Low-5 in Psycholytic Therapy
A Low-5 community-of-practice on how short-acting, low-dose 5-MeO-DMT (“Low-5”) can deliver rapid, deep therapy—potentially reducing costs and widening access to psychedelic care.
Contents
Abstract
Background: Psycholytic therapy uses small to medium doses of psychedelics to enhance psychotherapy outcomes. Modern psychedelic-assisted therapy often involves higher doses, which can pose resource and logistical challenges that limit access and clinical adoption. Revisiting the psycholytic therapy model with Low-5 (low-dose 5-MeO-DMT) could offer a more accessible approach to psychedelic health services for organizations and clients.
Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with psychotherapists from a Community of Practice on implementing psycholytic therapy with Low-5. Topics included benefits and barriers to implementation, preparation, dosing and sessions, integration, eligible populations, therapy modalities, and the role of the psychotherapist during sessions. Themes and summaries were prepared using a qualitative description approach.
Findings: Eleven psychotherapists (mean clinical experience = 16.1 years; age range: 32-70 years; 82% female) identified key benefits of Low-5 in psycholytic therapy: customizable dosing, increased client agency, resource efficiency, and transdiagnostic treatment effects, including emotional processing and mindfulness. Barriers included legal and regulatory concerns, limited research, training gaps, and health risks associated with vaping. Low-5 may be effective for treating trauma, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Preparation should include psychoeducation and be client-centered. Integration should be adaptable and comprehensive. Flexible and standardized approaches to session structure and dosing were proposed. Several evidence-based therapies may pair well, including Internal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Interpretation: Low-5 may be a suitable candidate for psycholytic therapy, offering a flexible and accessible option for organizations and clients. Further research on psycholytic therapy structure with Low-5 is needed, as well as randomized controlled trials to evaluate its efficacy and safety.
Introduction
In the 1960s, psycholytic therapy was a growing form of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT).1,2 It involved providing small to medium doses of tryptamines (e.g., 30-150 mcg of LSD) to enhance psychotherapy outcomes. However, due to prohibition3 and a lack of well-designed research studies, interest in this approach waned.1 Contemporary PAT now typically involves higher dose administrations (e.g., LSD: >250 mcg, psilocybin: 25-40mg) in clinical and research settings,4 showing strong treatment effects for various mental health conditions compared to placebos.5–8 However, these interventions have several health service limitations:
Resource intensity: PAT is resource and time-intensive for organizations.9,10 Sessions can last up to 8 hours, require a high staff-to-client ratio, and substantial resources, which can hinder adoption.
Access barriers: PAT treatments can exceed $10,000 per client,11–13 creating access and equity barriers, especially for lower socioeconomic groups who experience a greater burden of mental health challenges.14
Limited availability: The number of healthcare providers trained in these interventions is limited15,16 and long waitlists are expected due to the ongoing mental health crisis internationally.17 Consequently, treatment coverage is low for those who may benefit from such interventions.9,16
Safety concerns: High-dose administrations increase the risk of adverse events and challenging experiences compared to lower dose administrations.2,5,18 Additionally, apprehension about experiencing non-ordinary states of consciousness associated with high-dose sessions19 further limits the generalizability of PAT for certain segments of the population.
Given these challenges, the current model of PAT may not meet population-level treatment demands. Revisiting the psycholytic therapy model with short-lasting, lower doses of psychedelics could improve treatment coverage, reduce costs for organizations and clients, and maintain effectiveness with greater safety. For example, clients receiving psycholytic therapy who complete 1-hour sessions with milder doses, could yield better outcomes than standard of care (i.e., non-psychedelic evidence-based treatments) with fewer resources than higher-dose PAT. Clinics could therefore serve more clients simultaneously at a lower cost, thereby improving access to psychedelic health services.
