City Research Online

Abstract

Purpose: Romantic relationships are integral for personal well-being, both physically and psychologically. However, as psychedelic research contributed to produce promising outcomes for various mental health conditions, the interpersonal dimension of psychedelic experiences remains under relatively researched. Only limited research has addressed the intersection of romantic relationships and psychedelics, and to date, no study has explored what emerges between couples when they take psilocybin together, which this study aimed to address.

Methods: The study was underpinned by a phenomenological and social constructivist epistemology, and drew on multiple-case study research design. The data was collected from two couples (four participants) who took part in joint and individual semi-structured interviews, and further contributed a multi-media based data point alongside a 250-word paragraph. All data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and introduced an initial step, namely couple experiential themes (CETs) to address the relational dimension of the shared psilocybin experience.

Results: Four group experiential themes were identified: 1) An ever-evolving relationship to psilocybin, 2) Tending to the safety of the trip together, 3) Me, You, Us: Relational Authenticity, 4) Connecting beyond words.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that shared psilocybin experiences can amplify accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement (ARE interactions) between romantic partners, reflecting core processes from Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy (Johnson, 2008). Participants also described a strengthened sense of individual self, alongside a strengthened sense of togetherness. Additionally, the impact of having a romantic partner present throughout the trip, including the quality of the relationship influenced the texture of the experience, leads to the proposal of the concept of 'relational set and setting'. This opens the potential for future research to explore psilocybin-assisted couples therapy frameworks and the integration of partners in individual psilocybin-assisted therapy.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Additional Information:	Client Study and Publishable Paper redacted for confidentiality and publishing reasons respectively.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Psychology & Neuroscience School of Health & Medical Sciences > School of Health & Medical Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

Export

Downloads