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Nicole Amada
PhD., Psychology
Nicole Amada is a psychologist with a PhD in cognitive psychology. She completed her doctoral studies at the City University of New York.12 Currently, Dr. Amada is self-employed and works as a researcher and coach specializing in self-development and mindfulness.3
Research Interests
Dr. Amada's research focuses on the effects of psychedelic experiences on well-being and personal development. She has conducted studies exploring the relationship between psychedelic use, integration practices, and self-actualization.1 Her work aims to develop unified models explaining how psychedelic experiences may impact well-being across clinical and non-clinical populations.
Professional Activities
Research:: As a practicing researcher, Dr. Amada continues to investigate topics related to psychology and psychedelics.3 She has published academic work, including a study titled "Self-Actualization and the Integration of Psychedelic Experience: The Mediating Role of Perceived Benefits to Narrative Self-Functioning".1
Coaching:: In addition to her research, Dr. Amada offers coaching services focused on self-development and mindfulness techniques.3
Public Speaking:: She has presented her research at conferences, such as a talk on "Psychedelic-Induced Changes to Narrative Self-Construction" at an exploratory qualitative study.4
Dr. Amada's work contributes to the growing field of psychedelic science, particularly in understanding how these experiences may relate to personal growth and self-actualization. Her research aims to bridge gaps in the current understanding of psychedelic effects on well-being and provide foundations for future longitudinal studies in this area.1
Highlights
I’m happy to share that I’ve completed my Doctor of Philosophy - PhD at City University of New York!
Dissertation Abstract: The eudaimonic field of well-being is founded on the idea that self-knowledge and the realization of one’s potential is at the heart of what it means to strive for well-being. While the “self” is at the core of this perspective, theories derived from this field have yet to incorporate neurocognitive conceptualizations of the self, and account for the collection of self-referential cognitions that influence striving for well-being. Such a theory and measure could fill this theoretical gap and be applied in person centered interventions to capture change in these processes over time. One such intervention utilizes psychedelic experience as a window of opportunity for integration (continued processing and meaning making) to generate lasting change in self-related beliefs. Therefore, the first part of the dissertation developed the 30-item Narrative Self-Functioning Scale (NSFS) with dimensions of Self-Insight, Self-Regulation, Self-Attitudes, Connected Self, and Existential Self, which was filled out by undergraduate students (N=347) in an online self-report survey. Scale refinement led to a final 15-item version that evidenced good reliability, as well as good convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. The second part of the dissertation then applied this measure as a mediator between psychedelic integration and optimal well-being (Characteristics of Self-Actualization); a structural model that was tested on a sample of psychedelic users from 46 different countries (N=748) and did not differ based on mental health status. And finally, part three incorporated Set and Setting as well as Ego-Dissolution as variables in a holistic model of psychedelic transformation evaluated with follow-up participants from part two. The present dissertation offers a novel measure of Narrative Self-Functioning, as well as a promising unified and holistic model of psychedelic transformation. Given the methodological limitations of the dissertation, future research should aspire for a longitudinal design with novice psychedelic users to establish greater predictive validity. Future research should also investigate different forms of self-transcendent experiences as well as include a measure that can better account for the variations in the phenomenology of acute psychedelic states.
