The Fundamentals of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Mental Health
5-Week Online Course
Discover how psychedelic medicine is reshaping mental health treatment. Learn the science, clinical applications, and protocols to stay at the forefront of this emerging field.
Course begins on 6 October 2024
Sydney: 6pm (AEDT)
London: 9am (BST)
* Recordings will be made available for course members
Learn how psychedelic medicines are going to affect the mental health paradigm, and how you can stay ahead of the curve to better serve your patients' needs.
This course is also open to the general public.
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What is this training program?
This is a 5-part online training program on the Fundamentals of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies.
The course is designed to educate a broad range of medical and mental health professionals, those with lived experience and consumers on the science and clinical use of psychedelics.
This course will get you up to speed on these paradigm shifting treatments, and help you understand how these medicines will affect your practice, patients, families and communities.
- Learn from leaders in psychedelic medicine
- 5x Weekly live lectures
- Pre-reading material, additional learning resources and assessment of course learning outcomes
- Lifetime access to recordings
- Certificate of completion (12 CPD hours)
Delivered live on Sundays from 6 October - 3 November 2024.
Why did we create it?
As access to psychedelic medicine is opening up around the world, healthcare professionals and the general public are seeking reliable information about how psychedelic-assisted therapy works and what the potential benefits and drawbacks are.
The Fundamentals of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy is a collaboration between two leading international charities in the psychedelic space: Mind Medicine Australia and Drug Science.
This course provides a solid foundation for anyone interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Healthcare professionals who are receiving questions from clients, those considering working in the psychedelic field and members of the general public will all find great value in this training.
Who is it for?
The following categories of people will find great value in this program:
- General Practitioners
- Psychiatrists
- Physicians
- Addiction, Emergency, Cancer, Palliative Care and Other Specialists
- Psychologists
- Psychotherapists
- Counsellors
- Nurses
- Paramedics
- Coaches
- Social Workers
- Occupational Therapists
- Art Therapists and other Healers
- Students in the fields of mental health
- Health System Regulators
- Mental Health Patients and their Families interested in learning more about these therapies
- Other parties with an interest in developing a better mental health system
Student testimonials
“This is drawing together so many threads of study and experience for me. I have appreciated your acknowledgement of the importance of establishing an understanding and familiarity with the experience of grounded-ness as a foundation for an altered-states experience so that it can be fully integrated in a helpful way.”
Nikki Knighton, Occupational Therapist, Victoria
“I've learnt so much from the first 3 weeks of this course, and I really appreciate the recordings to be able to take the time to re-listen to the Q&A. I particularly loved the summary in week 1 touching on Ram Dass' meditative stabilization techniques, and not seeing psychedelics as a 'cure all', but rather as a missing link for the community.”
Sara Chin
“Absolutely sensational thank you so much. Brilliant to get a glimpse into integration. Amazing!”
Dan Mat, Disability Support Worker, WA
“I’m tearing up! Stimulating content, knowledge abundant and sincerely delivered."
Anna Bertalli
“Thank you for such comprehensive, informative presentations.”
Sheree Krass, GP, Victoria
“Thank you for a very interesting course, well organised and facilitated.”
Danielle Flink, Social Worker, VIC
You'll learn about:
- The historical context of how psychedelic substances were first synthesised and why they were banned for general use
- The science behind how psychedelics affect consciousness, and how non-ordinary state-based therapies may facilitate faster, deeper, longer-lasting healing
- An overview of the literature investigating the use of psychedelics for depression, PTSD and other mental illnesses
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols – what do they look like and how do they differ for different medicines
- How these substances are used to assist psychotherapy in a practical context
- What are the potential drawbacks and risks of psychedelic-assisted therapy?
- What are the main considerations for safe and effective psychedelic-assisted therapy?
- An introduction to a paradigm for mental health that considers the full spectrum of human experience
- The deep wisdom held by indigenous traditions, and the importance of holding respect for these traditions
- The current legal environment in Europe and Australia, including current options for access and where things are headed
Course Outline
Module 1: The History & Science of Psychedelic Medicine
Module 2: The Basics of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Module 3: Safe & Skilful Delivery of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Module 4: Integrating Mind, Body, Heart and Spirit: A New Paradigm
Module 5: Accessing Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Now and in the Future
The Faculty:
The faculty is made up of leaders in the psychedelic field.
Prof David Nutt (UK)
Renowned researcher, policy advisor and author, Professor David Nutt, is currently Head of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London and the Chair of Drug Science.
Under the leadership of Professor Nutt, the Psychedelic Research Group at Imperial College is one of the world’s foremost psychedelic research laboratories, publishing landmark research on psychedelic therapies and neuroimaging studies of the psychedelic state.
Professor Nutt has also held many leadership positions in both UK and European academic, scientific and clinical organisations, including presidencies of: the European Brain Council, the British Neuroscience Association, the British Association of Psychopharmacology, the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology.
He was previously Chair of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
David will be teaching in Modules 1 and 5.
