Beyond CBT: How ACT, IFS, and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Could Transform Social Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health challenges today, significantly impacting quality of life and often co-occurring with other psychological conditions. Social anxiety disorder (SAD), in particular, affects 12% of the population and is characterized by a persistent fear of social interactions or performance situations. This often leads to avoidance behaviours and emotional distress, exacerbated by experiential avoidance (EA) and shame. Many patients remain unresponsive to the current standard of care, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), highlighting the need for innovative approaches. Increasingly recognized therapies like acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and internal family systems (IFS) have demonstrated efficacy in addressing SAD by targeting underlying mechanisms and promoting acceptance. The recent resurgence of psychedelic research has reignited exploration into the therapeutic potential of these substances for a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders. Preliminary evidence suggests that when combined with established therapies like ACT or IFS, psychedelic-assisted approaches may hold promise for amplifying their positive effects, creating a synergistic potential for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.

Introduction 

Social Anxiety Disorder

Approximately one third of all people will struggle with anxiety at some point in their lives (Bandelow & Michaelis, 2022). That makes anxiety disorders one of the most common disorders of our time (Michael et al., 2007). Anxiety disorders are associated with low education, unemployment, and income and are highly comorbid with many other mental disorders (Michael et al., 2007). Social anxiety disorder (SAD), or social phobia is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by extreme and persistent social anxiety or performance anxiety and that causes significant distress or prevents participation in social activities (APA Dictionary, n.d.). It is the most common anxiety disorder, with a 12% lifetime prevalence (Stein & Stein, 2008). 

The current standard of care for SAD is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy (Rodebaugh et al., 2004). Further exploration for the best possible treatment for SAD is crucial since one sixth of CBT patients are non-responsive to CBT therapy (Liebowitz et al., 1999). The prevalence of SAD has risen even more since the start of the pandemic (World Health Organization, 2022), which calls for acute advancements in SAD treatment. Considering the many changes in lifestyle after the start of COVID-19, such as work from home, the lack of psychotherapists considering more people are seeking treatment, understanding SAD better and finding more effective treatments than the current standard is crucial. Moreover, the very nature of anxiety symptoms, with high propensity for avoidance at its core (Panayiotou et al., 2014), makes individuals less likely to seek help and can thus get stuck in a vicious cycle. A systematic literature review by Swee et al. (2021), which examined 60 peer-reviewed studies, found a consistent link between shame and social anxiety across different cultures and clinical presentations. 

Shame & Experiential Avoidance

Shame, a highly unpleasant self-conscious emotion arises from the perception of dishonourable, immodest, or indecorous aspects of one’s behaviour or circumstances, often leading to withdrawal from social engagement (APA Dictionary, n.d.). Research has well-documented the relationship between shame and social anxiety, with evidence suggesting that shame may underlie SAD (Swee et al., 2021). Experiential avoidance (EA) has been identified as a mediating factor, with Lee et al. (2014) finding a significant positive correlation among social anxiety, internalized shame, and EA. The interplay between EA and anxiety suggests a two-way relationship, where each intensifies the other, creating a complex cycle that affects mental and physical health outcomes.

Research indicates that EA exacerbates anxiety symptoms in individuals without a prior history of anxiety-related disorders (Kashdan et al., 2006). Venta et al. (2012) demonstrated a strong association between anxiety and EA among adolescent inpatients, independent of depression, further underscoring the significant role of EA in anxiety-related disorders. Chawla and Ostafin (2007) characterized EA as both the avoidance of aversive experiences and the urge to alter those experiences. 

EA is linked to reduced overall quality of life and functioning in clinical and nonclinical populations. It influences the effectiveness of treatments and external factors, serves as a mediator for the effects of stressful life events and various psychological factors, including coping styles and emotion regulation strategies, and plays a mediating role in the outcomes of acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies (Boulanger et al., 2010). For example, someone with high EA might struggle with social anxiety and avoid public speaking at work, even if advancing in their career depends on it. This avoidance lowers their overall quality of life by limiting opportunities for growth and success. It can also make therapy less effective—if they resist engaging with difficult emotions during treatment, progress will be slower. Additionally, when faced with stressful events, such as receiving negative feedback, they may cope by shutting down or distracting themselves instead of processing the experience. However, therapies like acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and other mindfulness-based approaches can help by teaching them to accept discomfort rather than avoid it, ultimately improving their ability to handle challenges and function more effectively in daily life.

