Research

My research is primarily concerned with the intersection of four major domains. First, I am interested in question of "the good life," that is, optimal well-being, positive adult development, and the cultivation of wisdom, or what Abraham Maslow described as the “farther reaches of human nature.” Relatedly, I am interested in awe, mystical, peak, and plateau states, and their role in the process of cultivating psychospiritual growth and development throughout adulthood. As such, a central focus has been studying the role for psychoactive substances, such as psilocybin, cannabis, LSD, and ketamine, in providing enhanced to these states of consciousness and the cultivation of self-transcendence. Finally, these domains dovetail with my clinical interest in trauma and loss, boundary situations, existential anxiety, psychosocial oncology, and palliative care. I am particularly interested in how psychedelic-assisted therapy can be used to facilitate the developmental process of self-transcendence.

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St. Arnaud, K. O., & Sharpe, D.  (2023). Entheogens and spiritual seeking: The quest for self-transcendence, psychological well-being, and psychospiritual growth. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.2023.00263

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St. Arnaud, K. O., & Sharpe, D.  (2022). Opening to awe: Psychedelic-assisted self-transcendence and positive adult development. Journal of Adult Development, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-022-09419-2
 

St. Arnaud, K. O., & Sharpe, D.  (2022). Contextual parameters associated with positive and negative mental health in recreational psychedelic users. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, https://10.1080/02791072.2022.2039815
 

St. Arnaud, K. O. (2021). Toward a positive psychology of psychoactive drug use. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2021.2002816
 

St. Arnaud, K. O. (2019). Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for existential suffering: Facilitating self-transcendence at the end-of-life. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, https://doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2019.38.2.31
 

St. Arnaud, K. O., & Cormier, D. C. (2017). Psychosis or spiritual emergency: The potential of developmental psychopathology for differential diagnosis. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 6, 44-59, https://doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2017.36.2.44

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St. Arnaud, K. O. (2017). Encountering the wounded healer: Parallel process and supervision. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 51, 131-144.