This first lesson will introduce you to psychedelics and what happens when humans interact with them. We will address the shift in stigma over the past 100 years and what has contributed to our complex relationship with psychedelics in Western society. We will look at the current legal access and why we need collaboration amongst physicians, therapists and practitioners to offer effective, ethical and compassionate psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Learn how the history of psychedelics is shaping this new psychedelic renaissance, and how we can avoid some of the pitfalls that occurred in the first wave of psychedelic therapy in the 60s and 70s. The depth of knowledge Dr. Erika Dyck possesses in this field is second-to-none, and her understanding of Canadian psychedelic history will shape the rest of this course work.

Providing safe and ethical psychedelic-assisted therapy is essential, not only for the most effective experience for your client, but also to protect yourself as a practitioner. You will explore ethical considerations for psychedelic assisted therapy. Covering topics around enhanced consent, ethical decisions, and the ethics around legal access to psychedelics, these lessons will equip you with a solid foundation in the ethical practice in plant medicine.

Mushrooms, or more specifically psilocybin (the psychoactive ingredient in mushrooms), is one of the most researched psychedelics in modern medicine. This lesson will explore psilocybin’s pharmacology, indications, and effectiveness. We will also examine current psilocybin trials and studies that are being conducted, which demonstrate its healing benefits in a variety of applications.

From banned to breakthrough: MDMA’s transformation from an illicit substance to a breakthrough treatment for PTSD. We will explore MDMA, what it is, how it’s best used and what MAPS has been contributing over the past decades to bring it back to legalization for therapeutic use. We will also cover the applications of MDMA in therapy, and the training and preparation for facilitators and therapists to deliver this therapy most effectively.

Ketamine is becoming the most widely used mind-altering medicine, which has extended beyond pain management into the realm of mental health applications. It is used legally and therapeutically in clinical settings in many countries, including Canada and the US. In this module, we will explore the benefits, challenges, and means in which it can be incorporated into a therapist’s practice.

This presentation will explore the use of LSD in the context of its therapeutic potential for the treatment of a variety of psychiatric disorders. Historical publications as well as recent anecdotal reports will be explored; both perspectives provide valuable lessons pertaining to future work with LSD.

Ibogaine is the psychoactive ingredient of Iboga, a root indigenous to Gabon in Africa. It has both traditional uses, as well as clinical applications primarily related to addiction. We will also discuss how iboga has been used to help treat individuals, including veterans and professional athletes for PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy and wellness enhancement are both areas of immense interest relating to mental health. This module will examine these areas, offer a robust discussion on how they are linked, and how they can be combined in the pursuit of attenuating our patients’ suffering and facilitating their healing.

Since 2020, Health Canada has approved psilocybin for end-of-life distress through the Section 56 Exemption and the Special Access Program (SAP). Clinical trials worldwide, including work by Anthony Bossis of NYU, have raised awareness of psychedelics’ benefits for terminally ill patients. Dr. Bossis will share insights from his research and practice on the benefits of PAT for these patients.

For many years, Mark Haden has been involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy through MAPS Canada and other avenues. Through the combination of his vast experience and collaboration with other contributors, he has developed an in-depth manual for psychedelic therapists. Mark will share from both this manual and his personal experiences in his clinical practice and research over the past 20 years.

We will present a model of psychedelic integration, highlighting increased relational intimacy as a key post-psychedelic measure. This model shows how early trauma shapes negative core beliefs, leading to misinterpretations in adulthood. Psychedelic therapy can bring these beliefs to conscious awareness, allowing for their reconsideration and fostering relational intimacy.

Due to the unique nature of psychedelic-assisted therapy, the clinicians providing such a service have a specific set of needs in regard to preventing professional burnout. This module
will begin by defining self-care and exploring professional burnout as it relates to psychedelic assisted therapists and will proceed by exploring the unique considerations for psychedelic assisted therapy vs. traditional psychotherapy. Additionally, tools for self-care in relation to these considerations will be examined. We will conclude by providing suggestions for aftercare practices for the psychedelic guide.