The Psychological Flexibility Model: Enhancing Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has garnered significant attention in recent years for its potential to treat a range of mental health conditions, particularly depression. As research continues to explore the mechanisms behind these therapies, the Psychological Flexibility Model (PFM) has emerged as a promising framework to support and enhance the therapeutic process. In a paper co-authored by Rosalind Watts PhD and Jason Luoma PhD the PFM model is embedded into the preparation and integration phases of psychedelic therapy.
Understanding Psychological Flexibility in Therapy
Psychological flexibility, a core concept in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), is the ability to stay open and present, and act in ways consistent with one's values, even in the face of difficult thoughts and emotions. This flexibility allows individuals to adapt to changing situations and respond in ways that align with their goals and values, rather than being dominated by unhelpful thought patterns or emotional responses.
In the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy, psychological flexibility is particularly relevant. Psychedelics often induce profound and sometimes challenging experiences that can disrupt entrenched mental patterns. The PFM helps patients navigate these experiences, promoting a willingness to embrace discomfort and explore difficult emotions, which can lead to meaningful psychological and behavioral changes.
The ACE Model: A Practical Application of PFM
The Accept, Connect, Embody (ACE) model, proposed by Dr. Rosalind Watts and Dr. Jason Luoma, is a structured approach to incorporating psychological flexibility into psychedelic therapy. The model is designed to guide patients through the preparation, psychedelic, and integration phases of therapy, helping them maximize the therapeutic benefits of their experiences.
Accept: This phase encourages patients to open up to whatever arises during their psychedelic experience, including challenging or painful emotions. By fostering acceptance, patients can engage more fully with their experience, reducing resistance and facilitating deeper emotional processing.
Connect: In this phase, patients are guided to connect to themselves, others, the universe, and to the meaningful aspects of their experience, such as insights, values, and emotions. This connection helps them integrate the lessons learned during their psychedelic journey into their daily lives.
Embody: The final phase emphasizes the importance of grounding these insights in embodied actions. Patients are encouraged to translate their newfound understanding into concrete, value-driven behaviors, ensuring that the benefits of the therapy extend beyond the psychedelic experience itself.
The Role of Preparation and Integration
The success of psychedelic-assisted therapy depends not only on the psychedelic session itself but also on the preparation and integration that bookend the experience. The ACE model plays a crucial role in these phases, providing a structured yet flexible framework that helps patients prepare for and make sense of their psychedelic experiences.
Preparation: Prior to the psychedelic session, patients engage in exercises designed to foster psychological flexibility. This preparation includes guided visualizations, like the P-ACE (Preparation - Accept, Connect, Embody) script, which helps patients develop a mindset of openness and acceptance. By practicing these skills beforehand, patients are better equipped to engage with the intense emotions and insights that may arise during their psychedelic experience.
Integration: After the psychedelic session, the integration phase is critical for translating the experience into lasting change. The I-ACE (Integration - Accept, Connect, Embody) process helps patients distill the key lessons from their experience and apply them to their everyday lives. This phase often involves journaling, reflection, and continued practice of the skills learned during the preparation phase.
Implications for the Future of Psychedelic Therapy
The incorporation of the Psychological Flexibility Model into psychedelic-assisted therapy represents a significant advancement in the field. By focusing on acceptance, connection, and embodiment, the ACE model helps patients navigate the complexities of their psychedelic experiences and integrate these experiences into their lives in meaningful ways.