Addressing Abuse and Repair: An Open Letter to the Psychedelic Community
This letter was originally published by Chacruna Institute as a gesture of support. We (the authors) have made the decision to relocate it to Medium. We thank the team at Chacruna Institute for their efforts and acknowledge the importance of having a neutral space in which to engage with topics of accountability and repair. We affirm that this is a community effort, and is not owned by or associated with any single platform or organization. Thank you for your grace and understanding.
Dear Community,
In recent weeks, a series of accounts have come to light alleging abuse of power by therapists and other practitioners who are leaders in the emerging field of psychedelic assisted therapies. In this field, there are potential abuses of power that involve, but are not limited to: crossing boundaries emotionally and sexually, emotional betrayal, and bartering arrangements that seem inequitable and could be exploitative. These events are especially disturbing because they occur in a field that purports to be built upon the pillars of healing and cultural transformation, and within facilitator-client relationships in which the imbalance of power is heightened.
We feel compelled to speak out. We cannot stay silent, but rather wish to invite dialogue about how we can prevent harm and abuse in our communities, with an eye toward the formation of an independent ethics council to assist us in these efforts as the field grows.
Public interest in the healing potential of psychedelics has blossomed in recent years. The field is a rich ecosystem of passionate practitioners from diverse backgrounds, therapists, researchers, and policy reform advocates who have direct experience of the life-changing effects of these substances. In our view, working with psychedelics can lead to deep and transformative experiences.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy entails supporting people through their most vulnerable states and darkest moments, and as such, the ethical responsibility of this work cannot be overstated.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy entails supporting people through their most vulnerable states and darkest moments, and as such, the ethical responsibility of this work cannot be overstated. Because of the vulnerability of altered states of consciousness, trust that is placed in the hands of a guide or facilitator opens the significant risk of abuse of power. Abuse can take many forms, including therapy abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse, psychological manipulation, and subtler forms of harm. Vulnerability is increased when imbalances of power based upon social identities of gender, race, ability, and other systems of marginalization are present.
One artifact of deepening into altered states of consciousness is an increased detachment from the social mores and constructions of consensus reality. This is a double-edged sword; on one hand, it can liberate us and the people we serve from limiting structures that confine us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. On the other hand, this detachment can open facilitators up to the belief that they can or should operate outside of standards for best practices that are in place to keep clients safe.
It is incumbent on all of us to pay attention to such dynamics. In these moments of rupture, it may be tempting to dismiss allegations in an attempt to do damage control, to avoid bad press or to deflect attention that could “damage the movement.” However, to prioritize the advancement of psychedelics in the mainstream over acknowledging survivors of abuse– and engaging in actions of repair– would be an act of violence incongruent with the healing culture we seek to create.
No one is immune to causing harm. And no one among us, no matter how beloved or well recognized, is above the ethical mandates of this vocation.
It is critical that we take all allegations seriously. We must listen and hold space for the pain and anger of these experiences; we must sit with the implications of abuse; we must do everything in our power to interrupt cycles of harm and create avenues for repair when it occurs. When we minimize accounts of abuse or uphold silence to protect ourselves or others, we co-sign to a culture that prioritizes those with social and economic capital over the communities we profess to serve. When we do not question the webs of enmeshment and cult-like behaviors that can occur within the psychedelic community, we collude with abuse. No one is immune to causing harm. And no one among us, no matter how beloved or well recognized, is above the ethical mandates of this vocation.
We feel that these times call for all of us to step up to constructively create communities with guiding ethical principles and actions of accountability. Adherence to the ethical principles of beneficence (moral goodness to others), nonmaleficence (do no harm), justice (fairness and equity), veracity (truthfulness) and fidelity (being trustworthy and loyal) should be at the forefront of this effort. We must commit to transparency, accountability, and protecting those who have experienced harm, even when acting with integrity may cost relationships, professional opportunities, or reputation.
We do not purport to hold answers, but commit to centering ethics in building structures to protect our communities.
We acknowledge that we are learning an abolitionist praxis of repair, and that processes of repair are not always linear and predictable. We do not purport to hold answers, but commit to centering ethics in building structures to protect our communities. We advocate for thinking about rupture from the standpoint of repair, growing toward collective action in imperfect and fluid ways from a foundation of social justice and an ethical practice of “justice-doing.” We humbly offer the following suggestions as guideposts for preventing and navigating events of harm and abuse within our communities, and commit to the collaborative development of these structures.
- Form an independent ethics council of professionals, calling in support from people outside the psychedelic field who are skilled in facilitating transformative justice processes.
- Establish a formalized process for reporting adverse experiences and creating meaningful paths toward repair that center survivors, at both the organizational level and within the field at large.