Understanding EA, a factor deeply influencing the development, progression, and comorbidity of emotional challenges, emerges as a key gateway to addressing these complex dynamics (Spinhoven et al., 2014). Targeting EA in therapeutic interventions offers a promising pathway to disrupt avoidance patterns and alleviate anxiety symptoms.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Research highlights the role of acceptance in addressing the challenges of the avoidance and anxiety cycle, offering a pathway to disrupt avoidance behaviours and improve mental health outcomes. Self-acceptance, a key component of broader acceptance practices, has been shown to lower shame-proneness, which is often intertwined with social anxiety and other emotional difficulties (Crisan et al., 2023). Acceptance is one of the six core pillars of ACT (Harris, 2006), a therapeutic approach grounded in addressing EA. Research on ACT has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing shame and fostering acceptance (Luoma & Platt, 2015). 

ACT is a »third wave« therapeutic approach designed to help individuals create a meaningful and fulfilling life by accepting the inevitable pain and discomfort that accompanies it. Rooted in mindfulness-based behavioural therapy and supported by empirical evidence, ACT is grounded in the idea that ineffective verbal strategies to regulate thoughts and emotions often lead to maladaptive behaviours (APA Dictionary, n.d.). Rather than focusing on symptom elimination, ACT emphasizes transforming one’s relationship with difficult thoughts, emotions, and sensations by encouraging acceptance of these experiences as transient and non-threatening psychological events (Harris, 2006).

ACT operates through six core principles: defusion, acceptance, contact with the present moment, the observing self, values, and committed action. These principles aim to foster psychological flexibility, enabling individuals to engage fully with life even in the presence of discomfort. It promotes values-driven action while emphasizing forgiveness, compassion, and a transcendent sense of self. ACT challenges the traditional Western psychological assumption of healthy normality, which views psychological suffering as abnormal. Instead, it acknowledges that human language and cognition often contribute to distress. By reducing the struggle to control or avoid unpleasant inner experiences, ACT disrupts the cycle of avoidance that exacerbates psychological suffering, particularly in anxiety disorders. Ultimately, this approach prioritizes acceptance of what cannot be controlled and commitment to actions aligned with one’s deepest values, fostering resilience and long-term well-being.

A fundamental proposition of ACT is that EA represents a potential pathway to human suffering, exemplified by the development of addiction. The initial avoidance of unpleasant feelings with substances transforms into a self-sustaining problem, focused on the absence of cravings or withdrawal symptoms (Harris, 2006). ACT, compared to cognitive therapy (CT), demonstrates comparable efficiency in lowering severe levels of anxiety but operates through a different mechanism. While CT focuses on observing and describing one’s experiences, ACT directly targets EA (Forman et al., 2007) through the six core principles. Exposure and experimental exercises are common to both ACT and CBT. However, whereas in CBT they are thought of the way through which discomfort is overcome or maladaptive beliefs are challenged, in ACT they are used as training to stay present in the uncomfortable situation, accept it, and act in accordance with the committed values (Ruiz, 2012). 

Going back to the person with social anxiety who avoids public speaking: they might strongly believe that people will judge their public speaking skills. Based on the therapy method, the approach to the situation is different. In a CT session, the therapist would encourage them to first observe their thoughts objectively and then challenge the negative beliefs. They would examine evidence for and against those beliefs to develop a more balanced perspective. On the other hand, in an ACT session, the patient would be encouraged to accept the anxiety, recognize it as just a feeling, and still engage in social situations based on their values—such as excelling in their career, personal growth, or supporting a cause and advocating for change. In ACT, the goal is not to avoid difficult experiences but to move through them while making meaningful life choices, aligned with their value structure.

Building on this, Biglan et al. (2008) examined the efficacy of ACT in mitigating EA, positing it as a promising strategy to strengthen preventive measures for psychological difficulties. Given the inherent unpredictability of life’s challenges, the implementation of preventive measures for psychological distress, including social anxiety, holds universal value.

