Introduction to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) Course

Introduction to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy​​ Course

Our Introduction to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) Course is designed to help licensed and non-licensed healthcare providers better understand the use of psychedelics in healthcare settings.

This course is for anyone who wants to gain a basic understanding of psychedelic medicine and its use in therapy.

To confidently be able to answer client/patients questions and hold informative conversations with your peers on psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Embody the roles of both the psychedelic guide, therapist and the participant, allowing you to gain an understanding of psychedelic medicine from multiple perspectives.

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Research continues to support the use of psychedelic medicine to treat mental health conditions. As this treatment gains evidence-based status, practitioners will benefit from expanding their knowledge of mental health intervention to include psychedelic therapy options.

Several provinces, states, and counties have begun to introduce legislative changes and regulatory guidelines that support the use of psychedelic medicine.

This course is a prerequisite for our Advanced PaT Certification Program. If you bundle your purchase with the Advanced PaT Certification Program, you will receive a discount. Use code BUNDLE20 at checkout to receive 20% off.

Course Info
at a Glance

Course Available

September 5, 2023 (Fall Cohort)

Fees

$1,197 USD
*Contact us for group rates

Number of Hours

21

Credential(s) Earned

Certificate of Completion

Live Q&A Sessions

Tuesdays from 6:00pm-7:30pm MST

*See Course Dates and Times

Course Overview

Based upon contemporary medical and mental health research, this training course offers a broad overview of psychedelics, from their historical foundations through to integrating them into mainstream mental health treatment. The course will cover the most common psychedelic medicines currently being researched, including psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, iboga, and ketamine. Taught by industry leaders and medical practitioners, students will complete this course ready to explain psychedelic medicine to their clients and continue into our Advanced Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) Certification Program.

This course is a prerequisite for our Advanced PaT Certification Program. If you bundle your purchase, you can receive a discount.

Are you ready to become a leader in mental health?

This course begins by re-defining the psychiatric model from one of “chemical imbalance” to one rooted in the mind-body-spirit dynamic. With roots in contemporary medical and mental health research, this training program also provides the historical foundation from which psychedelic medicines developed. The didactic course material will cover the various psychedelic medicines currently in use, including an emphasis on psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, iboga, and ketamine.

Our goal is to increase the number of healthcare practitioners who are thoroughly and ethically trained in the delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapy. We provide a world class faculty and guest presenters who are experts in the field psychedelic medicine and support your journey towards offering safe and effective psychedelic-assisted therapy. ​

Our courses and programs are clinically relevant, and while we provide the academic knowledge that is required to practice in this field safely and ethically, we believe that hands-on training must accompany theoretical concepts. ATMA’s Advanced PaT Certification Program offers students the unique opportunity to gain experience in both the theoretical components and history of psychedelics, as well as frontline experience in the facilitation of medicine experiences. Combined with our Self-Care Program, our students will gain invaluable knowledge, experience, and self-care support as they work to integrate psychedelic therapy into their existing therapy practices. ​

Our commitment to our students does not stop after the course or program ends. We have designed systems, networks, and infrastructure to support healthcare professionals and therapy providers through the entire process of adopting psychedelic-assisted therapy into practice. ​

With our Community Business Platform including a psychedelic practitioner directory, therapy providers can feel supported and will have all the resources required to adopt and provide psychedelic-assisted therapy.

There is no prerequisite for this course. ​

This course is a prerequisite for our Advanced Psychedelic-Assisted (PaT) Certification Program. If you bundle your purchase of this Introductory to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Course with the Advanced Psychedelic-Assisted (PaT) Certification Program, you can receive a discount.

  • Understand psychedelic-assisted therapy basics and describe ways psychedelics are impacting the world of traditional therapies. ​
  • Describe the history of psychedelics and research and outcomes over the past 80 years. ​
  • Describe the most commonly utilized psychedelics and their applications for mental health treatment. ​
  • Identify the potential risks and benefits of psychedelic assisted therapy ​
  • Understand and discuss the importance of preparation and integration in psychedelic assisted therapy. ​
  • Articulate the code of ethics necessary for providing safe and effective psychedelic assisted therapy ​
  • Understand the importance of self-care to nurture and sustain the therapist and their psychedelic assisted therapy practice.

