Holding space on shifting ground: an interpretative phenomenological analysis into counsellors' journeys through the psychedelic renaissance

Counsellors navigating the emergence of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies (PAPs) in the UK face ethical, professional, and personal complexities. Through in-depth interviews with five qualified counsellors, three key themes emerged: the role of personal psychedelic experience in preparing for PAP work, the impact of stigmas related to psychedelics and PAPs on counsellors, and ethical concerns including legal ambiguity, practitioner responsibility, and cultural appropriation. The analysis drew on person-centred and psychodynamic counselling theory to provide therapeutic context.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This thesis explores the lived experience of counsellors, as they navigate the emergence of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies (PAPs) in the UK. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study examines in-depth interviews with five qualified counsellors, with varying degrees of first-hand psychedelic experience, who were all interested in working with psychedelic therapies in some capacity. Each participant shared detailed accounts of the ethical, professional and personal complexities that they have experienced along their journeys through the psychedelic renaissance. Three key themes emerged: first, the role that personal psychedelic experience plays in preparing counsellors for PAP work. Second, the impact of psychedelics and PAP-related stigmas on counsellors; and finally, a range of ethical concerns, including legal ambiguity, practitioner responsibility and cultural appropriation. This thesis has drawn upon person-centred and psychodynamic counselling theory in order to provide therapeutic context to the analysis conducted in this study. By privileging the voices of counsellors, this study contributes to on-going critical discussions on ethics, safety and the attitudes of mental health professionals about the future of PAPs in the UK.