For many therapists, the call toward psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) doesn’t arrive as a career decision — it arrives as a pull. A quiet but undeniable feeling that there’s more to healing than what traditional talk therapy can reach.
Over the past few years, I’ve spoken with hundreds of clinicians who’ve followed that call. Some describe it as curiosity, others as timing, and a few, as Dr. Sergio Rodriguez-Castillo puts it, as something deeper:
“Maybe the medicine chose you.”
If that resonates with you, the next question becomes: Where do you belong in this emerging field of psychedelic therapy — and how can you enter it responsibly?
How Psychedelic Therapy Becomes a Path That Chooses You
In our recent ATMA CENA webinar on psychedelic therapy, Dr. Rodriguez-Castillo shared his journey from law to psychotherapy to sacred-medicine work. He spoke about how psychedelics bridge psychology and spirituality, forcing us to think bigger.
“We push spirituality out the door,” he said, “and psychedelics open the window again.”
For many therapists, that window opens through their own healing. They discover that you can’t guide where you haven’t been.
Training in psychedelic-assisted therapy invites that personal exploration — not as indulgence, but as integrity. When therapists do their own inner work, they bring a different kind of presence to the room.
As Dr. Rodriguez-Castillo reminds us:
“Training transforms you — it changes your presence, your empathy, your capacity to hold space.”
Why Psychedelic Therapy Training Matters for Clinicians
Lauren Birks, a therapist who now practices through the CoCare model, describes how psychedelic therapy training reshaped her entire approach to psychotherapy.
“When I first heard about psychedelic-assisted therapy, I was curious but unsure,” she says. “Through training, I didn’t just learn protocols — I found new depth in my clients and in myself. PAT work taught me how to stay grounded while walking with someone through profound transformation.”
Her clients noticed the difference almost immediately.
“They could feel that I was meeting them differently,” Lauren reflects. “Not with more answers, but with more openness.”
That’s what structured, CE-credited psychedelic therapy training at ATMA CENA provides: a supported pathway for therapists to bring this depth into their work — without losing professional grounding.
How Psychedelic Therapy Bridges Psychology and Spirituality
Dr. Rodriguez-Castillo reminds us that the very root of the word psychology means “the study of the soul.” Over time, modern psychology narrowed its focus to the mind. Psychedelics, he says, invite the soul back in.
“All psychological growth is spiritual growth,” he explains. “It’s one line of development — from birth all the way to illumination.”
For therapists trained to think clinically, this can feel like unfamiliar territory. But structured psychedelic therapy programs help bridge those worlds — bringing evidence-based protocols together with reverence, humility, and respect for the traditions that carried this knowledge long before Western science caught up.
Where to Begin: Finding Belonging Through the CoCare Model
At ATMA CENA, we know not every therapist wants — or is ready — to deliver psychedelic medicine sessions directly. That’s why our CoCare model was created: a collaborative pathway that connects trained therapists with licensed clinics and medical teams.
Therapists provide preparation and integration therapy, while medical professionals support the dosing process. It’s a shared model that keeps care ethical, accessible, and within professional scope — so every therapist who feels called can find a place to belong.
Whether you want to specialize in psychedelic therapy delivery or integrate its insights into your existing work, CE-credited training is the entry point. It’s what turns calling into competence and curiosity into confidence.
The Future of Psychedelic Therapy: Structured, Ethical, and Sacred
As Dr. Rodriguez-Castillo told our audience:
“This is serious work — you need to train accordingly.”
At ATMA CENA, that means psychedelic therapy education grounded in ethics, science, and spirituality — so that therapists can do this work with both humility and mastery.
Because when you answer the call to this field, you’re not just learning how to work with medicine — you’re learning how to work with mystery, responsibly.
Ready to Begin Your Psychedelic Therapy Journey?
If you’ve felt drawn toward psychedelic-assisted therapy, now is the time to take the next step. Explore our psychedelic therapy training programs in Canada and discover how CoCare can support your path into meaningful, supported practice.
