‘Mind-Revealing’ Psychedelic States: Psychological Processes in Subjective Experiences That Drive Positive Change

A narrative review argues that the therapeutic use of psychedelics should refocus on the subjective experiences they induce—the original meaning of 'mind-manifesting'—rather than solely on the substances themselves. It surveys psychedelic substances used in modern therapy and indigenous rituals, along with non-pharmacological methods like breathwork, meditation, and sensory deprivation that can produce similar states. While mystical experiences are the strongest predictor of positive outcomes, other processes—awe, perspective shifts, insight, emotional breakthrough, acceptance, memory re-experiencing, and certain challenging experiences—also contribute significantly. Changes in metaphysical and self-related beliefs further influence outcomes. The review concludes that a purely medical and neurobiological view is reductive and should not overshadow the importance of phenomenological experiences in understanding and treating psychological issues rooted in subjective realities.

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Abstract

This narrative review explores the utilization of psychedelic states in therapeutic contexts, deliberately shifting the focus from psychedelic substances back to the experiential phenomena which they induce, in alignment with the original meaning of the term “mind-manifesting”. This review provides an overview of various psychedelic substances used in modern therapeutic settings and ritualistic indigenous contexts, as well as non-pharmacological methods that can arguably induce psychedelic states, including breathwork, meditation, and sensory deprivation. While the occurrence of mystical experiences in psychedelic states seems to be the strongest predictor of positive outcomes, the literature of this field yields several other psychological processes, such as awe, perspective shifts, insight, emotional breakthrough, acceptance, the re-experiencing of memories, and certain aspects of challenging experiences, that are significantly associated with positive change. Additionally, we discuss in detail mystical experience-related changes in metaphysical as well as self-related beliefs and their respective contributions to observed outcomes. We conclude that a purely medical and neurobiological perspective on psychological health is reductive and should not overshadow the significance of phenomenological experiences in understanding and treating psychological issues that manifest in the subjective realities of human individuals.