- Recognize that reparative processes rely on cooperation from all parties; when therapists are the subject of allegations, we expect them to take accountability and step down from their platforms while they engage in the investigative process.
- Create pathways back to community engagement for those who have moved through accountability and restorative processes following transgressions.
We understand that creating a culture of transparency and accountability depends on all of us. In this spirit, we invite everyone to take steps that reflect such a culture. We commit to a lifelong practice of our own healing. We will train and mentor facilitators in the highest standards of ethics, create safeguards that protect the people we serve, and address harm and abuse when we see it. We commit to listening, learning, and walking the paths of repair when we fall short. We will take action to weave justice, truth, repair and reconciliation into the fabric of our organizations and institutions, and we will hold ourselves to the same standards of conduct we expect from others. We invite those who resonate with these principles as foundational to an ethical psychedelic movement to join us in conversation about shaping a safer and more just future.
We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with the survivors of abuse who have come forward and those who have yet to speak out.
Resources:
Vikki Reynolds (2012) An Ethical Stance for Justice-Doing in Community Work and Therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, Vol. 31, [Issue 4] pp. 18–33 https://vikkireynoldsdotca.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/reynoldsandpolancoethicsstanceforjusticedoing2012jst.pdf
Taylor, K. (2017) Ethics Of Caring. Hanford Mead Pub.
https://kyleataylor.com/the-ethics-of-caring/
Kaba, M., Hasan, S., (2019) Fumbling Towards Repair. Project NIA.
https://www.akpress.org/fumbling-towards-repair.html
Brown, A. (2020) We Will Not Cancel Us. AK Press.
https://www.akpress.org/we-will-not-cancel-us.html
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https://www.akpress.org/beyond-survival.html
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Martinez, R. June 9 2021. Accountability & Transformative Justice in the Psychedelic Space: A Roadmap for Change. PsychedelicsToday.com
Kai Cheng Thom https://ariseembodiment.org/
Leaf Seligman https://leafseligman.com/
Mariame Kaba http://mariamekaba.com/
Transform Harm https://transformharm.org/
INCITE https://incite-national.org/community-accountability/
Toward a more healed world,
Diana Quinn
Rebecca Martinez
Claudia Cuentas
Pilar Hernandez-Wolfe
Carolyn Fine
Signed by:
Aaron Orsini, Autistic Psychedelic.com Community
Adam Linder, MA
Aidan Moore, National Psychedelics Association
Alan K. Davis, PhD
Alicia Santiago, LCSW
Alex Cardenas, MD, MA
Alexander Warnow, LMFT
Alicia Fedewa, PhD, Healing Pathway Counseling
Alissa Bazinet, PhD; Sequoia Collective
Allison Feduccia, PhD, Psychedelic.Support
Alyssa B. Gursky, MA, LPC Associate; Psychedelic Art Therapy
Amy Emerson
Amy Leung, MD
Andrea Rosati, MD, PhD
Angela Allan, MA, Sage Institute
Angela Beers, PsyD, LP
Angela Carter, ND
Anne St Goar, MD, BPRG, CIIS/CPTR, MGH CNP
Ashley Sitkin, LICSW
Ayyur Sutherland, LMSW, Psychedelic Liberation Collective
Bea Chan, AKITA
Bennet A. Zelner, PhD, University of Maryland and Transformative Capital Institute
Betty Aldworth
Bia Labate, PhD, Chacruna Institute
Bob Otis
Berra Yazar-Klosinski, PhD
Brenna Gebauer, Journey Into Psychedelics
Brian Hannah, LCSW; Sequoia Collective
Brian Pilecki, PhD, Portland Integration Network
Brianna Bendixsen, MA, PRATI, Reflective Healing
Britton Rollins, National Psychedelics Association
Buki Fadipe, Founder, Adventures in OM
Candace Oglesby, LCPC, CEO of Jurnee Mental Health Consulting, LLC