A systematic review of studies investigating the effect of ACT interventions on the treatment of various forms of anxiety by Swain et al. (2013) shows support for ACT as a successful and promising alternative to the current standard of treatment, CBT. Moreover, a meta-analysis by Ruiz (2012), studies comparing ACT to CBT revealed that ACT showed a significant positive impact on its hypothesised processes of change, and the positive effect of ACT in depression and quality of life. In a more recent review of meta-analysis that included data from 12.477 participants from 20 meta-analyses, the findings indicated the effectiveness of ACT across all conditions studied, namely anxiety, depression, pain, substance abuse and transdiagnostic groups (Gloster et al., 2020). ACT outperformed waitlist conditions, placebo treatments, treatments as usual, and most active intervention conditions. 

Internal Family Systems

Another promising mode of therapy, also developed in the 80s but still less mainstream than ACT, shown to regulate shame, is internal family systems (IFS) (Sweezy, 2011). ACT and IFS both prioritize fostering acceptance as a central therapeutic mechanism but differ in their approaches. ACT emphasizes cultivating psychological flexibility through mindfulness and values-driven actions to address EA and distress, while IFS takes a systems-oriented approach and focuses on resolving internal conflicts and promoting self-leadership by engaging with the diverse “parts” of the psyche. 

IFS was developed on three paradigms: the normal multiplicity of the mind, Self-leadership and systems thinking (Schwartz, 2013). Firstly, the Self-leadership paradigm assumes the existence of a pure, undamaged essence of a person. When there is trust in the leadership of the Self, one is full of compassion, clarity, and acceptance. It is what the spiritual books and approached call the Buddha-nature, soul, or spirit. Secondly, considering that the intrapsychic processes altogether are one big system, IFS therapists address every level of it. It draws upon principles of family systems theory, traditionally applied in family therapy. But instead of working on the relationships and attachments between people, IFS turns this practice inside, to the complex relations between the subparts of our psyche. Thirdly, the plural mind paradigm, the idea that we all have various parts within us, assumes that instead of having some sort of disease or deficit, a person is experiencing conflict within themselves, between the internal parts, or on the outside, with people who they’re in a relationship with. IFS helps to resolve and release those conflicts. It is non-pathologizing, as it supposes that all the needed resources are within us already, and through the therapeutic process, they are released. 

There are two main cluster types of internal parts according to IFS (Schwartz, 2013). The first one is called protectors. They are the ones who keep us organized, make sure we complete our tasks, help us strategize and keep us safe. They exile the injured parts of us while trying to protect us, causing more harm in the end. Exiles, the second cluster of parts, taxed with feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth and lovability, can overflow us with emotional pain to the extent that they blend with us. When that happens, the first cluster activates again to calm the emotional fire. Their means to do so are sometimes destructive, as they try to fight the exiles with self-destructive behaviours taking many forms, from eating disorders to excessive alcohol, drug or pornography use and suicidality (Sweezy & Ziskind, 2013). 

IFS puts self-acceptance of all internal parts in the focus of the therapeutic process because it acknowledges the ineffectiveness of psychotherapy when the intention is based on change, not acceptance (Schwartz, 2013). Moreover, Schwartz proposes that the lack of acceptance is the biggest obstacle for change. He notes that someone who is avoiding a social outing would be encouraged by an ACT therapist to notice, observe, and stay with the feelings and thoughts without trying to change them and then still go to the party, although no beliefs have changed. The mindfulness and acceptance aspect of both IFS and ACT offers a valuable alternative to the standard of treatment. CBT is so focused on trying to correct cognitive distortions without accepting them first. However, he takes a step further, pointing it is possible to “transform the inner drama”. 

To illustrate further, an ACT therapist would approach this client by helping the person recognize that their anxiety and negative thoughts are not obstacles to action but experiences they can carry with them. Instead of trying to change their belief—like in CBT—or focusing on internal parts, as in IFS, the therapist would encourage them to observe their anxious thoughts and feelings with curiosity and without judgment. They might say, “Notice that your mind is telling you, ‘Everyone will judge me.’ Can you let that thought be there without letting it control you?” The therapist would then guide them to reconnect with their values—perhaps social connection, personal growth, or overcoming fears. They would encourage the person to attend the party despite their discomfort, reinforcing that anxiety doesn’t have to disappear for them to take meaningful action. Through this approach, ACT helps people develop greater psychological flexibility, allowing them to engage in life even when difficult emotions arise. 

