UpcominG Training
Psychedelic Therapy for Eating Disorders: Clinical Theory & Practical Skills
January 25 & 26, 2024 • 8am - 3:30pm MT
2-day training with Jennifer Danby & Dr. Adele Lafrance
Audience: clinicians and therapists
Click here for more information and to register
Psychedelic Therapy for Eating Disorders: Clinical Theory & Practical Skills
October 24 & 25, 2024 • 8am - 3:30pm MT
2-day training with Jennifer Danby & Dr. Adele Lafrance
Audience: clinicians and therapists
Click here for more information and to register
Research Projects in Progress
Psychedelics and Love as a Healing Agent - The Love Project
Emotion-Focused Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Depression
Emotion-Focused Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa
Support Person Involvement in a Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Trial for Anorexia Nervosa
Research Publications
Scientific Articles (in refereed journals):
Williams, M., Kingston Miller, A. & Lafrance, A. (2023) Ayahuasca ceremony leaders’ perspectives on special considerations for eating disorders, Eating Disorders, DOI: 10.1080/10640266.2023.2271201
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.
Williams, M., Crotty, S., Callon, C., & Lafrance, A. (2022). Ceremony Leaders’ Perspectives on the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Ayahuasca Drinking in Ceremonial Contexts. The Journal, 54(2), 142.
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.
PAST 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