Catherine Foster, Mother Jaguar
Charlotte James, The Ancestor Project
Chris Mays, MLIS
Chris Olson, National Psychedelics Association
Chris Stauffer, MD; Oregon Health & Science University
Clancy Cavnar, PsyD, Chacruna Institute
Clare McBee, LICSW, The Meeting Point
Corine de Boer, MD, PhD
Courtney Hurchison, SoundMind Center Philly
Craig Cardamone, LMFT
Daan Keiman, MA, Synthesis Institute
Dana Harvey, The Flourish Academy
Daniel Shankin, Tam Integration
Danielle M. Herrera, LMFT, Sage Integrative Health
Danielle Taylor Ceremony Health Collective
David N. Max, PhD
Debbie McDivitt, PhD
Deborah Servetnick, MEd, Integrate to Create
Denise Renye, MEd, MA, PsyD, Whole Person Psychology
Dennis Walker, Mycopreneur
Devon Grime, RN-BSN, NC-BC, Plant Medicine Nurse
Djinn Kadmon Thompson, Psychedelic Liberation Collective
Dominique Morisano, PhD, CPsych
Dre Wright, The Ancestor Project
Eilish Nagle, MA, CCHT
Eleonora Molnar, MA RTC
Elan Hagens, Fruiting Bodies Collective
Elizabeth Hoke, LMFT, The Liberation Institute
Ellis McCauley, LMFT
Emma Knighton, LMHC
Eric Peterson, MA, LADC, Catalyst Insight Collective
Erica Heartsong, RN, CIIS CPTR
Eric Sienknecht, PsyD, Polaris Insight Center
Esteban Orozco, Trauma Healer, Decolonize Mycology
Evan Segura, Portland Psychedelic Society
Evan Sola, PsyD
Galyn Burke, MA, LMFT, Palo Alto University
Geoff Bathje, Ph.D. Co-founder, Sana Healing Collective
Genesee Herzberg, PsyD, Sage Institute & Sage Integrative Health
Gina Gratza, MS, LMFT, Looking Glass Counseling
Gisselle Acevedo, MEd, JD, LMFT
Gita Vaid, MD
Greg Robillard, LMFT, Portland Integration Network
Hallie Swan, LCPC
Hanifa Nayo Washington, Co-Founder, Fireside Project; Founder, One Village Healing
Hank Obermayer, MA
Hannah C. McLane, SoundMind Center Philly
Harvey Schwartz, PhD, Polaris Insight Center
Heather N Brand, MPH , ARNP
Heather Valdez, LCSW
Heidi Berg, Artist & Filmmaker
Hila Corazon, Cascadia Psychedelic
Ida Ahmadi, MA, AMFT, Sage Institute
Ifetayo Harvey, POC Psychedelic Collective
Irina Alexander, LMFT, Sage Institute
Ismail Lourido Ali, JD
James Henry, MD
James Keim, LCSW, MSW / CEO Mimosa Therapeutics Public Benefit Co
Jamie Beachy, PhD, MDiv
Jamie Mayo, PhD, PMHNP
Jamilah R. George, MDiv, Chacruna Institute
Jasmine Virdi, MA
Jason Butler, PhD, Sage Institute and California Institute of Integral Studies
Jason Foster, MA
Jeanna Eichenbaum, LCSW, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Therapist
Jen Leland LMFT Ceremony Health Collective
Jenn So, MSW, LSWAIC
Jennifer Cornbleet
Jennifer Mitchell, PhD
Jenny Cundari, ND, Sage Integrative Health
Jessica Cadoch, MA
Jessica Fagan, Sage Institute, AMFT
Jessica Pinera, LCSW
Jill Pettegrew, LMFT, Sage Integrative Health
Jimmy Nguyen, Psychedelic Passage
Joe Izzo, Conscious Cloud
Joel Brierre, Kaivalya Kollectiv
Jonathan Afonso
Jonelle Rodericks MSW, MBA
Joody Marks, Sage Institute
Joshua White, Founder and Executive Director, Fireside Project
Julane Andries LMFT, Center for Transformational Psychotherapy
Julie Brody, RN
Julie Holland, MD
Julie Megler, NP, Sage Integrative Health
Kalika Farmer, Delphi
Karin Gagnon, Research Associate, Social Neuroscience and Psychotherapy Lab
Kat Mortimer, Mental Health Worker
Katherine A. Costello, PhD
Kat Conour, LMFT, Chair, Sage Institute
Kate Kincaid, LPC, Tucson Counseling Associates
Kate Nesterwitz, LMFT, Conscious Pathways Denver
Katherine Ring, CDCP
Kathleen McCombie, CMT, Embodied Consciousness
Katja Cahoon, LCSW, MBA, Higher Path, Inc
Kazzrie Hekati, Portland Psychedelic Society
Keeno Ahmed-Jones
Kelan Thomas, PharmD, MS
Kelsey Armeni
Kristina Hamilton LCSW, Second Wave Wellness
Kristina Hunter, Certified Hakomi Practitioner
Kulkiran Nakai, PsyD, LP, Psychedelic Liberation Collective
Kwasi Adusei, DNP
Kyle Cetrulo, Director/Founding Member, Rising Consciousness Community
