Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Training

Lesson 1 • Current Regulatory Landscape

Surveys controlled substance classifications, compassionate use pathways, and evolving clinical trial frameworks. Prepares practitioners to operate within applicable legal boundaries.

Lesson 2 • Neuroscience of Altered States

Explains default mode network disruption, neuroplasticity induction, and entropic brain models. Links neural mechanisms to observed therapeutic outcomes.

Lesson 3 • History of Psychedelic Research

Traces psychedelic use from indigenous traditions through mid-20th-century clinical research to contemporary revival. Grounds later clinical content in historical and cultural legitimacy.

Lesson 4 • Non-Classic Psychedelic Compounds

Examines dissociatives, empathogens, and atypical psychedelics with distinct mechanisms. Differentiates therapeutic profiles to support compound-specific treatment planning.

Lesson 1 • Psycholytic and Psychedelic Models

Distinguishes low-dose psycholytic from high-dose psychedelic approaches and their respective therapeutic rationales. Establishes the model spectrum students apply throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Mystical Experience and Therapeutic Outcomes

Examines research linking mystical-type experiences to sustained symptom reduction and well-being gains. Helps clinicians recognise and use peak-experience states.

Lesson 3 • Integrative and Eclectic Approaches

Presents evidence-based integration of CBT, ACT, and psychodynamic elements within psychedelic protocols. Supports flexible, client-centred treatment design.

Lesson 4 • Trauma-Informed Theoretical Bases

Applies polyvagal theory, somatic processing, and trauma memory reconsolidation to psychedelic contexts. Equips therapists to conceptualise trauma resolution mechanisms.

Lesson 1 • Practitioner Self-Care and Vicarious Trauma

Addresses compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and sustainable self-care practices for psychedelic therapists. Links therapist well-being directly to client safety and treatment quality.

Lesson 2 • Dual Relationships and Conflicts of Interest

Identifies prohibited dual relationships and manages unavoidable overlaps in small or specialised communities. Protects therapeutic integrity through transparent conflict-of-interest management.

Lesson 3 • Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

Balances therapeutic confidentiality with compulsory reporting duties in psychedelic practice contexts. Guides clinicians through disclosure decisions that protect both clients and third parties.

Lesson 4 • Sexual Misconduct Prevention

Addresses the heightened vulnerability of clients in altered states and compulsory prevention protocols. Establishes zero-tolerance standards and reporting obligations for practitioners.

Lesson 1 • Psychological Readiness Assessment

Evaluates ego strength, distress tolerance, and motivation for treatment using validated instruments. Links readiness scores to individualised preparation planning.

Lesson 2 • Cultural and Diversity Considerations

Addresses cultural identity, spirituality, and systemic barriers that affect screening validity. Promotes equitable access and culturally responsive assessment practices.

Lesson 3 • Psychiatric and Medical History Review

Covers structured diagnostic interviewing, psychosis risk factors, and cardiovascular contraindications. Ensures clinicians gather all safety-relevant history before treatment begins.

Lesson 4 • Contraindications and Risk Stratification

Defines absolute and relative contraindications and applies a tiered risk-stratification model. Guides clinicians in making defensible inclusion and exclusion decisions.

Lesson 1 • Intention Setting and Goal Clarification

Guides clients to articulate meaningful intentions aligned with therapeutic goals. Clear intentions focus session content and facilitate post-session integration.

Lesson 2 • Music and Sensory Programming

Applies evidence-based music selection principles to guide emotional arcs during sessions. Sensory programming is calibrated to session phase and individual client needs.

Lesson 3 • Therapeutic Alliance Building

Develops trust, rapport, and a shared treatment narrative through structured pre-session meetings. Strong alliance predicts positive session outcomes and reduces adverse reactions.

Lesson 4 • Psychoeducation for Clients

Delivers accurate, anxiety-reducing information about expected effects, timelines, and coping strategies. Informed clients navigate challenging experiences with greater resilience.

Lesson 1 • Dyadic and Group Session Formats

Compares individual, co-therapist dyad, and group facilitation models with their respective protocols. Prepares therapists to adapt facilitation skills across different session structures.

Lesson 2 • Therapist Role and Presence

Defines the non-directive, witnessing role and the therapeutic use of silence and attunement. Establishes the facilitation stance that underpins all session interventions.

Lesson 3 • Monitoring Physiological Safety

Covers vital sign monitoring, recognising adverse physical reactions, and emergency response protocols. Ensures clinicians maintain physical safety throughout the dosing session.

Lesson 4 • Navigating Difficult Experiences

Teaches grounding techniques, somatic anchoring, and verbal reassurance for challenging psychological states. Equips therapists to transform difficult moments into therapeutic breakthroughs.

Lesson 1 • Behavioural and Lifestyle Change Planning

Translates session insights into concrete behavioural goals, habit formation plans, and social support activation. Bridges the gap between peak experience and sustained daily change.

Lesson 2 • Narrative and Meaning-Making Methods

Uses guided journaling, storytelling, and metaphor to help clients construct coherent experience narratives. Narrative coherence predicts sustained behavioural and emotional change.

Lesson 3 • Somatic and Body-Based Integration

Applies breathwork, movement, and body-scan practices to anchor insights in physical experience. Somatic methods address trauma residue that verbal processing alone may miss.

Lesson 4 • Managing Challenging Integration Outcomes

Addresses prolonged perceptual disturbances, existential crises, and integration stalls with targeted interventions. Prepares therapists to recognise when referral or additional support is needed.

Lesson 1 • PTSD and Trauma-Focused Applications

Adapts empathogen-assisted protocols for PTSD, incorporating trauma-processing frameworks from Chapter 2. Addresses military, assault, and complex trauma presentations.

Lesson 2 • Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Covers psychedelic-assisted approaches to alcohol, opioid, and tobacco use disorders with relapse prevention. Addresses the paradox of using scheduled substances to treat addiction.

Lesson 3 • Emerging and Investigational Applications

Reviews early-phase evidence for eating disorders, OCD, and chronic pain applications. Prepares clinicians to critically evaluate emerging indications as the field evolves.

Lesson 4 • End-of-Life Anxiety and Palliative Care

Applies existential and mystical-experience models to reduce death anxiety in terminal illness. Requires integration of transpersonal frameworks introduced in Chapter 2.