Psychedelic Psychodynamics

Relational Knowing and the Unthought Known

Bibliographic Data

ID21630351
AuthorsKevin Barrett (Univeristy of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Kevin M Barrett (0009-0005-2912-5821, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume32
Issue5
Pages484-496
Publication date2022-09-03
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychoanalytic Dialogues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1048-1885 • E-ISSN: 1940-9222
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10481885.2022.2106141
OpenAlexW4312384046
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited28

After a two-decade moratorium on psychedelic research in the United States, new studies on psychedelic assisted psychotherapy have shown promising results in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and the betterment of well people. Little has been written in contemporary psychoanalytic journals about the possible use of psychoanalytic theory as an underpinning for this research. This paper examines three concepts from psychoanalytic thinkers that may contribute to an understanding of what is curative in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. First, I examine the possibility of psychedelics as a catalyst in changing a patient’s implicit relational patterns. Second, I use the work of Winnicott and Christopher Bollas to explore the psychedelic experience. Finally, I look at the role of mystical experience in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy

Mysticism · Psychoanalysis · Psychoanalytic theory · Psychodynamics · Psychotherapist · Chemical synthesis and alkaloids · Philosophy · Psychedelics and Drug Studies · Psychology

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