EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression
April 23, 2024
Bill Brennan, Alex Belser
Chapter 1 introduces psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) and the EMBARK model, a new transdiagnostic and trans-drug approach adaptable to various conditions and psychedelic medicines. It critiques conventional PAT history for omitting harm and marginalized groups' stories. The chapter outlines common PAT elements: preparation, medicine, and integration phases; therapist dyads; set and setting; and the therapeutic container. It notes growing interest in psychedelic medicines for mental health disorders, especially depression, and mentions ongoing randomized clinical trials piloting EMBARK, plus a free open-access training program.
EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression
April 23, 2024
Bill Brennan, Alex Belser
Chapter 5 describes a preparation phase for psychedelic therapy that consists of three 90-minute nondrug sessions. This phase aims to build trust, understand the participant's depression, identify intentions, and provide psychoeducation. The therapist works across six EMBARK clinical domains: creating an environment for profound spiritual experiences, teaching compassionate internal focus and self-soothing, fostering somatic appreciation, encouraging open reception of emotions and beliefs, cultivating a safe and empowering therapeutic relationship considering trauma and culture, and codeveloping strategies to maintain therapeutic gains. Three session agendas are provided.
EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression
April 23, 2024
Bill Brennan, Alex Belser
This chapter describes the medicine sessions of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), where the psychedelic medicine is administered. It outlines the therapist's role, emphasizing support, responsiveness, and skillful following, ensuring physical well-being, maintaining boundaries, and providing mindful, compassionate attention. It details working within the six EMBARK psychedelic therapy domains during sessions, offering specific interventions and explanatory language for clinical phenomena. The chapter also discusses responding to common and challenging events, stressing the therapist's presence and quality of attention. It concludes with advice on challenging experiences and what to do if a participant believes they received a placebo.
EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression
April 23, 2024
Bill Brennan, Alex Belser
Chapter 7 describes the role of integration sessions in psychedelic therapy, where insights from medicine sessions are incorporated into daily life. It presents the EMBARK model's flexible, participant-centric approach, focusing adaptively on six clinical domains. A three-step process for integration is outlined: listening to understand the participant's experience, setting actionable goals for new attitudes and behaviors, and enacting these changes. The chapter introduces three spheres of integration, including participating in social change as a therapeutic growth avenue, and provides guidance on handling disappointing medicine sessions, challenging events, and serious adverse outcomes.