Dr Lauren Macdonald (UK)
Dr Lauren Macdonald is a psychiatry doctor, psychedelic therapy guide and group facilitator. For the last few years she has been a clinical trial doctor at The Centre for Psychedelic Research (Imperial College London) investigating psilocybin-assisted therapy for anorexia-nervosa, chronic pain, and treatment-resistant depression.
Alongside her clinical roles Lauren regularly facilitates psilocybin retreats in The Netherlands, and is co-founder of Essence Medicine, an organisation providing psycho-spiritual group support to people facing life threatening illness. Lauren is also passionate about educating future psychedelic facilitators and delivers integrative, experiential and heart-centred training for Mind Medicine (Australia) and PsyEdu (UK).
Lauren has trained in medicine, psychology, MDMA-assisted therapy, and yoga, and continues to be a student of earth-based, indigenous wisdom traditions. She is driven to help people come home to themselves, unfold more of who they truly are, and deepen into the beauty and mystery of life.
Lauren will be teaching in Modules 2, 3 and 4.
Dr Eli Kotler (AUS)
Eli is a consultant psychiatrist and psychodynamic psychotherapist. He is the Medical Director of Malvern Private Hospital, an addiction and trauma hospital in Melbourne. Eli completed the inaugural CPAT course, and has since been on its faculty. He was appointed as the course’s Australian Course Director in 2023.
As a psychiatric trainee, Eli was awarded the Royal College of Psychiatrists Trainee Prize for his Scholarly Project on Depression, as well as a Research Committee Trainee award for his work on Philosophy of Mind. As an adjunct lecturer at Monash University, he oversees medical students on their addiction medicine rotation. He has been invited as a key-note speaker to several conferences and meetings to discuss addictions, trauma and psychedelics. Eli sits on the Committee of the ANZMHA to help organise their yearly addiction conference. He also sits on the inaugural Clinical Advisory Group for the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. Eli is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, and is a member of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. He also has extensive research experience with novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases.
Due to his interest in trauma, Eli has been appointed an Independent Medical Examiner by WorkSafe Victoria. He has been appointed by the Minister for Workplace Safety to sit on the Victorian Medical Panels, and is an expert witness in historical abuse cases.
Clinically, Eli works in a psychodynamic framework, and attempts to help his patients find freedom from their addictions and trauma through relational experiences, and experiential self-awareness. He is part of the AFL Player’s Association referral network for addiction issues, and his interests in depth-psychology and neuroscience led him to found the Melbourne Neuropsychoanalytic Group.
Eli will be teaching in Modules 2 and 3.
Taita Juan Bautista (COL)
Taita Juan has provided a vital platform for cultural revitalization, holistic healing, and educational outreach within the Kamentsa community. Under his guidance, OIOC serves as a beacon of indigenous wisdom, fostering harmony between humans and nature while nurturing profound respect and support for ancestral traditions.
Born into the esteemed lineage of Taita Martín Agreda, a revered custodian of Kamentsa knowledge, Taita Juan inherits a rich legacy of spiritual insight and medicinal wisdom. Raised amidst the rhythms of Indigenous life, he has emerged as a visionary leader, drawing upon over four decades of experience in Amazonian medicine to guide his people toward holistic well-being and spiritual renewal.
In all his endeavors, Taita Juan Bautista Agreda exemplifies the spirit of resilience, wisdom, and compassion that defines the Kamentsa people. With boundless dedication and a profound reverence for the interconnectedness of all life, he continues to inspire positive change and cultivate a future where Indigenous cultures thrive and the natural world flourishes in harmony with humanity.
Taita Juan will be teaching in Module 4.
Erika Salazar (COL)
Erika is the author of the book "Return to the Origins," a work that seeks to educate about sacred medicine and the cosmology of indigenous peoples. Erika is a custodian of the Healing Altar of the Amazonian Kamentsa Nation. This sacred responsibility speaks to her over two decades of experience working with plant medicines and healing arts. Under the mentorship of Traditional Medicine Man Taita Juan Bautista Agreda Chindoy, she has honed her craft as a healer and guardian of indigenous knowledge, offering profound insights and compassionate care to those in need. Erika supports indigenous communities in need through her multifaceted work with the OIOC Organization.
In addition to her traditional healing practice, Erika is a professional medical herbalist in the Vitalist Tradition, blending ancient wisdom and modern expertise into her work. With qualifications from the NAIHM and as a Holist Therapist from the University Esneca in Spain, she integrates diverse healing modalities to address the holistic needs of individuals and communities alike.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Erika finds fulfillment and purpose as a devoted mother of two children, instilling in them the values of compassion, cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship that define her life's work.
Dr Julia King Olivier (Switzerland)
After obtaining her MD degree in 2000 at the University of Geneva medical school, Julia completed four years of residency training in Internal Medicine at the University Hospital of Geneva, before opting to specialize in Psychiatry. In 2010 and 2015 she earned her Swiss FMH certifications respectively for Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and also for Adolescent/ Child Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Julia uses an integrative approach drawing from a wide range of psychotherapeutic models in her practice (Freudian psychodynamic theory, Compassion Focused Therapy, EMDR and Mindfulness approaches). She also facilitates two-part ecopsychiatry workshops in natural settings, combining Shinrin Yoku (Japanese forest bathing) with Breathwork.
