The Lived Experience of Professional Mental Health Clinicians with Spiritually Significant Psychedelic Experiences

Abstract

This dissertation explored accounts of spiritually significant psychedelic experiences among professional mental health clinicians. The study sought to add to the literature of psychedelic research by examining the religious/spiritual (R/S) content of the psychedelic experience and the R/S changes present in one’s life following such an experience. The study also sought to address a gap in current research by exploring the experience of professional mental health clinicians who have used psychedelics, a population whose psychedelic experiences have never been studied before specifically. Seventeen mental health clinicians were interviewed about their spiritually significant psychedelic experiences.

This qualitative study utilized a transcendental phenomenological methodology, examining personal accounts of the lived experience of this phenomenon. The study’s primary research question was: What is the lived experience of professional mental health clinicians who have had spiritually significant psychedelic experiences? Data was gathered describing both the R/S content of the experience and the R/S changes experienced afterward. The study also sought to address secondary research questions relating to R/S commitment, R/S tolerance, and R/S multicultural counselor competence (MCC).

The findings of this study provide a thorough description of the lived experience of clinicians who have had spiritually significant psychedelic experiences. The findings also suggest such experiences may be beneficial for mental health clinicians and others. The study provides data consistent with past research, together with data which expands the field’s understanding of the phenomenon of spiritually significant psychedelic experience.