Max Wolff
@trpwolff.bsky.social
Psychologist and clinician-researcher; psychotherapy integration, psychedelic-augmented psychotherapy
Research associate at Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim & Charité Berlin
Research associate at Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim & Charité Berlin
To those who dismiss psychodynamic therapy, and perhaps especially to those who dismiss anything except psychodynamic therapy, this article comes highly recommended:
psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...
psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...
October 18, 2025 at 6:08 AM
To those who dismiss psychodynamic therapy, and perhaps especially to those who dismiss anything except psychodynamic therapy, this article comes highly recommended:
psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...
psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...
New long-read theory paper in Psychological Review:
Im short, we propose that effective psychedelic therapy employs the uniquely context-dependent effects of psychedelic drugs to engage & augment the same psychological change processes that underlie all effective psychotherapies.
Full text below ⬇️
Im short, we propose that effective psychedelic therapy employs the uniquely context-dependent effects of psychedelic drugs to engage & augment the same psychological change processes that underlie all effective psychotherapies.
Full text below ⬇️
October 10, 2025 at 8:22 PM
New long-read theory paper in Psychological Review:
Im short, we propose that effective psychedelic therapy employs the uniquely context-dependent effects of psychedelic drugs to engage & augment the same psychological change processes that underlie all effective psychotherapies.
Full text below ⬇️
Im short, we propose that effective psychedelic therapy employs the uniquely context-dependent effects of psychedelic drugs to engage & augment the same psychological change processes that underlie all effective psychotherapies.
Full text below ⬇️
Classical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) can't capture the complexity of psychedelic therapy.
In this new paper led by @sdmuthu.bsky.social and @tehseennoorani.bsky.social, we argue for pragmatic trials designs that accommodate this complexity and better align with real-world clinical practice.
In this new paper led by @sdmuthu.bsky.social and @tehseennoorani.bsky.social, we argue for pragmatic trials designs that accommodate this complexity and better align with real-world clinical practice.
October 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Classical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) can't capture the complexity of psychedelic therapy.
In this new paper led by @sdmuthu.bsky.social and @tehseennoorani.bsky.social, we argue for pragmatic trials designs that accommodate this complexity and better align with real-world clinical practice.
In this new paper led by @sdmuthu.bsky.social and @tehseennoorani.bsky.social, we argue for pragmatic trials designs that accommodate this complexity and better align with real-world clinical practice.
Has the time come to stop using "control groups" in trials of psychological interventions? — asks Pim Cuijpers.
This discussion concerns psychedelic therapy, which is a (pharmacologically catalyzed) psychological intervention, just as well as any other form of psychotherapy.
Link below.
This discussion concerns psychedelic therapy, which is a (pharmacologically catalyzed) psychological intervention, just as well as any other form of psychotherapy.
Link below.
October 1, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Has the time come to stop using "control groups" in trials of psychological interventions? — asks Pim Cuijpers.
This discussion concerns psychedelic therapy, which is a (pharmacologically catalyzed) psychological intervention, just as well as any other form of psychotherapy.
Link below.
This discussion concerns psychedelic therapy, which is a (pharmacologically catalyzed) psychological intervention, just as well as any other form of psychotherapy.
Link below.
From our recent article "Key competencies for psychedelic treatment in real-world mental health care settings"
Full-text link below.
Full-text link below.
September 29, 2025 at 8:15 AM
From our recent article "Key competencies for psychedelic treatment in real-world mental health care settings"
Full-text link below.
Full-text link below.
Our new paper "Key competencies for psychedelic treatment in real-world mental health care settings" has just been published in General Hospital Psychiatry.
Full-text link below.
Full-text link below.
September 21, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Our new paper "Key competencies for psychedelic treatment in real-world mental health care settings" has just been published in General Hospital Psychiatry.
Full-text link below.
Full-text link below.
Small feasibility study testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for major depression, unsurprisingly with promising results, from Norway.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
July 11, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Small feasibility study testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for major depression, unsurprisingly with promising results, from Norway.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Doing psychedelic research with Spanish-speaking populations & interested in avoidance/acceptance?
There is now a culturally decentered Spanish APEQ version designed to work equally well across the Spanish-speaking world:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
There is now a culturally decentered Spanish APEQ version designed to work equally well across the Spanish-speaking world:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
July 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Doing psychedelic research with Spanish-speaking populations & interested in avoidance/acceptance?
There is now a culturally decentered Spanish APEQ version designed to work equally well across the Spanish-speaking world:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
There is now a culturally decentered Spanish APEQ version designed to work equally well across the Spanish-speaking world:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reframing Psychedelic Regulation: Tools, not Treatments
In this new article, we propose to regulate psychedelics as psychotherapeutic treatment tools rather than as treatments in their own right.
The use of anesthetics as treatment tools in surgery is a useful analogy.
In this new article, we propose to regulate psychedelics as psychotherapeutic treatment tools rather than as treatments in their own right.
The use of anesthetics as treatment tools in surgery is a useful analogy.
June 16, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reframing Psychedelic Regulation: Tools, not Treatments
In this new article, we propose to regulate psychedelics as psychotherapeutic treatment tools rather than as treatments in their own right.
The use of anesthetics as treatment tools in surgery is a useful analogy.
In this new article, we propose to regulate psychedelics as psychotherapeutic treatment tools rather than as treatments in their own right.
The use of anesthetics as treatment tools in surgery is a useful analogy.
This new article in the Journal of Eating Disorders seems to uncritically portray psilocybin as a truth serum that can accurately recover "historical autobiographical material" from repressed traumatic memories...
What could possibly go wrong?
jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
What could possibly go wrong?
jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
May 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This new article in the Journal of Eating Disorders seems to uncritically portray psilocybin as a truth serum that can accurately recover "historical autobiographical material" from repressed traumatic memories...
What could possibly go wrong?
jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
What could possibly go wrong?
jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
More remarkable than the results reported in this minor paper is that the first & last author are two of the world's leading psychotherapy researchers. It seems that they are finally beginning to engage.
Have you ever seen the below stated as unmistakably? This is so refreshing and much needed.
Have you ever seen the below stated as unmistakably? This is so refreshing and much needed.
May 15, 2025 at 4:19 AM
More remarkable than the results reported in this minor paper is that the first & last author are two of the world's leading psychotherapy researchers. It seems that they are finally beginning to engage.
Have you ever seen the below stated as unmistakably? This is so refreshing and much needed.
Have you ever seen the below stated as unmistakably? This is so refreshing and much needed.
Another thing that stands out in the "mushroom stones" pictured here is the groove above the edge of the cap. Am I right to assume that's not a common feature of real mushrooms? But apparently many modern "mending mushrooms" do have it, to hold the cloth in place.
May 8, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Another thing that stands out in the "mushroom stones" pictured here is the groove above the edge of the cap. Am I right to assume that's not a common feature of real mushrooms? But apparently many modern "mending mushrooms" do have it, to hold the cloth in place.
Since my wife uses this thing here to mend holes in our kids' clothes, I wonder if this has already been suggested as a purpose of these "mushroom stones" often taken as evidence for ancient ritual use of psilocybin. Isn't there a tendency in archeology to interpret practical items as cult objects?
May 6, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Since my wife uses this thing here to mend holes in our kids' clothes, I wonder if this has already been suggested as a purpose of these "mushroom stones" often taken as evidence for ancient ritual use of psilocybin. Isn't there a tendency in archeology to interpret practical items as cult objects?
Made me think of this article:
Perception is in the Details:
A Predictive Coding Account of the Psychedelic Phenomenon
escholarship.org/uc/item/1j71...
Perception is in the Details:
A Predictive Coding Account of the Psychedelic Phenomenon
escholarship.org/uc/item/1j71...
April 2, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Made me think of this article:
Perception is in the Details:
A Predictive Coding Account of the Psychedelic Phenomenon
escholarship.org/uc/item/1j71...
Perception is in the Details:
A Predictive Coding Account of the Psychedelic Phenomenon
escholarship.org/uc/item/1j71...
Acceptance of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in German-Speaking Countries
New @mind-foundation.bsky.social paper (in German): link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Important result: Informing people about potential benefits only increases acceptance when information on risks is also provided.
New @mind-foundation.bsky.social paper (in German): link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Important result: Informing people about potential benefits only increases acceptance when information on risks is also provided.
February 14, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Acceptance of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in German-Speaking Countries
New @mind-foundation.bsky.social paper (in German): link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Important result: Informing people about potential benefits only increases acceptance when information on risks is also provided.
New @mind-foundation.bsky.social paper (in German): link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Important result: Informing people about potential benefits only increases acceptance when information on risks is also provided.
"The activation of shame-related experiences with psychedelics may pose unique learning conditions for self-acceptance & growth, or alternatively, ongoing avoidance or reinforcement of negative patterns of self-judgment that promotes or maintains psychopathology."
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
February 10, 2025 at 5:16 AM
"The activation of shame-related experiences with psychedelics may pose unique learning conditions for self-acceptance & growth, or alternatively, ongoing avoidance or reinforcement of negative patterns of self-judgment that promotes or maintains psychopathology."
