Alicia Danforth

Alicia Danforth is a clinical psychologist who specializes in psychotherapy for autistic adults (private practice). Next to this she also works on several clinical studies and provides integration work.

CV

Alicia L. Danforth is also a research psychologist at the University of California (pilot study on psychedelic-assisted therapy for long-term HIV/AIDS survivors) and at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for social anxiety in autistic adults).

From her bio: “When I started interviewing autistic adults for my dissertation, I discovered that I really enjoyed hearing their stories and unique perspectives. I figured out quickly that most of the stereotypes that I had been taught about autism simply were not true. The people I was talking with were not like emotionless robots at all. They were funny, authentic, and passionate about contributing to society in meaningful ways. … Since 2011, I have been researching social anxiety in adults on the spectrum, and now I’m motivated to bring what I’ve learned into my new community in the Silicon Valley. I also work with clients who are not autistic.“

And “Alicia Danforth, Ph.D. is the co-investigator for a current MAPS-sponsored phase 2 pilot study looking at the effect of MDMA-assisted therapy on social anxiety in autistic adults. She began her work in clinical research with psychedelic medicines with Dr. Charles Grob at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in 2004. After volunteering for a few years, she became a study coordinator and co-facilitator on a Heffter Research Institute clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential anxiety related to advanced cancer. The transformations she witnessed in study participants inspired her to become a clinical psychologist.​​”

She has a PhD in transpersonal psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, is a certified focusing-oriented psychotherapist, and certified trauma-focused CBT therapist.

You can also find her on Twitter.

Notable Research Papers

• Reduction in social anxiety after MDMA-assisted psychotherapy with autistic adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study (Danforth, et al., 2018)
• MDMA-assisted therapy: A new treatment model for social anxiety in autistic adults (Danforth, et al., 2016)
• Pilot study of psilocybin treatment for anxiety in patients with advanced-stage cancer (Grob, et al., 2010)

Find more on Google Scholar or PubMed

In our database you will also find her as an author on more papers.

Media

She has given many talks:

• Keynote Alicia Danforth: Psychotherapy in Psychedelic Science (Colloquium on Psychedelic Psychiatry, 2018)
• Charles Grob & Alicia Danforth: MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Social Anxiety in Autistic Adults (Psychedelic Science, 2017)
• MDMA-assisted Therapy for Social Anxiety in Autistic Adults – Alicia Danforth (ICPR, 2016)
• Dr Alicia Danforth – MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Social Anxiety in Autistic Adults (Breaking Convention, 2015)
• Findings from a Study on the MDMA Experiences of Adults on the Autism Spectrum – Alicia Danforth (Psychedelic Science, 2013)
• Horizons 2009: ALICIA DANFORTH “Little Pieces of a Big Dream: Participants’ Stories” (Horizons, 2009)

More media:

• Alicia Danforth PhD – ICPR 2020: Ethical Challenges in Psychedelic Medicine (Psychedelics Today, March 2020)
• Twelve Autistic Adults Treated in MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Social Anxiety Trial (MAPS Bulletin, 2016)