Episode 363
Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D.
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, creator of Relational Frame Theory, and one of the most cited psychologists in the world. Hayes reflects on his early experiences in the Summer of Love, why psychedelics were never meant to be treated as a party, and how those formative explorations helped shape his lifelong work on psychological flexibility.
Paul and Steven explore what psychedelics can reveal about the nature of self, the role of preparation and context in safe outcomes, and why psychedelic therapy must not be reduced to a patented, “script and go” biomedical model. Their conversation also examines ACT, trauma, attachment, group experience, spiritual community, and the importance of honoring each person’s unique path rather than forcing transformation into averages, labels, or protocols.
Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., is a Nevada Foundation Professor of Psychology Emeritus at the University of Nevada, Reno and President of the Institute for Better Health, a 45-year-old charitable organization that promotes quality in mental and behavioral health services. He is the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, creator of Relational Frame Theory, and a co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. Hayes has authored nearly 750 scientific articles and 48 books, including Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life and A Liberated Mind. His methods are distributed worldwide by the World Health Organization and other major scientific agencies, and are commonly used in psychedelic-assisted therapy. His TEDx talks and blogs have been viewed or read by more than five million people, and he is among the most cited psychologists in the world.
Podcast Highlights
- Psychedelics as tools of the mind
- The Summer of Love’s unfinished lessons
- Self as context and spiritual awareness
- Why good trips feel like coming home
- ACT as psychological flexibility
- Preparation, safety, and lasting change
- The danger of “script and go” psychedelics
- Group ceremony and relational healing
- Particularity, averages, and human uniqueness
- Psychedelics beyond the therapy frame
Show Links
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