Kylea Taylor, MS, LMFT
Lana Abboud, PsyD, LP, MAc, LAc
Laura Riley, LPC, Portland Integration Network
Laya Jamali, LFMT, Sage Integrative Health
Leia Friedman, MS, The Psychedologist
Leti Passemier, Tripsitters.org
Leticia Brown, LMFT, Doorway Therapeutic Services
Lia Mix, MFT, CIIS CPTR
Liana Sananda Gillooly, MAPS, North Star, Chacruna Institute
Lisa Gregory, Integration Therapist
Liz Flores Farell, LCSW
Lorna Liana, CEO EntheoNation & Founder, The Plant Spirit School
Mara Rosenthal, National Psychedelics Association
Marcela Ot’alora G., MA, LPC
Margaret S. Brako, LCSW, Sage Integrative Health
Margo Fragola, ZorroFresa Oreada
Mark Futterman
Marni Levy, LMFT, Sage Institute
Martha Yesenia Juarez, APCC, Sage Institute
Matthew Ettinger, National Psychedelics Association
Matthew Gallenstein, Sage Institute
Maurice Byrd, LMFT, Ceremony Health Collective, Sage, Harm Reduction Therapy Center
McKenna Lickle , MS
Megan Frost, MD, MPH
Megan Miller, PhD, RN, Creative Dying Project
Meghan Kennedy LCSW, Co-Founder & Therapist, Sana Healing Collective
Melissa Pierre-Saint, RN
Melissa Whippo, LCSW
Melly Paluay, BSN RN
Micah Haskell-Hoehl, Healing Equity and Liberation (HEAL) Organization
Micah Saniyah, LMSW, Psychedelic Liberation Collective
Micah Stover, Trauma Midwife
Michael Zwizanski, LMFT
Michelle Christensen MA Healing Journey
Michelle Janikian, Author
Mike Margolies, Psychedelic Seminars
Mischa Freeman, ASW
Misha A. McKinney, RN, BSN, PHN, CPN
Monique Lang, LCSW
Monnica Williams, PhD, Clinical Director, Behavioral Wellness Clinic, LLC, Chacruna Institute
Morgan Bach, MS, Sage Institute
Moshe Jacobson, Founder, EntheoCoach
Nathan Howard, Co-founder & President, East Fork Cultivars
NiCole Buchanan, PhD, Chacruna Institute
Nicholas Levich, Psychedelic Passage
Neelofer Hilal
Nyanga Uuka, Myco.Mediation
Olivia Clear, MS
Oriana Mayorga, Board Director, SSDP
Perri Franskoviak, PhD, Sage Institute
Peter H. Addy, PhD, LPC, LMHC
Pinni Baumol BSW, Israeli Psychedelic Society
Q. Maxwell, LMHC
Rafael Lancelotta, MS, LPC
Rev. Tamara Lebak PCC, MDiv, Restorative Justice Institute
Rev. Tho Vong MA Ceremony Health Collective
Ridhi Shiv, AMFT, Sage Institute
Ritika Aggarwal, MS, Sage Institute
Rob Heffernan, Chacruna Institute
Ross Sullivan, North Star
Ryan Gertz, MA, AMFT, Sage Institute
Sabina Pillai, MA RP
Sabrina Sierra, MA, Sage Institute
Samuel Douglas, PhD, Australian Psychedelic Society
Sandra E. Fortson, MSW, LCSW; Psychedelic Research & Training Institute
Sarah Fox, MFA, MA, Psychotherapist
Sara Reed, MS, LMFT, Minds iHealth Solutions
Sarah Verducci, MS, LPC
Sa’ed Al-Olimat, PharmD, Founder, Psilohealth
Shireen Ghanatabadi, MA, LPCC, SEP, Catalyst Insight Collective
Shippen L. Page, Esq.
Sonia Telle, MA, MFT
Sonia Troiani MA, Ceremony Health Collective
Stephen Thomas, MSW, ACC
Stephanie Dreis, MS, LPCC, Catalyst Insight Collective
SuOm Uheri Francis, Diasporic Apparel
Susan Williams, MFT, Jungian Psychoanalyst
Syre Oni Saniyah, PhD, LP, Psychedelic Liberation Collective
Tahlia Harrison, MA, MFTA, Duke University
Taylor C. Wilmot, AMFT Sage Institute
Tess Amidan, PhD
Tessa Vita Levine, AMFT
Tyler Cooper PMHNP-DNP-I
Valeria McCarroll, LMFT, Ph.D, Center for Consciousness Medicine
Valerie Beltrán, LMFT, Sage Institute
Valery Shuman, MAAT, LCPC, Co-founder and clinician, Sana Healing Collective
Verónica Hernández, MA, PhD Candidate
Veronika Gold, LMFT, Polaris Insight Center
Victor A. Cabral, LSW, CCTP-I
Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch, PsyD — Co-founder and Director, Sana Healing Collective
Violeta Donawa, LLMSW, Psychedelic Liberation Collective
Vivian Dent, PhD
Wendy Feng, MD
Wendy Heffner, LMFT
Yochanan Al-Khemetic, Entheogenic Advocate
Zachary Zibrat, MS
Zoë Dubus, PhD, Société psychédélique française
