Ayahuasca in Western society and the metacognitive counselling approach
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research March 2, 2023 Atsuko Kawakami, Masako Suzuki 1 citation
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic plant used in South American ceremonies, is gaining popularity in Western therapy, but its social context is often overlooked. Combining micro-level effects (physiological and psychological) with macro-level issues (cultural appropriation), an autoethnographic case study highlights risks: individuals may have intrapsychic experiences that deter them from seeking proper treatment, and popularity without contextual understanding can be problematic. The authors suggest a metacognitive counseling approach for both clients and therapists to integrate indigenous methods effectively, though larger studies are needed to support this recommendation.