Woo and the Nature of Man
Research on the potential of emerging health and performance strategies, plus their autonomous application.
Why are many men choosing psychedelics to help aid their wellbeing? Often instead of established health services?
I’m finding out in this ongoing personal research project, undertaken during postgraduate study in Psychedelic Studies from The University of Exeter, UK.
Naturally I’d be delighted to share my findings at upcoming conferences and seminars – get in touch here. I’ve already presented on ‘What can services learn from men seeking psychedelic treatment?’ at Exeter University’s Psychedelic Integration Conference, and about ‘How psychedelics help men engage with spiriutality’ at Psychology and the Other in London.
If you came here via a direct link and you’re wondering “WTF are this guy’s credentials?” I’m Steve Langsford Beale (MSc Psychol) (GBC) as of November 2024 from the University of Exeter. I’m a journalist and magazine editor which has included working in ‘male spaces’ like magazines Arena, Homme Plus and FHM, brands Stone Island and Pretty Green, and mixed martial arts: here’s my website and work email plus a recent piece on how to talk to your boss about mental health in Mr Porter Journal. By all means hit me up on LinkedIn. The especially intrigued can read this interview with me by Harriet Sheperd in Resident Advisor.
I blog about my psychedelic studies here at newpsychonaut.com and via @newpsychonaut. All emails go to the same place but here’s the psychedelic one.
Current Study
What can services learn from men seeking psychedelic treatment?
Things aren't working out
More men engage with talk therapy than ever before, but they remain cautious and unmotivated (Good & Robertson, 2010. Sierra Hernandez, 2014). Up to 44.8% quit early (Spendelow, 2015; Hill, 2015). Guidelines for girls, women, minorities, older adults, and sexually diverse clients exist (APA, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007) yet mens' recommendations remain absent - despite calls (Mahalik et al, 2012).
Desperately seeking something
Men are equally aware of mindfulness programs known to enhance a sense of spirituality, (Simonsson et al 2020) but more leave (Landau & Jones 2021) and men benefit less overall (Ford et al, 2020). Reports claim men are seeking to address spiritual needs, though (Men's Health, 2020; The Guardian, 2022; NHS, 2022; THEOS, 2022). Some surveys (EG Palmer & Maynard, 2022) show psychedelic ceremonies attracting more men, informing discussion.
Hold space for the lads
'Meaning-making' key to mens' mental health (Brown et al, 2023) is one of many wellbeing needs associated with psychedelic experience also generated by spiritual and religious practices (Park, 2013). Diverse integration of influential 'mystical experiences' (Griffiths, 2006; Palitsky et al, 2023) offers potential for outreach (Kamboj et al, 2015; Sjöstedt-Hughes, 2023).
“Looks like Karen'll be alright. But I'm thinking about the mandem"
Darren 'Le Baron' Springer, Breaking Convention 2023
Moral injury, ontology & identity
Psychedelic lesson #1:
Moral injury involves a rupturing of what an individual considers certain or true
(Molendik et al, 2022). Ontological shock, collapse of psychic reality in psychedelic harm reduction terms (Argyri et al, 2024) has similarities.
Studies show difficult choices and sustained, perceived, direct or indirect lack of support can contribute to post traumatic stress disorder in military, emergency services, and other professionals (Van Middendorp et al, 2018; Lentz et al, 2021). Psychedelics show promise for treating PTSD (Mithoefer et al, 2010; Burback et al, 2023).
Psychedelic experience and traditional indigenous wisdom provides space for new conversations around complex issues contributing to PTSD, such as family and belief system wounds (Healy et al, 2021; Healy, 2021; Vogt, 2013), including ongoing moral injuries.
Female ex-military and emergency service-people quit existing trauma therapies at the same levels as men (Blain et al., 2010 implying core limitations besides any gender bias (Lentz et al, 2021).
“Of nine core psychology texts only three mention power - and none money”
David Smail, Why Therapy Doesn’t Work
Psychedelic lesson #2:
Decolonising masculinity
Men's therapy initiatives lead to stereotyping of men and men's issues (Harding & Fox, 2014).
During psychedelic experiences, men examine 'rigid, outdated male stereotypes' and develop new strategies on individual terms (Petersen et al, 2022).
Psychedelic decolonisation of self is a lifelong process of personal growth and learning in which one works toward a personal vision aligning values and relationships (Jooste & Frantz 2017; Matahela & van Rensburg 2023; Shields, 2008).
Emerging spiritualities encourage exploration of diverse masculinities. (Feraro, 2022, 2023a & 2023b; Whitehead & Letcher, 2023).
Maria Papaspyrou, Femtheogenic Consciousness, 2015
“Chaos gives birth to a new order of greater complexity than before”
Challenging psychedelic lesson #1
Complex relations
Men claim clinician-patient power dynamics feel inappropriate (Benakovic et al., 2024). Psychedelics might help by increasingly enhancing therapeutic alliance (Levin et al, 2024; Murphy et al., 2022).
'Meeting them where they're at' is a key characteristic of mens' group facilitators. Most men lack the emotional literacy required for meaningful talk therapy exchanges, and would benefit from communication skills.
For facilitators, relaying standards and managing interactions provides opportunities to model positive behaviour and encourage vulnerability (Stewart et al, 2022). Recent group LSD therapy research shows psychological interventions often required before transpersonal elements examined, supporting Grof (1986) validating role for services (Oehen & Glasser, 2022).
“For us, there is no spring: just the wind that smells fresh before a storm”
Conan the Barbarian
Challenging psychedelic lesson #2:
The money trap
Men pursuing decolonised lifestyles encounter othering: it is society that continues to insist on capitalist vocations for men and women, not men per se (Petersen et al, 2022).
Emphasis on men's services can be impeded by gender conflict: tailored programs show promise (Cox et al., 2014, Kivari et al, 2016) but wider replication appears elusive (Seidler et al, 2026).
