Since the early 2000s research into the therapeutic application of psychedelics have experienced a renaissance (Carhart-Harris et al., 2017). As a treatment for PTSD, psychedelics-assisted therapy has obtained ‘breakthrough therapy designation’ by the American Food and Drug Administration in 2017 (Feduccia et al., 2019). Their therapeutic value has furthermore been demonstrated through remarkable results in the treatment of end of life-anxiety and depression (Gasser et al., 2014; Carhart-Harris et al., 2018; Griffiths et al., 2016; Ross et al., 2016), addiction (Johnson et al., 2016; Krebs & Johansen, 2012) and social anxiety in patients with autism spectrum disorder (Danforth et al., 2018).

Drawing on a meta-analysis of research into the psychological effects of psychedelic substances which focused on positive-psychological themes (Jungaberle et al., 2018), and cross-referencing it with the motivation of clients who seek coaching, it is argued that the potential for coaching-assisted psychedelic experiences to help non-clinical populations increase psychological wellbeing (Ryff & Keyes, 1996) and flourishing (Seligman, 2011) is high.

Considering that a positive psychology mindset entails asking “what is right with people?”, focusing on resources instead of deficiencies, and conducting research in areas beyond healing, fixing and treating disease or disorder, a strong case is made to extend this sort of thinking to the research into psychedelics. Yet little attention has been given to studying the application of psychedelics outside of clinical populations, and no one has published on the potential of coaching to assist the psychedelic experience, and vice versa.

Hence, this presentation will 1) offer a rationale for why the combination of coaching and psychedelics presents a potentially potent development tool, 2) share research data that is beginning to emerge, 3) highlight ethical, epistemological and methodological issues, and 4) call for research into the use of psychedelics, beyond healing, to realise their potential to foster insight, learning, growth and wellbeing, aligned with the spirit of positive psychology.