Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Learning to Let Go

A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance

Bibliographic Data

ID15519784
AuthorsMax Wolff (0000-0001-6896-9633, Technische Universität Dresden, corresponding author), Ricarda Evens (0000-0002-2834-2171, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin), Lea J Mertens (0000-0003-4415-3941, Central Institute of Mental Health), Michael Koslowski (0000-0001-8798-9875, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin), Felix Betzler (0000-0002-1389-4870, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin), Gerhard Gründer (0000-0001-7868-3903, Central Institute of Mental Health), Henrik Jungaberle (0000-0001-7634-4211)
Year2020
Volume11
Pages5-5
Publication date2020-02-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00005
PMID32153433
OpenAlexW3007835064
LanguageEN
Citations received31
References cited101

The efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental disorders has been attributed to the lasting change from experiential avoidance to acceptance that these treatments appear to facilitate. This article presents a conceptual model that specifies potential psychological mechanisms underlying such change, and that shows substantial parallels between psychedelic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy: We propose that in the carefully controlled context of psychedelic therapy as applied in contemporary clinical research, psychedelic-induced belief relaxation can increase motivation for acceptance via operant conditioning, thus engendering episodes of relatively avoidance-free exposure to greatly intensified private events. Under these unique learning conditions, relaxed avoidance-related beliefs can be exposed to corrective information and become revised accordingly, which may explain long-term increases in acceptance and corresponding reductions in psychopathology. Open research questions and implications for clinical practice are discussed

Acceptance and commitment therapy · Anxiety · Cognition · Cognitive behavioral therapy · Context (archaeology · Experiential avoidance · Parallels · Psychiatry · Psychopathology · Psychotherapist · Chemical synthesis and alkaloids · Clinical Psychology · Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior · Psychedelics and Drug Studies · Psychology

  • Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of major depression

    Open Access•Riccardo Miceli Mcmillan, Christopher F C Jordens•Medicine Health Care and Philosophy•2022

  • “You can only take your clients as far as you’ve been yourself”

    Open Access•Jordan J Negrine, Stephen J Bright et al.•Drugs Education Prevention and…•2026

  • Australian psychologists' attitudes towards psychedelic‐assisted therapy and training following a world‐first drug down‐scheduling

    Open Access•Jordan J Negrine, Cheneal Puljevic et al.•Drug and Alcohol Review•2025

  • Transformative agents of change and investigative neurotechnologies

    Open Access•Michaela Barber, John Gardner et al.•SSM - Qualitative Research in…•2023

  • Primary states of consciousness

    Open Access•Felix Schoeller•Consciousness and Cognition•2023

  • Restructuring insight

    Open Access•Kadi Tulver, Karl Kristjan Kaup et al.•Consciousness and Cognition•2023

  • Psychedelic use and psychological flexibility

    Open Access•W M Campos, Ann Marie Yali•Journal of Psychedelic Studies•2024

  • Holding on or letting go? Patient experiences of control, context, and care in oral esketamine treatment for treatment-resistant depression

    Open Access•Joost J Breeksema, Alistair Niemeijer et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2022

  • Synergies in psychedelic-assisted therapy

    Open Access•Jonathan Stellmacher, Christopher Schmidt et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2026

  • Post-Psychedelic Reductions in Experiential Avoidance Are Associated With Decreases in Depression Severity and Suicidal Ideation

    Open Access•Richard J Zeifman, A C Wagner et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2020

  • A biopsychosocial model of MDMA-assisted therapy in application

    Open Access•Nicholas J Ahari, Gregory A Fonzo•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2025

  • Unique Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Psilocybin Therapy Versus Escitalopram Treatment in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

    Open Access•Brandon Wei, Leor Roseman et al.•International Journal of Mental…•2024

  • Do Psychedelics Mimic Psychosis? Perspectives on Similarities and Differences from Individuals with Lived Experience of Psychosis and Psychedelics

    Open Access•Haley Maria Dourron, Melissa K Bradley et al.•International Journal of Mental…•2026

  • On psychedelic liberalism and mad trust

    Open Access•T Noorani•BioSocieties•2025

  • Understanding the Experience of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy and the Importance of Context

    Open Access•Grace Stockwell, Nicholas R Hoeh et al.•Journal of Psychoactive Drugs•2025

  • Shame, Guilt and Psychedelic Experience

    David S Mathai, Daniel E Roberts et al.•Journal of Psychoactive Drugs•2025

  • Exploring Factors Affecting Psychological Flexibility After Psychedelic Experiences

    Bruno Roméo, E Kervadec et al.•Journal of Psychoactive Drugs•2025

  • Therapeutic-Like Context and Relational Support During Psychedelic Use Moderate Links Among Stress, Challenging Experiences, and Psychological Outcomes

