Abstract
For millennia, Indigenous cultures worldwide have used psychoactive plants, including hallucinogenic mushrooms, for healing and therapeutic purposes. Psilocybin, or “magic mushrooms”, used in conjunction with therapy, is known as psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT). Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) has shown positive results for treating mental disorders. Research on PAT has grown significantly over the past three decades, with clinical trials consistently demonstrating its effectiveness in treating various mental health disorders. Despite these promising findings, there is a lack of qualitative studies examining the subjective experiences of individuals’ involvement with PAT, specifically in non-clinical settings. Furthermore, although there is a growing demand for new medical treatments for the increasing global mental health crises, this form of therapy is legally prohibited. This study aims to explore both the experiences of individuals who have participated in PAT and those who have facilitated PAT in non-clinical settings in South Africa. This study consists of four sub-investigations. Article one presents a scoping review of the literature pertaining to participants’ and facilitators’ experiences of PAT. Article two examines participants’ experiences of the therapeutic use of psilocybin in non-clinical settings. Article three explores facilitators’ experiences of conducting PAT in non-clinical settings. Article four presents ethical considerations for the therapeutic use of psilocybin in non-clinical settings in South Africa. Data were gathered from 20 respondents, 10 participants and 10 facilitators, through in-depth, semi-structured interviews using a qualitative approach. Various categories and themes were generated, culminating in four ethical considerations. These considerations focused on a structured screening, preparation and integration
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process, guideline-oriented training and supervision, a comprehensive informed consent process, and the establishment of an independent regulatory body. This study contributes to the growing discourse on alternative healing approaches, specifically PAT, and highlights the importance of ethical frameworks to guide the responsible use of psychedelics in therapeutic settings.