One psychedelic modality that could be suitable for psycholytic therapy is Low-5. Low-5 involves the use of 5-MeO-DMT in doses under 2mg by vape pen or nasal spray.20 It is characterized by mild and short-lasting psychedelic effects (10-20 minutes) that surveyed users have reported as enhancing mindfulness, emotional processing, and greater access to present somatic states.21 Case reports also describe a sense of agency when experiencing Low-5’s transdiagnostic effects that can easily be integrated into daily life.22,23 Although scientific research is limited, these reports are bolstered by existing studies on higher dose 5-MeO-DMT.24–28 Clinical trials have shown rapid antidepressant effects among those with treatment-resistant depression at doses over 5mg when vaporized, with a strong safety profile.29 Additionally, retrospective surveys indicate improvements in wellbeing, and reduced symptoms of depression, trauma, anxiety, and substance use disorders.25–27 However, as high-dose 5-MeO-DMT can lead to intense and traumatic non-ordinary states of consciousness,30 Low-5 would be the appropriate candidate for psycholytic therapy due its more manageable effects.
To evaluate whether Low-5 would be effective for psycholytic therapy, two lines of research are needed. The first is developing therapy protocols for psycholytic therapy using Low-5. The second is evaluating those protocols through clinical trials to determine efficacy and safety. Together, this evidence can be used to improve psychedelic health services.
This report aims to provide the initial knowledge to inform psycholytic protocol development with Low-5 by summarizing the first clinical consultations about this psychedelic from a Community of Practice of psychotherapists. The information presented is considered preliminary and serves as a starting point for a new psycholytic therapy paradigm.
Methods
Recruitment
We recruited participants through convenience sampling, through referrals in a Community of Practice of psychotherapists exploring the therapeutic applications of Low-5. Participants were invited to complete individual or group qualitative interviews.
Eligibility Criteria
Participants had to be registered and practicing psychotherapists in Canada with training and/or experience conducting PAT with clients. All participants needed to have prior educational, professional, or personal experiences with Low-5 and be available for qualitative interviews to discuss their clinical perspectives on Low-5. We obtained informed consent prior to all interviews.
Data Collection
We conducted in-person group interviews in September 2023, as well as January and February 2024. Individual interviews were conducted by video calls between January and March 2024. The interviews included qualitative questions covering:
Demographics: Age, gender, and ethnicity.
Professional Backgrounds: Number of years in clinical practice, training in PAT, types of PAT services currently offered, populations they work with, and therapy modalities used.
Clinical Perspectives on Low-5: Benefits of implementing Low-5 in psycholytic therapy, barriers to implementation, preparation, dosing and sessions, integration, eligible and ineligible populations, and therapy modalities it may pair with, and the role of the psychotherapist in Low-5 sessions.
Data Analysis
We transcribed the interview data and organized summaries based on the Low-5 clinical topics using a qualitative description approach.31 We grouped primary code clusters from each topic by dominant themes and subthemes, and then created summaries. For the demographic and professional background data, we calculated frequencies and proportions for categorical variables, and ranges, means, and standard deviations for continuous variables.
After completing the summaries, we shared a draft with participants for member checking to ensure the report accurately reflected their perspectives. We updated the summaries based on their feedback until consensus was achieved.
Results
The sample consisted of eleven psychotherapists between the ages of 32 and 70 (81.8% female, identified as Caucasian), including physicians (n = 3), social workers (n = 4), registered psychotherapists (n = 3) and a clinical psychologist. On average, they had 16.1 years of experience in the field (standard deviation = 7.2 years). All participants had training in PAT, with over half (54.5%) currently providing PAT, integration, or consultation services.
Participants worked with adult clients using various therapy modalities including Mindfulness-based interventions, Internal Family Systems, Emotion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and Sensorimotor Therapy, among others. Common client issues included trauma, depression, anxiety, and interpersonal difficulties. Four participants (36.4%) also provided couple’s counselling services.
Based on the qualitative interviews, we present below the synthesis of initial findings about psycholytic therapy with Low-5.
1. Benefits of Using Low-5 in Psychotherapy Sessions
Four potential benefits were identified for using psycholytic therapy with Low-5, encompassing both logistical and therapeutic advantages.
Optimized therapeutic outcomes through custom titration and dosing: Low-5 administered by vape pen allows for real-time dose adjustments during sessions, tailoring the experience to each client's needs. With subjective effects typically lasting 10-20 minutes, this personalized approach may provide alignment with the client’s psychological and emotional state, optimizing therapeutic outcomes while maintaining safety and comfort. Flexibility in dosage frequency and intensity may therefore be valuable in addressing specific therapeutic goals, such as trauma processing or enhancing emotional processing.
Agency and autonomy for clients: The short-acting, controllable effects of Low-5 self-administration can foster agency and autonomy among psycholytic therapy clients. Through custom titration, clients can collaborate with the clinicians to continuously modify the intensity and frequency of their experiences to meet individual needs and goals. This level of choice within a session sets Low-5 apart from psychedelics with long-lasting effects, such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA. This may offer clients greater empowerment during a typical PAT session.
Less resource demands for clinicians and clients: Vape pen or nasal spray self-administration requires minimal equipment and infrastructure, as well as offers quick recovery times for clients to return to baseline. In a 50 to 80 minute therapy session, there may be sufficient time for preparation, administration and experience, integration, and allow clients to safely return to baseline. This efficiency may reduce resource and time demands for clinicians and clients, lowering the cost of psycholytic therapy per session.
Emotional processing and integration: Low-5 may facilitate emotional access and processing, enabling clients to engage with unprocessed emotions and recognize trauma continuums at a comfortable pace. This exploration may foster deeper integration and processing, thereby improving coping strategies, functional outcomes, and quality of life. Additionally, Low-5 may promote mindfulness and cognitive flexibility, enhancing the healing process and reducing rigid beliefs and thought patterns.
2. Barriers to Implementation
Seven barriers were identified for implementing psycholytic therapy with Low-5. These varied from legal and regulatory challenges to health considerations and factors that affect clinical adoption.
Comprehensive evidence base: As Low-5 is a relatively new modality, there is limited research on its efficacy and safety. Participants want more information as to how it can improve mental health outcomes for clients relative to other treatments, who it is safe for, and guidance on how it can be logistically implemented in therapy sessions. Developing this evidence base is important before adopting Low-5 to their clinical practices, as well as justifying use in practice to regulatory colleges, insurance providers, and healthcare organizations.
Legal and regulatory concerns: 5-MeO-DMT not a Health Canada approved drug for medical purposes.32 Although it is being investigated for its efficacy and safety through clinical trials, psychotherapists and healthcare providers are unable to prescribe or conduct psycholytic therapy with Low-5 for clients as of 2024. Participants noted their concerns with staying up-to-date on this new treatment modality but uncertain how it will move through the regulatory process alongside other psychedelics.
Insurance coverage: Participants highlighted uncertainties surrounding liability insurance coverage alongside legal and regulatory concerns. This uncertainty contributes to vulnerability and reluctance among psychotherapists to engage in psycholytic therapy with Low-5 until explicit guidance is provided by insurance providers.
Competency and training: There are no formal training programs available for psychotherapists to learn the knowledge and skills to integrate Low-5 into their clinical practices. Participants expressed a desire for credible education programs endorsed by healthcare institutions and regulatory bodies to address this gap.
Health risks of vaping: Vaporized administrations may be unsuitable for clients with respiratory issues. Although there are harm reduction benefits of vape pens relative to smoked 5-MeO-DMT, as is often provided by psychedelic facilitators, the health risks of vaporizing need to be balanced with potential therapeutic benefits.33 Other modes of administration need to be further explored, such as Low-5 by nasal spray.
Treatment expectations of clients: Participants noted that therapeutic response to Low-5 dosing can vary widely due to individual and environmental factors. For instance, a 1mg vaporized dose, after controlling for set and setting, concurrent medications and medical screening, can elicit a mindfulness-enhancing response for some, and no effect for others. These differences may promote or hinder the therapeutic effects of Low-5. Consequently, discrepancies between user expectations and the actual experience may lead to treatment non-adherence. Clear guidance and communications about expectations is necessary for clients expressing interest in Low-5.
Access and availability: In Canada, accessing psychedelics for therapy face regulatory challenges. While Health Canada’ Special Access Program exists to provide drugs, including psychedelics, to those with serious or life-threatening conditions,34 psychotherapists and other healthcare providers encounter regulatory hurdles for timely access. Streamlining regulatory processes is crucial to facilitate future access to Low-5 for therapeutic cases.
3. Eligible Populations
Five types of clinical populations, and three other client factors were identified that may be suitable for psycholytic therapy with Low-5.