    Open Access•Aaron D Cherniak, Pehr Granqvist et al.•Journal of Psychoactive Drugs•2026

  • Accept to change

    Open Access•Óscar Soto-Angona, Amanda Rodriguez-Urrutia et al.•Journal of Contextual Behavioral…•2025

  • Psychedelic replications in virtual reality and their potential as a therapeutic instrument

    Open Access•Karl Kristjan Kaup, Madis Vasser et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2023

  • Music as a collaborating actor

    Open Access•Justin Dwyer, Robert B Johnston et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2025

  • The Montreal model

    Open Access•Nicolas Garel, Jessica Drury et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2023

  • Study Protocol for “Psilocybin as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

    Open Access•Meg J Spriggs, Hannah Douglass et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2021

  • Does Psychedelic Therapy Have a Transdiagnostic Action and Prophylactic Potential

    Open Access•Rita Kočárová, Jiřı́horáček et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2021

  • From Underground to Mainstream

    Open Access•Andrew Beswerchij, Dominic Sisti•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2022

  • Unlocking the healing power of psilocybin

    Open Access•Sandra Szafoni, Piotr Gręblowski et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2024

  • The interplay of psychedelic use and meditation in shaping psychological well-being

    Open Access•Andreas Krabbe, Pilleriin Sikka et al.•Consciousness and Cognition•2026

  • Psychedelics in the age of reproducibility

    Open Access•Guy Simon, Nir Tadmor et al.•International Journal of Drug…•2026

  • Psychedelic-assisted grief therapy

    Open Access•Pablo Sabucedo, Chris Evans et al.•Mortality•2025

  • Predictors and potentiators of psychedelic-occasioned mystical experiences

    Open Access•Gandy•Journal of Psychedelic Studies•2022

  • De-Mystifying Mysticism

    Open Access•Aneela Qadir, Tatiana Tiaynen-Qadir•Religions•2024

  • Cognitive Therapy for Chronic and Persistent Depression

    Open Access•Richard G Moore, Anne Garland et al.•Cognitive Therapy for Chronic and…•2003

  • Cognitive Behavioural Processes across Psychological Disorders (DRAFT)

    Allison G Harvey, Allison Harvey et al.•Cognitive behavioural processes…•2004

  • Experiential avoidance as a functional dimensional approach to psychopathology

    Open Access•Neharika Chawla, Brian Ostafin et al.•Journal of Clinical Psychology•2007

  • Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer

    Open Access•Roland R Griffiths, Matthew W Johnson et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2016

  • Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms

    Open Access•Theresa M Carbonaro, Matthew P Bradstreet et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2016

  • Pilot study of the 5-HT 2A R agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction

    Open Access•Matthew W Johnson, Albert Garcia-Romeu et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2014

  • The Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire

    Wakiza Gamez, Michael Chmielewski et al.•Psychological Assessment•2014

  • Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression

    Open Access•Robin Carhart‐Harris, R L Carhart-Harris et al.•Psychopharmacology•2018

  • Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression

    Open Access•Leor Roseman, David Nutt et al.•Frontiers in Pharmacology•2018

  • Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness

    Open Access•Katherine A Maclean, Matthew W Johnson et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2011

  • Ego-Dissolution and Psychedelics

    Open Access•Matthew M Nour, Lisa Evans et al.•Frontiers in Human Neuroscience•2016

  • Psychedelics and connectedness

    Open Access•Robin Carhart‐Harris, R L Carhart-Harris et al.•Psychopharmacology•2018

  • Predicting Responses to Psychedelics

    Open Access•Eline C H M Haijen, Eline Haijen et al.•Frontiers in Pharmacology•2018

  • Emotional breakthrough and psychedelics

    Open Access•Leor Roseman, Eline Haijen et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2019

  • Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer

    Charles S Grob, Alicia Danforth et al.•Archives of General Psychiatry•2011

  • Psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviors

    Open Access•Roland R Griffiths, Matthew W Johnson et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2018

  • Obsessional-compulsive problems

    Open Access•Paul M Salkovskis•Behaviour Research and Therapy•1985

  • Addiction Motivation Reformulated

    Timothy B Baker, Megan E Piper et al.•Psychological Review•2004

  • Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer

    Open Access•Stephen Ro, Stephen Ross et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2016

  • Psychedelic therapy for smoking cessation

    Open Access•T Noorani, Albert Garcia-Romeu et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2018

  • LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with a life-threatening disease

    Open Access•Peter Gasser, Katharina Kirchner et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2015

  • Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

    Francisco Moreno, Francisco A Moreno et al.•The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry•2006

  • The Challenging Experience Questionnaire

    Open Access•Frederick S Barrett, Matthew P Bradstreet et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2016

  • Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression

    Open Access•Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Dayanna Barreto et al.•Psychological Medicine•2019

  • The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation

    Open Access•Yi-Yuan Tang, Britta K Hölzel et al.•Nature Reviews Neuroscience•2015

  • Constructing drug effects

    Open Access•Ido Hartogsohn•Drug Science, Policy and Law•2017

  • Experiential avoidance and behavioral disorders

    Steven C Hayes, Kelly G Wilson et al.•Journal of Consulting and…•1996

  • Mechanisms of mindfulness

    Open Access•Shauna L Shapiro, Linda E Carlson et al.•Journal of Clinical Psychology•2006

  • A cognitive approach to panic

    Open Access•David M Clark•Behaviour Research and Therapy•1986

  • Rebus and the Anarchic Brain

    Open Access•Robin Carhart‐Harris, R L Carhart-Harris et al.•Pharmacological Reviews•2019

  • Maximizing exposure therapy

    Open Access•Michelle G Craske, Michael Treanor et al.•Behaviour Research and Therapy•2014

  • Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation

    Matthew W Johnson, Albert Garcia-Romeu et al.•The American Journal of Drug and…•2017

  • Psychedelics and the essential importance of context

    Open Access•Robin L Carhart-Harris, Leor Roseman et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2018

  • Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression

    Open Access•Robin L Carhart-Harris, Mark Bolstridge et al.•The Lancet Psychiatry•2016

  • Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases

    Open Access•Peter Gasser, Dominique Holstein et al.•The Journal of Nervous and Mental…•2014

  • Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences

    Open Access•Roland R Griffiths, Matthew W Johnson et al.•Psychopharmacology•2011

  • Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence

    Open Access•Michael P Bogenschutz, Alyssa A Forcehimes et al.•Journal of Psychopharmacology•2015

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    Open Access•Steven C Hayes, Jason B Luoma et al.•Behaviour Research and Therapy•2006

  • Whatever next? Predictive brains, situated agents, and the future of cognitive science

    Open Access•Andrew Clark, Andy Clark•Behavioral and Brain Sciences•2013

  • The free-energy principle

    Open Access•Karl J Friston, Karl Friston•Nature Reviews Neuroscience•2010

  • The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death

    Open Access•Walter N Pahnke•Harvard Theological Review•1969

  • Exploring the case for research on incorporating psychedelics within interventions for borderline personality disorder

    Open Access•Richard J Zeifman, A C Wagner•Journal of Contextual Behavioral…•2019

  • The centrality of sense of self in psychological flexibility processes

    Open Access•Steven C Hayes, Stu Law et al.•Journal of Contextual Behavioral…•2019

  • The use of the psychological flexibility model to support psychedelic assisted therapy

    Open Access•Rosalind Watts, Jason B Luoma•Journal of Contextual Behavioral…•2019

  • Psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic frame

    Open Access•Jordan Sloshower, Jeffrey Guss et al.•Journal of Contextual Behavioral…•2019

  • Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety

    Open Access•A K Davis, Frederick S Barrett et al.•Journal of Contextual Behavioral…•2019

  • Toward a contextual psychedelic-assisted therapy

    Open Access•Jason B Luoma, Pablo Sabucedo et al.•Journal of Contextual Behavioral…•2019

  • White Noise Speech Illusions

    Open Access•E Schepers, Richel Lousberg et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2019

  • Psychedelics, Personality and Political Perspectives

    Matthew M Nour, Lisa Evans et al.•Journal of Psychoactive Drugs•2017

  • Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression

    Open Access•Rosalind Watts, Camilla Day et al.•Journal of Humanistic Psychology•2017

  • Patient Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy

    Open Access•Alexander Belser, Alexander B Belser et al.•Journal of Humanistic Psychology•2017

  • Development of a Psychotherapeutic Model for Psilocybin-Assisted Treatment of Alcoholism

    Open Access•Michael P Bogenschutz, Alyssa A Forcehimes•Journal of Humanistic Psychology•2016

  • Cancer at the Dinner Table

    Open Access•Thomas Cody Swift, Alexander Belser et al.•Journal of Humanistic Psychology•2017

  • The influence of therapists' first-hand experience with psychedelics on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research and therapist training

    Open Access•Elizabeth M Nielson, Jeffrey Gu et al.•Journal of Psychedelic Studies•2018

Unique citing works31
Citations per year5,17
Citation span2020 - 2026 (7)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 31
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae