Neal M. Goldsmith, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist specializing in psychospiritual development. A frequent speaker on spiritual emergence, drug policy reform, and postmodern society, he lives in New York.

Foreword Why This Book Matters by John H. Halpern, M.D., Harvard Medical School

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction The Questions That Led to This Book

1 Set and Setting
The Mother of All Trips
Who I Am
How I Became Interested in Consciousness and Psychedelic Therapy
How I Got to Be Who I Am Now
A True Intellectual-Religious Revelation

2 Is Fundamental Personality Change Possible?
The Concept of Change and Its Action
The Developmental Psychology of Spiritual Emergence
Personality Development as Immature Strategy
Psyche: The Core Concept
Psycheology: The Study of the Soul
The Psycheology Approach to Psychotherapy

3 The History of Psychedelic Research
The Major Psychedelics
The First Research on the Clinical Applications of Psychedelics
Psychedelic Research in Countries beyond the U.S.
Psychedelic Research Finally Resumes
The Use of Psychedelics with the Dying
The Safety and Efficacy of Psychedelics

4 The Ten Lessons of Psychedelic Therapy, Rediscovered
Lesson 1. Each Drug Has a Specific Effect
Lesson 2. Setting Can Strongly Influence State of Mind and Thus Outcome
Lesson 3. Mind-set Can Scuttle a Beautiful Context or Transcend a Hellish One
Lesson 4. In General, Dose Determines a Mild or Extreme Experience, Although It Can Be Less Important Than Set and Setting
Lesson 5. Preparation and Knowledge Can Enable Lasting Value
Lesson 6. Ritual Can Transmit Prior Wisdom and Guide Successful Practice
Lesson 7. Support from Experienced Guides Reduces Fear and Increases Benefit
Lesson 8. Reentry in to a Supportive Community Context Aids Retention
Lesson 9. Accompanying Depth Psychotherapy (If Needed) and Ongoing Spiritual Practice Offer the Main Opportunity for Lasting Growth
Lesson 10. A Revised Worldview Is Both a Requirement for and a Result of Integrated Psychedelic Practice

5 Many Thorny Theoretical and Methodological Questions Remain
Why Does Psychedelic Research Require Self-Experimentation?
How Will We Train a New Generation of Psychedelic Researchers and Therapists?
Why Redo Psychedelic Research Already Conducted in the ’50s and ’60s?
How Should Psychedelics Be Rescheduled?
Why Do Psychedelics Provide Pain Relief for the Dying?
Can Psychedelics Provide Lasting Change?
Can Psychedelics Induce Real Spirituality?

6 The Development of an Integral Clinical Approach
Transcendence Vs. the Frontal Assault
Catharsis, or How I Completed My Childhood at Burning Man
A Revised View
Conclusions: What Have We Learned?

7 Implications for the Future
The Catalytic Role of Psychedelics in the Emergence of an Integral Society
Unity “Versus” the Frontal Lobes
An Integral Approach to Reality

Epilogue

Appendix 1 How to Put Science into Action to Change the World
Work to Change the Drug Laws
Changing Psychedelic Policies and Bureaucracies
Practice “Right Action”: Buddhism and Psychedelics Policy

Appendix 2 Standards for Safe and Effective Psychedelic Journeys and Procedures for Handling Psychedelic Emergencies
Preparation: Creating a Safe Space for Psychedelic Journeys
The Session: Guidelines for Safe and Effective Psychedelic Journeys
Dealing with Psychedelic Emergencies (or Spiritual Emergence)


Recommended Reading

Notes

Bibliography

Index