Clinical populations: In combination with evidence-based psychotherapies, participants identified that Low-5 may be effective for treating trauma, depression, and anxiety, and substance use disorders. Participants proposed that these positive treatment effects may be generalized across conditions due to Low-5’s ability to increase emotional processing, neuroplasticity, cognitive flexibility, insights into negative patterns of thinking and behaviours, and coping strategies. In addition, one participant suggested Low-5 may be beneficial for chronic pain, by providing symptom relief and changing how one can perceive and cope with pain.
Couples therapy: Three participants noted that Low-5 may be a useful tool in couples therapy. It may help increase non-judgment, empathy, and mindfulness, allowing partners in high degrees of conflict to reduce critical interactions. By softening their emotional responses, couples may also be able to engage in deeper, active listening and address underlying issues more effectively.
Chronic blocks: Psycholytic therapy with Low-5 may be effective for clients who have been in treatment for a long time but feel blocked in their progress or are seeking resolution for long-standing issues. It may enhance openness and trust, making it beneficial for those who struggle with vulnerability in their client-therapist relationships. By fostering a more empathetic and connected therapeutic environment, Low-5 may help clients achieve deeper therapeutic progress.
Self-regulation skills: Low-5 may be effective for individuals with a high level of functioning and the ability to self-regulate. As any type of PAT can elicit non-ordinary states of consciousness,35 participants noted that ensuring their clients have strong coping skills and the ability to self-ground may be beneficial for processing and integrating intense experiences from a Low-5 session.
4. Ineligible Populations
Three types of clinical populations, and three other client factors were identified that may be exclusions for psycholytic therapy with Low-5.*
Psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or severe addiction issues: Like other psychedelics, Low-5 may exacerbate symptoms or induce destabilization in individuals with psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or severe substance abuse or dependence.
At risk of suicidality: Those who are at risk of suicidality may not be suitable candidates, as psychedelic experiences could potentially intensify suicidal ideation or behaviours.
In acute crisis: Low-5 sessions may not be appropriate support for individuals in acute crisis or unsafe environments (e.g., housing instability, intimate partner violence) who need more immediate supports.
Low levels of functioning: Low-5 sessions may not be as effective for individuals with low levels of functioning in daily life or have high levels of dysregulation. Either could interfere with their ability to attend regular sessions or engage in a therapeutic relationship.
5. Preparation
Participants identified four facets of the preparation process that could occur prior to psycholytic therapy sessions with Low-5.
Educational information: Clients should be informed on the role of psychedelics and non-ordinary states of consciousness in healing; Low-5’s mechanisms of action, pharmacological properties, and effects on physiology; risks and benefits, including safety and potential side effects, and dosing; what participants can expect from Low-5 sessions, set and setting, and the integration process; current evidence on Low-5 as a therapeutic tool, and safety protocols in case of an emergency.
Screening: A thorough medical screening should be provided to ensure it is safe for clients based on their health status and current medications. In addition, screening should include assessments on client’s level of functioning, social supports, intentions, self-regulation skills, as well as level of experience with psychedelics, spirituality, and non-ordinary states of consciousness.
The role of the therapist and informed consent: Clients should be informed on the role of the psychotherapist during sessions and how they will guide clients through the therapy process to ensure their safety and comfort. This should include informed consent, including discussions on boundaries, expectations, risks and benefits, privacy and confidentiality, and the purpose and duration of the therapy.
Individualized approach: Each client’s journey through psycholytic therapy with Low-5 is unique. As clients will have different backgrounds, goals, and experiences with the psychedelic, standardization can be difficult and so a one-size-fits-all approach to sessions may not be suitable. For example, due to individual differences in dosing sensitivity, a dosing session prior to therapeutic work may be needed to safely familiarize the client with the effects of Low-5. This may be particularly warranted if the client has limited experiences with psychedelics or non-ordinary states of consciousness.
6. Dosing and Sessions
Participants discussed three aspects of dosing and sessions structures. Potential approaches were proposed as there is limited information about what would be most effective for clients.
Timing of the dose(s): Participants emphasized flexibility and collaborative decision-making with the client to determine the appropriate timing of the dose(s) during sessions. This could involve having the first dose administered following an initial check-in and grounding exercise, with the option for subsequent doses depending on the client’s readiness, and physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual states that emerge. Subsequent dosing should be balanced with safety monitoring and available time left in the session to ensure the client can safely return to baseline and engage in the integration process.
