Therapist Integration

📋 In this issue

• An overview of the risks and mitigation strategies therapists use in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy

📢 Announcements

• Survey ongoing. Seeking licensed therapists to complete this 5-minute survey to help prioritize future material and resources.

🕒 Coming Soon

• One of the biggest risks described today are interpretations and actions of state licensing boards. Next time I'll share a draft template you can use to contact your local boards to educate them and request their interpretations of HRIT.

Risks & Mitigation

There's a well-established term for the type of therapy licensed providers have used to support the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. It has been coined harm reduction and integration therapy (HRIT) and there have been scholarly articles written on this topic.

Today I'll summarize the primary risks and mitigation strategies therapists have used to minimize risk and provide ethical, compassionate services to their clients.

Primary risks identified include the following:

• Some licensing boards may disapprove of therapists who do not explicitly try to prevent people from using illegal drugs.
• Some licensing boards may consider intention setting or other strategies aimed at maximizing benefit as a violation.
• Criminal prosecution may occur if a therapist assists in the attainment of illegal drugs or refers a client to an underground guide.
• Potential litigation of malpractice is a risk if a client is harmed while using psychedelics.
• Professional reputation among peers, largely dependent on geographical location and workplace.
• There are no clear guidelines from licensing boards about practicing HRIT, which can lead to stress and inconveniences for therapists.

Licensed therapists have adopted mitigation strategies to minimize several of these risks. Those strategies include:

• Investigate the local context before offering HRIT therapy, including learning more about one’s licensing board, laws related to controlled drugs, and community attitudes about psychedelics.
• Expand the boundaries of one’s competency by obtaining adequate training and access to consultation resources. Consider supervision and consultation with other professionals who are more experienced in HRIT or who share similar interests.
• Avoid facilitating access to psychedelics or prohibited substances and avoid providing a space where psychedelics would be used.
• Refrain from coordinating work with underground guides and avoid referring a client to an underground therapist.
• Be consistent in all written materials that the clinician does not facilitate access to controlled or prohibited drugs. Avoid certain terms such as “preparation” or “guide” to increase clarity and reduce the probability that someone may misperceive HRIT therapy as involving the administration of psychedelic substances.

For a deeper dive on this topic I encourage you to read this article from the Harm Reduction Journal.

As you can see, a significant risk factor involves possible interpretations of state licensing boards. Next week, I'll be sending a draft email template you can use to contact your state licensing board to educate and request their interpretations.

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Safe travels,

Chris

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PS- Have questions or topics you'd like to see discussed? Reply to this email and let me know!

Therapist Integration: Integrating licensed therapists into the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

A project of Peak Psychotherapy, PLLC.

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