Suggested Guidelines for Applying a Systemic Lens to Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) June 1, 2026 Sara N Lappan, Sean D Davis
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy effectively treats individual conditions like addiction, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, but current research overlooks relational and systemic factors. This conceptual article proposes integrating relational principles into therapy and research, emphasizing how psychedelic experiences affect interpersonal dynamics, attachment patterns, and family systems. A 10-session research protocol is outlined, including preparation, psilocybin administration, and integration sessions that involve partners or family members. Outcome measures assess relational quality, attachment security, communication, emotional intimacy, and intergenerational trauma using validated tools. The framework draws on Bowenian family systems theory, structural family therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and contextual family therapy, aiming to bridge a gap in the literature and promote long-term systemic change beyond individual symptom reduction.