Session length: Participants proposed ideas for the optimal session length. Ideas ranged from 50 minutes to 80 minutes to ensure sufficient time for preparation, administration, experience, integration, safety checks, and time for the client to return to baseline. Longer sessions may be favourable for safety and to encourage sufficient time for exploring content or states that arise, as well as integration and post-session support.
Number of sessions: Participants proposed two approaches for the optimal number of sessions. The first was a time-limited approach. Clients could complete a course of treatment of weekly Low-5 sessions with pre- and post-assessments of mental health outcomes to determine if the client goals were met within the given amount of time (e.g., 6-12 sessions). Depending on the level of progress and possible side effects, the psychotherapist, client, and any other collaborating healthcare providers could determine if another course of treatment of a similar or different length would be appropriate. The second is an open-ended approach. Flexibility in the number of sessions could be used to tailor the treatment to client goals. For example, if current evidence-based methods were not successful for helping the client meet their goal, one or more Low-5 sessions could be introduced. If progress is made, it may be appropriate to return to sessions without Low-5, and repeat this process as needed. However, a drawback of this approach is that there may be a higher risk of health harms relative to a time-limited approach.
7. Integration
Participants endorsed adaptable steps for the integration process, following similar approaches to other psychedelics.
Adaptable approach: The integration process should be comprehensive and adaptable. It should include a thorough discussion of the overall experience, including how the client responded to the psychoactive effects. A debriefing session could explore whether anything could have been done differently and assess whether the therapist’s role was facilitative or not. If an intention was set before the session, the integration should focus on how the client feels about what emerged related to that intention and their reaction to the process. The integration process could also help clients translate session insights into actionable life changes. Clients could engage in integration practices that reinforce the meaning and insights, such as journaling, art, movement practices, spending time in nature, or sharing their experience with trusted members of their personal communities. The psychotherapist should also facilitate a space of inquiry, allowing clients to explore their experiences without undue influence. Discussions about the impact of the experience on the client’s life, relationships, self-perception, and daily activities could be included as well.
Timing of integration: Given Low-5's short-lasting effects, time at the end of each session can be devoted to integration and debriefing, or these activities can be reserved for separate sessions. Since integration is an ongoing process that can unfold gradually, it is important to allow ample time for clients to derive meaning from their experiences, rather than rushing the integration process in each session.
8. The Role of the Therapist
Two themes were identified about the role of the psychotherapist to ensure clients can yield the greatest benefit from psycholytic therapy with Low-5.
Supportive container: Psychotherapists should guide and support clients by creating a safe and nurturing environment for clients to explore psychological, somatic, emotional, or spiritual aspects of themselves. It is paramount through this process to ensure trust, respect for client autonomy, and agency is maintained.
Adaptability and flexibility: Psychotherapists should demonstrate adaptability by tailoring their approach to meet the unique needs of each client session. This may involve transitioning between active and passive roles, responding to the client's cues, and maintaining flexibility to ensure the effectiveness of the therapeutic process.
9. Psychotherapy Modalities for Low-5
Participants indicated several evidence-based therapy modalities may pair well with Low-5. This included Internal Family Systems, Emotion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Attachment-based Therapy. These may promote more self-awareness, lower defensive mechanisms, enhance emotional regulation, and alignment of actions with values. In addition, art therapies, sensorimotor and somatic-based therapies could also be compatible with Low-5’s somatic effects that clients may connect with.
Internal Family Systems: Participants noted that several psychedelic facilitators are currently pairing 5-MeO-DMT with Internal Family Systems therapy. They noted that this combination may facilitate deeper therapeutic work by enhancing greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and effective interaction with parts** to increase capacity to heal long-standing life problems compared to Internal Family Systems alone.
Discussion
This synthesis of the first Community of Practice interviews provides insights into the current clinical knowledge and theories about the applications of psycholytic therapy with Low-5. Psychotherapists identified potential practical benefits, including customizable dosing and reduced resource allocation, as well as advantages for clients, such as emotional processing and agency over their psychedelic experiences. Barriers to implementation were common with many other psychedelics. This included regulatory and legal challenges, and uncertainty among clinicians how to obtain high-quality training and communicate treatment expectations to clients about this new modality.