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
"Careful, you must be, or self-fulfilling prophecies, you will create, hmmmm"
February 9, 2025 at 5:30 AM
"Careful, you must be, or self-fulfilling prophecies, you will create, hmmmm"
I encourage everyone to read through Compass' latest description of their "psychological support" model. If this is not in fact psychotherapy, then nothing is.
Ironically, this is most evident whenever the authors apparently aim to differentiate their model from (their idea of) psychotherapy, e.g.:
Ironically, this is most evident whenever the authors apparently aim to differentiate their model from (their idea of) psychotherapy, e.g.:
January 4, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I encourage everyone to read through Compass' latest description of their "psychological support" model. If this is not in fact psychotherapy, then nothing is.
Ironically, this is most evident whenever the authors apparently aim to differentiate their model from (their idea of) psychotherapy, e.g.:
Ironically, this is most evident whenever the authors apparently aim to differentiate their model from (their idea of) psychotherapy, e.g.:
The unmistakable Albert Ellis (1989) on 'transpersonal psychology'.
Shots fired!
Shots fired!
December 8, 2024 at 5:12 AM
The unmistakable Albert Ellis (1989) on 'transpersonal psychology'.
Shots fired!
Shots fired!
The page you linked is really a great example of how the use of the term 'hallucinogen' tends to indicate the author's one-sided, pathologizing view of these drugs. See the screenshot below.
December 6, 2024 at 5:29 AM
The page you linked is really a great example of how the use of the term 'hallucinogen' tends to indicate the author's one-sided, pathologizing view of these drugs. See the screenshot below.
This is why we developed the General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire (GCMQ): To be able to study psychedelics with established constructs from psychotherapy research — and help overcome the exceptionalism that still pervades parts of the field.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
November 27, 2024 at 8:29 PM
This is why we developed the General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire (GCMQ): To be able to study psychedelics with established constructs from psychotherapy research — and help overcome the exceptionalism that still pervades parts of the field.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
The need to build bridges between psychedelic and psychotherapy research was also our motivation to develop this instrument: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
November 23, 2024 at 8:22 AM
The need to build bridges between psychedelic and psychotherapy research was also our motivation to develop this instrument: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Overall, approach-motivated strategies (engaging with negative emotions) appear to work much better than avoidance-motivated ones.
This study seems highly relevant to the practice of psychedelic therapy.
This study seems highly relevant to the practice of psychedelic therapy.
November 22, 2024 at 5:34 AM
Overall, approach-motivated strategies (engaging with negative emotions) appear to work much better than avoidance-motivated ones.
This study seems highly relevant to the practice of psychedelic therapy.
This study seems highly relevant to the practice of psychedelic therapy.
Psychedelic therapy - refining the claim of a paradigm shift
New paper led by Helena Aicher.
TL;DR: a true "paradigm shift" is not, and should not be, in sight. Psychedelic therapy is better understood as an attempt to improve existing frameworks.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
New paper led by Helena Aicher.
TL;DR: a true "paradigm shift" is not, and should not be, in sight. Psychedelic therapy is better understood as an attempt to improve existing frameworks.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
October 22, 2024 at 6:22 AM
Psychedelic therapy - refining the claim of a paradigm shift
New paper led by Helena Aicher.
TL;DR: a true "paradigm shift" is not, and should not be, in sight. Psychedelic therapy is better understood as an attempt to improve existing frameworks.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
New paper led by Helena Aicher.
TL;DR: a true "paradigm shift" is not, and should not be, in sight. Psychedelic therapy is better understood as an attempt to improve existing frameworks.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
Treatment with psychedelics is psychotherapy: beyond reductionism
Our "Personal View" article in The Lancet Psychiatry, led by the principal investigator of the EPIsoDE trial, Gerd Gründer.
authors.elsevier.com/c/1iFBe7tf1d...
Our "Personal View" article in The Lancet Psychiatry, led by the principal investigator of the EPIsoDE trial, Gerd Gründer.
authors.elsevier.com/c/1iFBe7tf1d...
December 13, 2023 at 7:35 AM
Treatment with psychedelics is psychotherapy: beyond reductionism
Our "Personal View" article in The Lancet Psychiatry, led by the principal investigator of the EPIsoDE trial, Gerd Gründer.
authors.elsevier.com/c/1iFBe7tf1d...
Our "Personal View" article in The Lancet Psychiatry, led by the principal investigator of the EPIsoDE trial, Gerd Gründer.
authors.elsevier.com/c/1iFBe7tf1d...