In contrast, a CBT therapist would focus on identifying and challenging the negative beliefs driving the avoidance. For example, if the person believes, “Everyone will judge me and think I’m awkward,” the therapist might encourage them to examine the evidence for and against this belief. They may work on restructuring their thoughts to something more balanced, like, “Some people might not engage with me, but others may be friendly, and I have handled social situations before.” The goal is to change the belief so that attending the party feels less threatening. 

An IFS therapist, on the other hand, would explore the different internal parts involved in the avoidance. They might identify an anxious part that fears embarrassment and an exiled part that carries old wounds from past social rejection. Instead of forcing change, the therapist would help the client build a compassionate relationship with these parts, understanding their fears and reassuring them that the adult Self can handle the situation. The goal is not just to attend the party but to heal the underlying emotional wounds that make social situations feel so threatening in the first place. 

While ACT encourages acceptance and action despite discomfort, CBT aims to change unhelpful beliefs, and IFS seeks to heal wounded parts that drive avoidance.

This approach was found effective in the contexts of improving well-being and general functioning and recognized as a promising approach for improving various symptoms, including anxiety symptoms, as well as physical health conditions (Schwartz & Sweezy, 2019). This is all backed up by years of research as well. Sweezy (2011) researched how exactly IFS works with shame and concluded the very paradigms and assumed truths behind IFS address shame. He identifies two key strategies that can help patients regulate shame. First, consistently practicing self-compassion redirects the mental patterns that create shame since self-compassion and shame cannot coexist. Second, IFS views the mind as made up of different parts that relate to each other, creating an internal dialogue that, while sometimes conflicting, is active and engaging. This is different from shame, which feels isolating and paralyzing. Shame tells a rigid, self-defeating story of worthlessness, leaving little room for choice and often leading to panic and despair. Parts of the self that carry shame tend to withdraw from social connection. When anger temporarily suppresses shame, it may provide short-term relief but often leads to harmful behaviours, worsening fear, shame, and isolation in the long run.

IFS has also been found equally beneficial as first-line treatments for depression, CBT, or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in a pilot study by Haddock et al. (2017). Hodgon et al. (2022) investigated the effectiveness of the IFS approach for treatment of PTSD and associated symptoms, such as depression, dissociation, somatization, affect dysregulation, and disrupted self-perception (i.e., shame) among adults exposed to multiple childhood traumas. They found significant decreases in PTSD, associated symptoms, and depression. Self-compassion, which plays a central role in the IFS approach, was found to play a significant role. Thus, they concluded that IFS is a promising approach for childhood trauma survivors. 

Although IFS has not yet been as researched as ACT, and the research so far is more directed towards other mood disorders than SAD and symptoms of trauma-related disorders, all the results, including the shame-focused ones, point to the conceivable positive effect of IFS on SAD. Moreover, knowing the role EA plays in SAD and shame and understanding the confronting approach of IFS of all internal parts and relations between them, it all points in the same hopeful and promising direction of the future of treatment and the development of the therapeutic processes.  

Psychedelic and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Since there is a growing body of research supporting the positive effect of IFS and ACT in the context of anxiety and mood disorders, a question arises: is there a way to amplify this positive effect? If acceptance is such a powerful catalyst and engine of change, how can we enhance and maybe even speed up the process of acceptance? This is where psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy enter the discussion. 

Psychedelics are compounds affecting the serotonin system in the brain and thus altering the subjective experience of consciousness (Kelmendi et al., 2022). The “classical” psychedelics closely resemble the endogenous neurotransmitter serotonin in structure and function, allowing them to act as (partial) agonists of the 5-HT2A receptor that plays the central role of the consciousness-altering effects. Many of these substances, such as psilocybin, mescaline and DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine), can be found in nature and have been a part of various spiritual ancient traditions. Some traditions and uses of psilocybin date back to the times of the Mayan and Aztec cultures of Mesoamerica. The use of mescaline and DMT, one of the main components of ayahuasca, has been recorded in Indigenous communities in South and North America (Kelmendi et al., 2022).

