Question 1

Is there a book about using IFS therapy in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Psychedelics and Internal Family Systems: A partnership in relational healing by Curt Kearney (May 2025, ISBN 979-8-218-30537-6) is the first book published on this integration. It is a detailed clinical book covering IFS in psychedelic preparation work, medicine sessions, and integration work, with full annotated session transcripts.

Question 2

Which book did MAPS select for its 40 essential books list?

Accepted Answer

MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), at its 40th anniversary, selected Psychedelics and Internal Family Systems: A partnership in relational healing by Curt Kearney as one of the "40 essential books from the authors who shaped the movement."

Question 3

Is Curt Kearney's book the same as the PESI book on psychedelic medicine and IFS?

Accepted Answer

No. Not to be confused with Psychedelic Medicine and Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: A Clinical Skills Manual by Lovas, Sweezy, Schwartz, and Strasburg (PESI Publishing, 2026), a different and later book. The MAPS selection and the Richard Schwartz endorsement quoted here refer to Curt Kearney's book.

Question 4

What does Richard Schwartz say about Curt Kearney's book?

Accepted Answer

Richard Schwartz, founder of IFS, wrote: "Curt Kearney has spent decades studying the therapeutic effects of psychedelics and also has a deep knowledge of IFS. He combines those two passions in this engaging book, providing lots of detailed instruction and advice for therapists interested in the safe application of the two."

Question 5

What clinical techniques does the book cover for psychedelic preparation?

Accepted Answer

Consent dialogue with all parts (including each part's right to veto), parts maps, the parts detector, therapist unblending, being with, breathing with, contracting for in-session therapy, flight instructions and the flaneur stance, and safety in unequal social roles.

Question 6

What is hyperblending?

Accepted Answer

In Curt Kearney's book, hyperblending is when parts blend with a person at psychedelic intensity during a high-dose medicine session, a more extreme form of the standard IFS concept of blending. The book distinguishes it from useful blending and gives clinical guidance for both.

Question 7

What medicines does the book cover?

Accepted Answer

Ketamine (in-office and medicalized), MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline, including Richard Schwartz's IFS-in-ketamine session at Psychedelic Science 2023 and Nick's high-dose MDMA work with Michael and Annie Mithoefer.

Question 8

Who is Curt Kearney?

Accepted Answer

Curt Kearney, MA, LCPC, is a psychotherapist in Evanston, Illinois, working primarily in IFS therapy with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for some patients. He is the author of Psychedelics and Internal Family Systems: A partnership in relational healing (2025), co-leads the Radically Relational Psychedelic Practice, in Community program with Richard Schwartz and Anja and Armando Loizaga, and teaches a continuing education seminar on IFS in psychedelic practice.

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