Several populations and factors were identified that can be used to define eligibility criteria for clinical trial protocols. This included adults with depression, trauma, or substance use disorder, and those with self-regulation skills to facilitate therapeutic processing. Like other serotonergic psychedelics,37–39 several psychotherapists endorsed that Low-5 may have transdiagnostic treatment effects. By targeting underlying issues common across these mental health conditions, including psychological rigidity,40 unprocessed trauma,41,42 and emotional dysregulation,43 Low-5 could serve as an effective psycholytic treatment, potentially improving treatment coverage. That is, if clinical research demonstrates transdiagnostic changes from Low-5 psycholytic therapy across clinical populations, this approach may facilitate faster regulatory access for more types of clients than current approaches (i.e., advocating for a psychedelic’s efficacy one clinical population at a time).
A recurring theme about Low-5 is its customizability to meet client’s psychotherapy needs. As its short-lasting effects allow for repeat dosing during sessions, psychotherapists may be able to support clients' access and process a variety of thoughts, emotions, and somatic states within typical therapy session lengths. This individualized approach could allow for a more efficient psycholytic therapy treatment course with less resource-intensity. In addition, the tailored approach allows for a variety of therapy modalities to be paired with it. As Internal Family Systems was identified as a transdiagnostic modality in use with Low-5, it could be a feasible next step for a psycholytic clinical trial to explore Low-5’s efficacy and safety.
There was consensus among participants about preparation and integration features suitable for Low-5 sessions. Preparation should involve comprehensive psychoeducation and screening, with a focus on client safety and informed consent. Likewise, integration should be adaptable, continuous, and action-oriented, helping clients to reinforce session insights into their daily lives. This short duration of Low-5’s effects can allow for these processes to occur within typical therapy session lengths, enabling targeted intention setting and repeated integration on a regular schedule.
Areas to be explored more deeply for protocol development include dosing, session length, and the number of sessions. The need for flexible yet standardized dosing protocols, emphasizing client safety and responsiveness, is clear. Determining the optimal session length, ranging from 50 to 80 minutes, requires further research to balance comprehensive treatment with scalability. Uncertainty about the number of sessions also highlights the need for evidence-based guidelines. Time-limited approaches could streamline treatment and improve access to psycholytic therapy at a population level, while open-ended approaches offer personalized care that clients may prefer but be more intensive and costly. Evaluating different psycholytic session structures should be a priority in future experimental research to optimize treatment success with scalability.
There are certain limitations to note of this report. First, the presented findings come from a small community sample which may not be representative of all psychotherapists with experience in PAT, as slightly more than half were currently providing PAT services. In addition, sample recruitment had a limited diversity by gender and ethnicity. Therefore, the key themes reported may not be inclusive of perspectives relevant to psychotherapists and clients from diverse backgrounds. Second, these findings were based on qualitative consultations among a sample of professionals in the field, not experimental findings. It is therefore important to interpret these findings as a starting point and not as a definitive guide for how Low-5 sessions should be implemented in the context of psycholytic therapy. For example, randomized controlled trials are still needed to evaluate the magnitude of treatment effects for clinical populations and what adverse events can be expected through multiple Low-5 sessions. The findings for topics #3 through #9 should be validated to ensure individuals who may access Low-5 in the future are provided ethical, safe, and effective care.
Conclusion
Overall, this report provides initial directions for developing psycholytic therapy protocols with Low-5, identifying practical considerations and limitations. As more evidence accumulates from clinical research and advocacy efforts, Low-5 could offer an accessible approach to enhancing psychedelic treatment coverage, potentially reducing resource intensity and access barriers in mental healthcare.
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Endnotes
* See The Pattern Project (2023). Harm Reduction Guide for Low Dose 5-MeO-DMT Vape Pens for a list of contraindicated health conditions (e.g. severe cardiovascular issues, respiratory issues, brain injuries) and medications (e.g. lithium, MAOI class of antidepressants).
** In Internal Family Systems, parts are conflicted sub-personalities that take on roles to support individuals navigate daily life. They can be maladaptive and lead to distress and relational challenges. Part of the goal of this therapy is to understand and integrate these parts to promote healing and well-being.36