Expressive resource in a clinical psychedelic study: Art as an integration tool.
Progress in brain research January 1, 2025 Handersson Barros, Marcelo Falchi-Carvalho, Lucas O Maia et al. 2 citations
Psychedelic experiences, particularly those from DMT, are often intense and hard to put into words, which complicates therapeutic integration. In a Phase I clinical trial, participants created mandalas as a nonverbal expressive tool. The mandalas helped them symbolically express subjective content that was difficult to verbalize, thereby supporting integration. Despite this promise, expressive tools remain underused in psychedelic clinical protocols. Including art may enhance therapeutic benefits by deepening understanding and meaning of the experience.