Psychedelics and the intimate self: Sexuality, gender, and relationships

This symposium features four speakers with complementary approaches discussing current research on how psychedelic experiences affect experiences of gender and intimate relationships. This interdisciplinary set includes quantitative and qualitative analyses with data from clinical, retreat, and naturalistic contexts.

Daniel Kruger presents results from a large mixed-methods survey on how psychedelics affect sexual experiences. About two-fifths of participants reported these effects, replicating previous results. Current findings detail the specific substances and psychological mechanisms involved and indicate both acute and long-term effects.

Dee Dee Goldpaugh shares insights from psychotherapy practice which help interpret a different set of results from the same survey project, on how psychedelics affect gender perception, identity, and expression. Participants report novel experiences of their own biology and physiology, gender identity and attitudes towards their gender identity, and how they express their genders to others.

Pat Song presents a qualitative analysis of two case studies of challenges in intimate relationships that emerged from psychedelic-assisted therapy. Erotic transference and countertransference are discussed with a psychodynamic relational approach, and recommendations for preparation and integration will be given.