UpcominG Training
Family Matters in Psychedelic Therapy: Maximizing Outcomes & Minimizing Systemic Disruptions
January 24 2022 • 10am - 3pm MST - CE credits provided
5-hour training with Dr. Adele Lafrance
While significant attention has been paid to the intersection of mind-body-spirit in the context of medicine work, the role of the family and/or significant others in the healing process has received insufficient attention. When one engages in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, changes to one’s relationships are to be expected. If not handled skillfully by the clinician, these changes can lead to serious disruptions within the system, including relational breakdown in some cases. This training will introduce the ethical, neurobiological and psychological considerations for family involvement in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies. Drawing from EFFT, simple yet effective interventions - both individual and systemic - will also be presented to optimize outcomes and to minimize relational distress as well as therapy-interfering attitudes or behaviors. Clinical anecdotes drawing from past, current, and planned research studies involving family and next-of-kin in the context of ketamine- psilocybin- and MDMA-assisted therapy will also be used for illustration purposes.
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$150 USD (discount rate available for those with financial insecurity using code: DISCOUNT)
Research Projects in Progress
Psychedelics and Love as a Healing Agent - The Love Project
Ceremony Leaders’ Perspectives on The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Ayahuasca Drinking in Ceremonial Contexts
Ayahuasca and Eating Disorders - Perspectives from Ceremonial Leaders
Emotion-Focused Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Depression
Emotion-Focused Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa
Research Publications
Scientific Articles (in refereed journals):
Brewerton, T. D., Wang, J. B., Lafrance, A., Pamplin, C., Mithoefer, M., Yazar-Klosinki, B., ... & Doblin, R. (2022). MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduces eating disorder symptoms in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of adults with severe PTSD. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 149, 128-135.
Robison, R., Lafrance, A., Brendle, M., Smith, M., Moore, C., Ahuja, S., ... & Strahan, E. (2022). A case series of group-based ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for patients in residential treatment for eating disorders with comorbid depression and anxiety disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10(1), 1-9.
Spriggs, M. J., Douglass, H. M., Park, R. J., Read, T., Danby, J. L., de Magalhães, F. J., ... & Carhart-Harris, R. L. (2021). Study Protocol for “Psilocybin as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study”. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 1770.
Lafrance, A., Strahan, E., Bird, B. M., St. Pierre, M., & Walsh, Z. (2021). Classic Psychedelic Use and Mechanisms of Mental Health: Exploring the Mediating Roles of Spirituality and Emotion Processing on Symptoms of Anxiety, Depressed Mood, and Disordered Eating in a Community Sample. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 00221678211048049.
Callon, C., Williams, M., & Lafrance, A. (2021). “Meeting the Medicine Halfway”: Ayahuasca Ceremony Leaders’ Perspectives on Preparation and Integration Practices for Participants. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 00221678211043300.
Brewerton, T. D., Lafrance, A., & Mithoefer, M. C. (2020). The potential use of n-methyl-3, 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (mdma) assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders comorbid with ptsd. Medical Hypotheses, 110367.
Thiessen, M. S., Walsh, Z., Bird, B. M., & Lafrance, A. (2018). Psychedelic use and intimate partner violence: The role of emotion regulation. Journal of psychopharmacology, 32(7), 749-755.
Renelli, M., Fletcher, J., Tupper, K. W., Files, N., Loizaga-Velder, A., & Lafrance, A. (2018). An exploratory study of experiences with conventional eating disorder treatment and ceremonial ayahuasca for the healing of eating disorders. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 1-8.
Lafrance, A., Loizaga-Velder, A., Fletcher, J., Renelli, M., Files, N., & Tupper, K. W. (2017). Nourishing the spirit: exploratory research on ayahuasca experiences along the continuum of recovery from eating disorders. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 49(5), 427-435.
Chapters in Academic Books:
Lafrance, A., Renelli, M., Fletcher, J., Files, N., Tupper, K. W. & Loizaga-Velder, A. (2021). Ayahuasca as a Healing Tool Along the Continuum of Recovery from eating disorders. In The therapeutic use of ayahuasca, Second edition. (Edited by B. C. Labate & C. Cavnar), Springer Science & Business Media.
Renelli, M., Fletcher, J., Loizaga-Velder, A., Files, N., Tupper, K., & Lafrance, A. (2018). Ayahuasca and the Healing of Eating Disorders. In Embodiment and Eating Disorders: A Handbook of Theory, Research, Prevention and Treatment. (Edited by H. L. McBride, J. L. Kwee), Routledge.
Current Research Positions
Strategy Lead and Clinical Investigator on MAPS-sponsored study examining the safety, feasibility and preliminary outcomes of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for eating disorders
Collaborator and Clinical Support on Imperial College-sponsored study examining the safety, feasibility and preliminary outcomes of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa
Principal Investigator on studies examining ceremonial leader perspectives related to the potential for ayahuasca as a healing tool in western context, including with eating disorders
Co-Founder of The Love Project - rehabilitating the concept of love; exploring its role as a mechanism of change in therapy and healthcare through psychedelic research