Psychedelic Integration in Psychotherapy: A Retreat for Clinicians

Psychedelic compounds have a rich and fascinating history of use in spiritual and healthcare settings. After a nearly 60-year hiatus, recent advances in clinical research indicate that these medicines may soon be available to the public as treatments for some of humanity’s most profound forms of suffering: alcoholism, drug addiction, PTSD, and depression. Psychotherapists and other mental healthcare providers are increasingly called upon to help clients integrate profoundly meaningful psychedelic experiences into the fabric of their daily lives, resulting in long-term positive changes.

This 3-day retreat is designed for clinicians and healthcare providers who want to learn more about current psychedelic research and clinical practice, including how to work with patients who have a history of psychedelic use or have expressed an interest in using psychedelics. This interactive training includes experiential learning, demonstrations, self-reflection, and role-play exercises. The themes of spirituality, ethics, and critical discussion will be woven throughout the program with opportunities for connection, collaboration, and building community.

We start with the premise that your patients are curious about psychedelic research, and so are you! The early part of our program gives some background on psychedelic compounds, their history, and current research with MDMA and Psilocybin-assisted therapy. We then discuss recent and current clinical trials, outcomes, legal status, and what it all means for the future of addiction and trauma treatment. We then move to the practicalities of defining integration and how it can occur in a clinical setting. We focus on translating research findings into clinical practice, including working with patients who are considering using psychedelics, actually using psychedelics, or have used them in the past. This program includes discussion of assessment and integration techniques, resources, and legal and ethical issues. Program participant clinicians will complete the retreat with a conceptual and practical understanding of how to engage clients in discussions about psychedelics that are balanced, reduce potential for harm, and increase the potential for benefit from these experiences.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the historical justifications for psychedelic clinical research
• Describe key theoretical approaches to psychedelic-assisted therapy
• Discuss the state of psychedelic clinical research, rescheduling efforts, and how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy works with clients
• Compare psychedelic integration psychotherapy to integration in peer and shamanic settings
• Assess clients for key “red flags” that indicate someone should seek specialized psychiatric care after a psychedelic experience
• Utilize principles of psychedelic-assisted therapy in a basic/initial assessment of clients who report psychedelic use
• List contraindications and discuss high risk cases of individuals who are contemplating psychedelic use
• Describe the role of the therapist in an individual’s integration psychotherapy process

Schedule

Friday, January 17th

• 3 – 6 pm  Check-in
• 6 – 7 pm  Dinner
• 7:30 pm  Welcome and Opening Class (Conference Center Main Hall)

Saturday, January 18th

• 7 – 8 am  Yoga (Ahimsa Yoga Studio)
• 7:15 – 8 am Optional Meditation Session (Devi Room)
• 8 – 9 am  Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm  Morning Class (Conf. Center Main Hall)
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm  Lunch
• 1:30 – 4 pm  Free Time for Spa Treatments, Relaxation, etc
• 3 – 3:45 pm  Optional Meditation Session (Devi Room)
• 4 – 6 pm  Afternoon Class (Conf. Center Main Hall)
• 6 – 7 pm  Dinner
• 7:30 pm  Evening Class (Conf. Center Main Hall)

Sunday, January 19th

• 7 – 8 am  Yoga (Ahimsa Yoga Studio)
• 7:15 – 8 am Optional Meditation Session (Devi Room)
• 8 – 9 am  Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm  Morning Class (Conf. Center Main Hall)
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm  Lunch
• 1:30 – 3 pm Optional Restorative Yoga (Ahimsa Yoga Studio)
• 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Treatments, Relaxation, etc
• 3 – 3:45 pm  Optional Meditation Session (Devi Room)
• 4 – 6 pm  Afternoon Class (Conf. Center Main Hall)
• 6 – 7 pm  Dinner
• 7:30 pm  Evening Class (Conf. Center Main Hall)

Monday, January 20th

• 7 – 8 am  Yoga (Ahimsa Yoga Studio)
• 7:15 – 8 am Optional Meditation Session (Devi Room)
• 8 – 9 am  Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm  Closing Class
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm  Lunch and Departure

Schedule is subject to change at any time.

Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals

• CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Resource Center (SCRC) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Resource Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Spiritual Competency Resource Center maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

• The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.

• LCSWs, MFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.

• SCRC is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California.

• For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance, contact Michael Burbank at mburbank@menla.org. For questions about CE credits, visit www.spiritualcompetency.com or contact David Lukoff, PhD at CE@spiritualcompetency.com.

• The filing fee for CEs for this program is $65, payable to Menla either at registration or by the time you check in.