 daily nicotine users, those more familiar with a treatment rated it as more credible. Credibility, in turn, predicted interest in trying that treatment. Younger age, lower education, and prior psychedelic use were associated with greater interest in psilocybin-assisted therapy. Tailoring educational materials to increase familiarity may improve treatment engagement and outcomes.
Psychoactives
June 25, 2025
Mitch Earleywine, Alyssa B. Oliva
Supervision in psychedelic-assisted therapy currently accounts for very little variance in treatment outcome, despite enthusiasm from trainees and supervisors. A proposed model, Motivational-Interviewing-Enhanced Integration Supervision (MIE-IS), aims to improve outcomes by having supervisors model Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles with trainees. Trainees then apply those same MI technical and relational skills to support clients in integrating psychedelic-induced insights into behavioral change. This approach is expected to enhance therapeutic alliances, improve self-care for clients, trainees, and supervisors, reduce burnout, and foster a culture of continuous learning and reflective practice, ultimately benefiting clients through more effective integration of psychedelic experiences.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
July 11, 2024
Alyssa B. Oliva, Mitch Earleywine, Fiona Low et al.
In a survey of 635 adults in the United States, the importance people place on having a therapist of the same gender or same race differs by the type of therapy and by the participant's own race and gender. For both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), racial and ethnic minority participants and female participants rated a same-gender practitioner as more important than did White or male participants. A same-gender CBT therapist was rated as more important than a same-gender PAT guide.