Examining the Use of Music by Practitioners of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Over the last decade, there has been increased interest in psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy, due to the promising results studies have shown in the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Additionally, from the earliest days of psychedelic research in the 1960s with the work of Helen Bonny and E. Thayer Gaston in the United States, music and music therapists have been a part of psychedelic studies, the impact of which continues to influence the practice of psychedelic-assisted therapy today. As psychedelic-assisted therapy continues to be studied in the 21st century, there have been concerns raised for the need to be aware of the potential risks for clients receiving psychedelic-assisted therapy. Likewise, as the understanding of music and practice of music therapy has evolved since the 1960s to include an awareness of the importance of culturally sensitive and trauma-informed practice, the concerns raised about the need to be aware of the potential risks in psychedelic-assisted therapy highlights a need for developing an understanding of what ethical practice in this domain could look like. Drawing upon the results of a qualitative multiple case study the presenter conducted as part of their doctoral studies, this presentation will provide attendees with an overview of the current state of psychedelic research related to music and the ways in which music is used presently in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Special attention will be made to address ways in which live and recorded music are used to support the arc of the psychedelic journey within the context of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, while also highlighting areas of possible ethical concerns specifically related to music.