Some substances, however, are of more recent discovery. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) was synthesized in 1938 by Albert Hofmann. Its effects were discovered in 1943 by Hoffmann himself testing the compounds he made in the search for one that would stimulate the respiratory and circulatory systems (Hoffman, 1979). LSD is also a part of the classic psychedelic group, as it falls under the ergolines (Kelmendi et al., 2022). Another psychedelic, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), was synthesized by Anton Köllisch in 1912 (Kelmendi et al., 2022). MDMA is considered an atypical psychedelic because its’ effect emerges through a different mechanism – it inhibits the reuptake of serotonin (Mitchell & Anderson, 2024). 

Psychedelics were long overshadowed by decades of prohibition since their widespread cultural, therapeutic, and scientific exploration in the 1950s and ‘60s. Recently, they experienced renewed interest and support from both non-profit and for-profit organizations (Doblin et al., 2019). This resurgence has been referred to as the “renaissance of psychedelics,” reflecting a growing acknowledgment of their potential therapeutic value (Nutt, 2019). Studies are being conducted at research institutions, private practice sites, encompassing psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), addiction, anxiety, and depression, as well as investigations into the neuroscientific effects of psychedelics (Doblin et al., 2019). 

The results pointing into the direction of psychedelic-assisted therapy for treatment of various mental health conditions are beyond promising. A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy by Luoma et al. (2020) supports the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy for social anxiety among autistic adults, as well as PTSD, anxiety or depression associated with a life-threatening illness and unipolar depression. Understanding how psychedelics work and align with therapeutic frameworks like ACT and IFS can provide deeper insights into their transformative potential.

Psilocybin-assisted therapy is increasingly recognized for its potential to address anxiety and depressive symptoms (Goldberg et al., 2020). A study by Healy et al. (2021) suggests that the therapeutic use of psychedelics may effectively address the psychological effects of childhood maltreatment, particularly by reducing internalized shame. These findings highlight the potential of psychedelics to help alleviate shame and other psychological consequences associated with childhood trauma. IFS and ACT, which also focus on transforming the experience of shame, have a similar effect – IFS by fostering self-compassion and healing exiled parts, and ACT by encouraging acceptance and values-based action.

Close et al. (2020) explored the effect of psychedelics on psychological flexibility. They found a correlation between improvements in psychological flexibility and improvements in depression. Most interestingly, they found that a low baseline score for psychological flexibility predicted greater improvements. That suggests psychedelics could be particularly beneficial for individuals who are resistant to other treatments, as they may provide a unique pathway to enhance psychological adaptability and acceptance. As we saw before, non-responsiveness to treatment is a big problem with the current standard of care, CBT. This suggests that psychedelics, by enhancing psychological flexibility, could offer a promising alternative for individuals who do not respond well to traditional therapies like CBT, potentially filling a crucial gap in mental health treatment.

Acceptance has been identified as a key mediator linking psychedelic experiences to improved mental well-being (Krabbe et al., 2024). In addition, an article by Wolff et al. (2020) attributes the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies to their ability to facilitate a shift from EA to acceptance. ACT is arguably one of the therapies that can contribute to deepening and maintaining the insights from psychedelic sessions (Luoma et al., 2019). ACT and its processes have been said to optimise psilocybin-assisted therapy (Sloshower, 2020). Moreover, the protocols used in IFS have also shown promising results in psychedelic therapy settings (Grant, 2024). 

Further Research

To sum up, psychedelic-assisted therapy shows great promise in addressing EA, shame, and related symptoms of SAD, particularly by promoting acceptance. When combined with the powerful, evidence-based strategies of ACT and IFS, which are both highly effective in targeting EA, the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy are further enhanced and sustained, offering a powerful integrative approach for those struggling with SAD and similar conditions. This integrative approach may offer a breakthrough for individuals who have not responded well to conventional treatments. It presents a faster, more efficient route to healing, particularly for those who are treatment-resistant, by rapidly unlocking insights and emotional breakthroughs that traditional therapy may take longer to achieve. 

