Hi All, a review paper here I started working on at the beginning of the Covid lockdown earlier in the year, finally published (full paper open access). The paper examines what appears to be an intrinsic property of classical psychedelics to turn us on and tune us into nature, and attempts to make the case for the inclusion of more nature-based content, practices and settings into psychedelic treatment models for the additional benefits this may confer. It also explores the potentially synergistic overlap between the mechanisms by which psychedelics and contact with nature can benefit mental health. It is proposed that psychedelics such as psilocybin could be used intentionally as agents for enhancing nature connectedness, with important implications for psychological well-being, and the potential for fostering pro-environmental behaviour. Thought it may be of interest to some.
Abstract
Therapeutic psychedelic administration and contact with nature have been associated with the same psychological mechanisms: decreased rumination and negative affect, enhanced psychological connectedness and mindfulness-related capacities, and heightened states of awe and transcendent experiences, all processes linked to improvements in mental health amongst clinical and healthy populations. Nature-based settings can have inherently psychologically soothing properties which may complement all stages of psychedelic therapy (mainly preparation and integration) whilst potentiating increases in nature relatedness, with associated psychological benefits. Maximising enhancement of nature relatedness through therapeutic psychedelic administration may constitute an independent and complementary pathway towards improvements in mental health that can be elicited by psychedelics.
Abstract
Therapeutic psychedelic administration and contact with nature have been associated with the same psychological mechanisms: decreased rumination and negative affect, enhanced psychological connectedness and mindfulness-related capacities, and heightened states of awe and transcendent experiences, all processes linked to improvements in mental health amongst clinical and healthy populations. Nature-based settings can have inherently psychologically soothing properties which may complement all stages of psychedelic therapy (mainly preparation and integration) whilst potentiating increases in nature relatedness, with associated psychological benefits. Maximising enhancement of nature relatedness through therapeutic psychedelic administration may constitute an independent and complementary pathway towards improvements in mental health that can be elicited by psychedelics.
