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Michelle S. Thiessen

University of British Columbia

2 papers in the library · 123 citations · publishing 2018

Papers

Psychedelics and the new behaviourism: considering the integration of third-wave behaviour therapies with psychedelic-assisted therapy

International Review of Psychiatry July 4, 2018 Zach Walsh, Michelle S. Thiessen 65 citations

Third wave behaviour therapies, such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, share theoretical foundations and mechanisms of action with psychedelic-assisted therapy, including enhanced mindfulness, decentering, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. Both approaches have demonstrated therapeutic potential for problematic substance use, self-directed and other-directed violence, and mood disorders. The evidence suggests that integrating psychedelic-assisted therapy with these third wave therapies could be a promising avenue for future research.

Psychedelic use and intimate partner violence: The role of emotion regulation

Journal of Psychopharmacology May 29, 2018 Michelle S. Thiessen, Zach Walsh, Brian M. Bird et al. 58 citations

Men who had ever used LSD or psilocybin mushrooms were less likely to report having physically assaulted their current partner (odds ratio 0.42). This link was explained by better emotion regulation among male psychedelic users. The same pattern did not appear for women. The findings come from an online survey of 1,266 community members aged 16–70 and suggest that improved emotional control may be one reason psychedelic use is associated with lower intimate partner violence in men.