Psychedelics and sex, two historically taboo topics, are garnering increased attention in therapeutic spaces. Psychedelics are psychoactive compounds that can induce profound changes in perception. Perceptual changes can include visual and auditory shifts, hypersensitivity to touch, light, and sound, and altered or slowed perception of time. The synonym “entheogen,” has its roots in the Greek “entheos,” meaning “divine,” and “genesthai” for “generate.” Thus, entheogenic/psychedelic plants and compounds can generate a connection with the divine, a sense of oneness with all things, and ineffability.
What a mystery! The Native American term for the divine means the spirit that moves all things. Carl Jung described the same force that animates the forest flower as the same one that animates the Self. By definition, direct experience in non-duality dissolves the observer of an object. And, the foundation of empiricism falters. The field of Psychology, historically solely reliant on empirical methods, is now in full swing researching the potent effects of psychedelics for well-being, practices rooted in societies that incorporate rituals centering a connection with the divine.
The erotic encounter, with the proper set and setting, has parallels as a mind-altering journey. Often there is an untangling of inner knots, a letting go of ego constraints, and recognition of the divine wholeness in oneself and the other. It is no wonder the French refer to the orgasm as “the little death,” and a psychedelic psychonaut might have a “cosmic sneeze.” When our stories fall away- when we forget who we are in that little death- what remains? As Terrence Mckenna says, “Sexuality is the glory of the living experience. Ecstasy is the contemplation of wholeness. That’s why when you experience ecstasy—when you contemplate wholeness—you come down remade in terms of the political and social arena because you have seen the larger picture” (McKenna, 1991). The authors of this paper are curious what happens when psychedelic treatment is combined with sex therapy, two of the more potent states of consciousness that can occur on the spectrum of human experience.
In the age of the psychedelic renaissance, psychedelic treatment has been formalized into mainstream psychological treatment and combined with traditional psychotherapeutic techniques. where these psychedelics are administered are formalized into mainstream psychological treatment. These substances are typically administered in a controlled setting by a trained therapist or healthcare professional, and the therapy aims to facilitate a deeper exploration of the patient's emotions, thoughts, and experiences. During a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy session, the patient is typically given a moderate dose of the psychedelic substance in a supportive environment, with the therapist acting as a guide.
Sex therapy is a kind of therapeutic intervention which varies significantly in process depending on the clinician, their training, and their chosen modality or framework. Not only does sex therapy cover treatment for sexual dysfunctions or disorders, as this might be what first comes to mind when approaching this topic, but in fact, clients seeking sex therapy present with a vast range of sexual issues and concerns. Some of these reasons include, “work with intimate partner violence in sexual relationships, infidelity and betrayal, consensual non-monogamy in intimate relationships, Internet-based sex and pornography, LGBTQ sexualities and relationships, sexual abuse and assault (working with both survivors and offenders), and cross-cultural perspectives of sexual expression” (Green & Flemons, 2007/2018).
So, what happens when topics of sex and sexuality arise during the course of a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy session? Much like the powerful forces of love and sex, psychedelics can change us. Every day, individuals typically adhere closely to the narratives they are familiar with and readily comprehend. In order to ensure our safety and maintain a sense of control, our minds produce forecasts that guide our lifestyles, aiming to minimize potential harm. While this function serves as a clear protective strategy, it can also give rise to constraining convictions – such as feelings of shame related to sexuality, sexual orientation, and sexual trauma. Psychedelics offer the potential to reshape our stories concerning sex, granting us the ability to perceive our bodies, identities, sexualities, value, and sexual encounters from fresh and transformative perspectives. In other words, psychedelics offer “relaxed belief” abilities which diminish the strength of our brain's anticipatory capabilities and create space for doubt and inquiry (Carhart-Harris & Friston, 2019). These capacities are especially impactful for women, who within our culture, possess more extensive unarticulated inner realms concerning matters of sex and sexuality.
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