Panel Discussion 19 - Psychedelic-assisted Therapies for Couples and Relationships: The Joy of Connection

Psychedelic medicines have been used in indigenous and spiritual traditions for millennia, and Western scientific research has recently begun to turn serious attention to the potential of these substances to treat mental health disorders. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies are emerging as promising treatments for clinical mental health problems including posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, suicidality, anxiety, eating disorders, and more. However, symptom-focused approaches miss the potential of psychedelic medicines to enhance wellbeing, foster connection, and cultivate joy. In particular, psychedelic substances have great potential to augment evidence-based couple therapies in ways that promote greater intimacy, vulnerability, and bonding. Relationship dysfunction has broad impacts on health, mortality, mental health, and quality of life, while healthy and thriving relationships promote resilience, longevity, and happiness. Although effective cognitive-behavioral relationship interventions exist, many couples do not fully recover from relationship distress by psychotherapy alone. The proposed biological and psychological mechanisms of psychedelic medicines, including 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ketamine, and psilocybin include pathways that impact intimate relationships, such as triggering oxytocin release and promoting empathy. This panel discussion will focus on the potential of psychedelic medicines to enhance the impact of evidence-based treatments for couples and relationships. Expert panelists include researchers and clinicians with experience conducting MDMA-assisted Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD and ketamine-assisted couple therapy, representing the vanguard of this new field of research and practice. The panel will discuss the small yet growing evidence base showing the promise of these treatments, along with clinical practice considerations, navigating safety and ethical concerns, the importance of cultural humility, and larger implications for the field of cognitive and behavioral science. The discussion will also identify areas for continued development in evidence-based practice and practice-informed research.