In 2021 she earned a Certificate in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and co-founded the Compassionate Care Center in Geneva Switzerland with her colleague and co-therapist Bianca King. The center provides innovative and legal psychedelic assisted therapy to Swiss residents who meet the compassionate use criteria of the Swiss Department of Public Health. She completed the five-part certification in MDMA assisted psychotherapy in 2022. Julia’s current plans involve completing the Consultancy Training to become a MAPS PBC trained Consultant and provide support to new MDMA-assisted therapy practitioners. Julia joined the Fluence training team in 2022 and co-wrote and co-facilitates a humanities focused course entitled “Poetry, symbol, story for psychedelic assisted therapy”.
Bianca King (Switzerland)
Bianca King M.A. is a qualified and experienced Psychological Counsellor and Meditation Teacher, practicing in Geneva, Switzerland. She is co-founder with psychiatrist Dr. Julia King Olivier of the Compassionate Care Center where they carry out Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT) sessions. Bianca is a qualified MAPS MDMA therapist and graduate of the CIIS CPTR training. She has been prominent in the Geneva community for running mindfulness courses for the public, the UN, and International organizations.
Throughout her life, Bianca connected with the practice of vipassana meditation and travelled to Asia to participate in teachings and retreats. She found she was learning about a dimension of the human experience that complimented her education and training in psychotherapy and psychology. For her Masters in Psychotherapy and Counselling through the University of Wales, Bianca concentrated on existential issues as she found her heart was in the work of hospice and palliative care that she had originally experienced at the Petrea King Quest for Life Foundation.
Bianca will be teaching in Module 4.
Peter Hunt AM (AUS)
As an investment banker Peter Hunt AM advised local and multi-national companies and governments in Australia for nearly 35 years. He co-founded one of Australia’s leading investment banking advisory firms, Caliburn Partnership and was Executive Chairman of Greenhill Australia. Peter was a member of the Advisory Panel of ASIC and chaired the Vincent Fairfax Family Office.
Peter is an active philanthropist involved in funding, developing and scaling social sector organisations which seek to create a better and fairer world. He is Chairman of Mind Medicine Australia which he established with his wife, Tania de Jong, in 2018. He regularly presents to Governments, regulators, clinicians, philanthropists and the general public on psychedelic-assisted therapies and the legal and ethical frameworks needed to ensure these treatments can be made accessible and affordable. He was the lead author of Mind Medicine Australia’s successful rescheduling applications for MDMA and psilocybin, which made Australia the first country in the world to reschedule these medicines.
He founded Women’s Community Shelters in 2011. Peter is a Director of The Umbrella Foundation. Peter also acts as a pro bono adviser to Creativity Australia. He was formerly Chairman of So They Can, Grameen Australia and Grameen Australia Philippines.
Peter was made a member of the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2010 for services to the philanthropic sector.
Peter will be teaching in Module 5.
CPD and Accreditation
Students will receive a Certificate of Completion once they have completed all course content and assessment. You can claim 12 CPD hours with the college/association you're registered with.
About Mind Medicine Australia
Mind Medicine Australia is Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation working on the use of medicinal psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapies to treat a range of mental illnesses. Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by our accelerating mental illness epidemic in Australia, through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients.
MMA works towards this goal by focusing on four strategic pillars:
- Awareness and knowledge building through education, events and webinars.
- Professional development, including the world-leading Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT)™ along with other workshops and courses.
- Supporting university research, education, funding, and development of clinical trials.
- Supporting patient access, affordable medicine supplies and the development of clinics.
About Drug Science
Drug Science is the only completely independent, science-led drugs charity in the UK, uniquely bringing together leading drug experts from a wide range of specialisms to carry out ground-breaking research into drug harms and effects.
Drug Science works to provide an evidence base free from political or commercial influence, creating the foundation for sensible and effective drug laws, and equipping the public, media and policymakers with the knowledge and resources to enact positive change.
The Drug Science Medical Psychedelics Working Group, led by global experts in the field of psychedelic medicines, aims to create a rational and enlightened approach to psychedelic research and clinical treatment. The future of psychedelic medicine is extremely promising, and there is potential for the widespread application of psychedelic drugs within public health models. Drug Science works collaboratively and proactively with interdisciplinary partners to ensure that psychedelic medicines are developed for UK, EU and worldwide healthcare models. Our aim is to ensure that medical psychedelics can be used safely in an ethical and economically sustainable manner and demonstrate a potential for lasting therapeutic benefit.
Our objectives are:
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Develop and deliver scientific research on psychedelic drugs
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Provide evidence that supports the removal of psychedelic drugs from Schedule 1 restrictions
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Work with regulatory bodies to ensure that relevant legislation is enacted to facilitate medical use of psychedelic drugs
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Promote destigmatisation and improved understanding of psychedelic drugs
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Provide evidence-based educational resources on psychedelic medicine for doctors, pharmacists, healthcare professionals and the general public
