What is Mindfulness Based Psychedelic Therapy™?
Mindfulness-Based Psychedelic Therapy™, also known as MBPT, is a multi-paradigm guiding protocol that integrates mindfulness, transpersonal psychotherapy, and traditional guiding practices with somatically-informed trauma resolution practices and psychedelic medicines.
Developed and taught by Daniel McQueen, MA, and Alison McQueen, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, the MBPT protocol is an effective practice for both personal and spiritual growth, and is also effective in addressing clinical concerns such as complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
While this practice incorporates therapeutic techniques and is clinically informed, MBPT is not a psychotherapy. It is better described as a “collaborative mindfulness practice” engaged in by both the practitioner, as a guide, and their client, as the journeyer. Due to the intensity of psychedelic experiences, we have found that both the guide and journeyer are impacted by the work in deeply meaningful ways. MBPT is a collection of practices within a multi-paradigm approach that allows guides to support their clients in a way that helps them deepen their process, stay with difficult aspects of their experience, and to fully engage significant growth edges.
MBPT includes mindfulness practices, personally meaningfully and culturally appropriate ritual and ceremony, somatic approaches, art and music facilitation, and Earth-based spiritual orientations within a transpersonal paradigm. We understand the imperative to be culturally sensitive to Indigenous practices, and are actively engaged in reciprocity and cultural awareness initiatives. For this reason, we do not engage in or teach Indigenous specific models, except to provide the necessary historical and cultural contexts to be ethical in our practice.
MBPT is the therapeutic modality that the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness teaches through Psychedelic Sitters School and the Medicinal Mindfulness Academy, and is the modality our practitioners use during medicine sessions with our clients. In its simplest terms, the modality teaches that the attuned presence of the therapist is central to the process and that “Awareness with Acceptance is the Healing.”
MBPT is an umbrella modality for facilitating psychedelic experiences with any psychedelic medicine (such as psychedelic cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms, ketamine or DMT). Primary therapeutic and spiritual orientations include:
- Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Orientation
- Somatic & Trauma-Informed Orientation
- Evidence-Based Psychedelic Harm Reduction
- Transformational Alchemy & Parts Work
- Consent-based and Social Justice Informed
- Rooted Earth-Based Spirituality & Western Mysticism
MBPT works within a wholistic “multi-paradigm” model that supports the use of psychedelic medicines in the four primary paradigms of use:
- Spiritual & Religious Use
- Psychological Healing & Personal Growth Practices
- Creative, Aesthetics, Music and Celebratory Spaces
- Research, Scientific Problem Solving and Discovery
Definitions of Psychedelic Psychotherapy, Psychedelic Therapy, and Psychedelic Facilitation?
While the training taught at Medicinal Mindfulness Academy is clinically and medically informed, we incorporate perspectives that are in alignment with traditional psychedelic healing modalities, which we generally define as “Psychedelic Therapy” to differentiate it from the use of the more common “Psychedelic Psychotherapy.” The use of these terms are starting to garner legal definitions so these definitions may change over time as regulations become clearer. Psychedelic Therapy an umbrella perspective that incorporates psychotherapeutic theory with spiritual practices, scientific research endeavors and the importance of art and aesthetics.
The term, “Psychedelic Facilitation” is now a legally defined term under the NMHA that indicates practicing psychedelic therapy under the licensed, regulated model. For this reason, it is not synonymous with other terms. “Personal Use Support” is a term we use to distinguish “unlicensed” practitioners, ie. not psychedelic facilitators, who provide psychedelic services under the “personal use” allowances of the NMHA. Colorado is unique in that it provides two primary paths to practice legally: through supported personal use or by licensed psychedelic facilitation. All of this information is subject to change as the regulations are currently still being developed.
Psychedelic Psychotherapy is the skillful use of psychedelics in conjunction with psychotherapy by a licensed or registered psychotherapist, psychologist or other mental health professional. These sessions have a clinical purpose, for example, for the treatment of trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns.
Psychedelic Therapy is a separate yet overlapping field and professional identity from psychedelic psychotherapy; it is not limited to clinical and medical models of practice or solely limited to clinical and medical practitioners. Many people from a variety of professions may practice as Psychedelic Therapists, particularly in group practices that incorporate multiple approaches. In our practice, Psychedelic Therapy can be used for the treatment of psychological concerns but it is also a full body, mind, soul holistic practice that goes beyond conventional psychotherapy modalities. Mindfulness-Based Psychedelic Therapy is one of many models of “psychedelic therapy” and is not, itself, a psychotherapy model.
Psychedelic Facilitation is a legally defined service under the NMHA regulated access model. “Psychedelic Facilitators” are licensed practitioners under the new model. Due to its legal definition, this term is reserved for licensed practitioners under the NMHA.