ACT researcher and psychedelic-assisted therapy pioneer studying shame, stigma, and how altered states of consciousness can catalyze psychological transformation.
Dr. Jason Luoma is a psychologist and researcher based in Portland, Oregon, and co-founder of the Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science — one of the leading centers for research on the psychological mechanisms and clinical applications of psychedelic-assisted therapy. His work sits at a compelling intersection: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), shame and self-stigma, and the emerging science of psychedelic medicine, exploring how these frameworks illuminate and interact with one another.
Before turning to psychedelic research, Dr. Luoma was already recognized for his contributions to ACT — particularly in understanding shame and its role in social anxiety, substance use disorders, and self-stigma. He co-authored an influential ACT textbook and published numerous peer-reviewed articles on psychological flexibility and behavior change. His current research examines what happens psychologically during psychedelic experiences, including psilocybin-assisted therapy, and how those experiences can produce lasting reductions in shame, depression, and substance misuse.
In part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Luoma, he and Dan discuss the complexities of psychedelic research, including the regulatory hurdles and safety requirements that can complicate and increase cos…
Dan welcomes Dr. Jason Luoma: a researcher, practitioner, and co-founder of the Portland Institute for Psychadelic Science; the Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center; &…