Both ACT and IFS are highly experiential therapies, focusing on active engagement and encouraging individuals to confront the things they fear in a safe, guided manner, much like psychedelics, which also involve active, immersive experiences. These treatments are not merely tools; they are experiments in themselves, pushing individuals to step outside their comfort zones and explore new realms of understanding and growth. 

In practical terms, patients could engage in regular ACT or IFS sessions to build a strong foundation of emotional awareness and self-compassion, while occasional psychedelic sessions serve as catalysts for deep, transformative experiences. These sessions would then be carefully integrated into ongoing therapy, helping to reinforce new perspectives and adaptive behaviors. This flexible treatment model not only promises significant improvements in individuals’ lives but also has the potential to alleviate some of the pressure on mental health professionals, who are often overburdened. By accelerating the therapeutic process and achieving lasting change more efficiently, this approach could streamline care, optimize clinical resources, and ultimately provide a more sustainable solution in the realm of mental health treatment. 

While the results from current research into psychedelic-assisted therapy, especially when combined with ACT and IFS, point to a highly promising future, much more research is needed to refine these approaches and bring them into mainstream practice. Key areas for exploration include determining the optimal timing and frequency of psychedelic sessions. For example, is there a difference in effectiveness between having psychedelic sessions three times in a row over a month versus spacing them out, such as twice a year with six-month breaks? Further studies are also needed to understand how the interaction of psychedelics with serotonin and the influence of estrogen on serotonin can inform the best timing for these sessions, particularly in relation to a person’s menstrual cycle.

Additionally, comparing the effects of different psychedelic substances—such as MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin—will help determine which might be most effective when combined with ACT or IFS or whether certain combinations yield better outcomes. As several countries and states, including the Netherlands and Colorado in the United States, begin to embrace these approaches, it will be important to study how they are applying frameworks to train psychedelic facilitators and what results emerge from these more regulated settings.

Another intriguing area for investigation is how individuals’ experiences of shame—whether linked to something they have done or something intrinsic to their being, such as their body—affect the therapeutic process. Do these varying sources of shame require different treatment approaches, and does acceptance of oneself and one’s external situation have a similar impact on healing? Finally, research could explore whether visualizing the object of avoidance during a psychedelic session is as effective as directly confronting it in real life. These explorations would provide valuable insights to optimize treatment protocols and improve outcomes for individuals undergoing psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

Of course, there must be great caution when it comes to dealing with mind-altering substances with disorder-diagnosed clinical population. There are challenges on the research side, specifically in the psychedelic context, such as blinding, expectancy and source of bias, as well as the general challenges surrounding funding, impact versus risk analysis, and the nature of establishing evidence in medical science (Muthukumaraswamy et al., 2022). Social and economic contexts are also mentioned and are important since psychedelic “retreats” under the supervision of clinical psychologists and therapists in countries where some psychedelics are legal (e.g., psilocybin truffles in the Netherlands) can cost up to five, six thousand euros for a multiple day group experience, or around two thousand for a private, one-to-two-day experience. Very much needed is also a discussion about relational ethical challenges in the psychedelic healing context. Brennan et al. (2021) interviewed practitioners who work with MDMA and psilocybin extralegally to assess unique relational challenges during their work. They revealed various themes, such as nonsexual touch, client nudity and the belief that therapists must continue to have their own psychedelic experiences. 

To realize the promising potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy, proper training, ethical guidelines, and regulatory decisions are essential for ensuring safe and effective practices in this emerging field.

Conclusion

The intersection of psychotherapies such as ACT and IFS with emerging psychedelic-assisted therapies marks a hopeful turning point in the treatment of SAD and related mental health challenges. By targeting EA, fostering acceptance, and leveraging the transformative potential of psychedelics, these approaches aim to break the cycles of avoidance, shame, and anxiety that define these conditions. While significant ethical and practical challenges remain, continued research, proper training, and thoughtful regulation could pave the way for these therapies to transform mental health care, offering renewed hope to individuals who have long struggled with traditional treatments, such as CBT.

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