The course includes: ​

  • 14 modules of pre-recorded lectures taught by world-class instructors in the field. ​
  • 4 live online Q&A sessions on Tuesdays from 6:00pm-7:30pm MST facilitated by our expert instructors, providing an opportunity to engage in discussions. Post-session recordings available.​
  • 30+ downloadable resources, tools and links for recommended further reading.​
  • Online private community platform to receive industry updates and interact with other students.​
Summer Cohort​
  • Course Start Date: June 6, 2023​
  • Live Q&A Sessions: Tuesdays from 6:00pm-7:30pm MST on June 6, 13, 20 and 27 ​
Fall Cohort​
  • Course Start Date: September 5, 2023 ​
  • Live Q&A Sessions: Tuesdays from 6:00pm-7:30pm MST September 5, 12, 19 and 26
Post Session Recordings ​

All sessions are recorded for later viewing.

Hear what our students have to say

Great format of watching presentations ahead of time for the Q&A’s and then speaking to the amazing presenters about their experiences. Wonderful to connect with other therapists and interested individuals through breakout groups.
Maya Sloan
ATMA Alumni
This program has not only done a masterful job of setting the foundations for Psychedelic-assisted Therapy, but also helped connect participants with like-minded health providers and fostered a continued interest in exploring this needed healing modality at an even deeper level.
Mikael Bartholdy
ATMA Alumni
The richness of the experience, expertise and discussion was deeply meaningful. Thank you ATMA.
Alison Bell
ATMA Alumni
It’s wonderful to be on live Zoom calls with so many amazing teachers. Thank you all, so much gratitude for this space!
Karolina Mikos
ATMA Alumni
I am so grateful to have discovered this amazing program, and I am truly loving this learning platform and community. I was inspired to learn about psychedelic therapy and now I am convinced this is the field that I am meant to be in. I’m excited about bringing my unique offerings to this field and hopefully collaborating with this community along the way.
Cheryl K
ATMA Alumni

OUR CURRICULUM

Course Curriculum 

Our curriculum modules are taught by industry leaders in the field of psychedelic medicine.

What is psychedelic-assisted therapy? What is the psychedelic experience? This first overview session will cover the basic elements regarding why psychedelic-assisted therapy is a unique therapeutic process that lies outside of any traditional therapy, but why it is still important to have knowledgeable and loving therapists drive the renaissance in which we find psychedelics.

Did you know the word “psychedelic” was coined right here in Canada? Join Dr. Erika Dyck as she discusses 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. Dyck possesses in this field is second-to-none, and her understanding of Canadian psychedelic history will shape the rest of this course work.

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. Through a company he operates in B.C. called Liberty Root, Trevor Millar has been using Iboga to help treat individuals, and he will be discussing this medicine’s potential and the current uses of this plant.

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.

This module will cover the applications of MDMA in psychotherapy, with a primary focus on a clinical trial that used the PTSD protocol to treat eating disorders.

Ketamine is becoming the most widely used mind-altering medicine, which has extended beyond pain management into the realm of mental health applications. There are many indications for which it is used, employing several distinct routes of administration. The benefits, challenges, and means in which it can be incorporated into a therapist’s practice will be explored in this module.

 

This talk will review the history of clinical use of ketamine, from anesthetic to antidepressant, as well as the latest uses that have been discovered for this old drug.

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.

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.

Numerous clinical trials have resulted in increased awareness regarding the use of psychedelics in easing end-of-life distress in patients facing terminal illnesses; these trials have been conducted across different countries and over a span of many years. Further, Canada’s recent approvals of Section 56 Exemption applications has demonstrated the profound impact that psychedelics have in producing meaningful end-of-life experiences. In this module, follow the story of one woman’s journey, as well as testimonials of key researchers.

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. This module shares what it takes to be a competent and effective guide for this work.

In this presentation, a model of psychedelic integration will be presented, focusing on the capacity for increased relational intimacy as a critical measure of post-psychedelic experience. One model describes how early trauma shapes negative beliefs about the self, others, and reality, which in turn generate inaccurate interpretations in adulthood. As a result of psychedelic therapy, these Core Unconscious Beliefs may be brought to conscious awareness for reconsideration and re-decision, which in turn creates space to evolve in relational intimacy.

Due to the unique nature of psychedelic-assisted therapy, the clinicians providing this service have unique needs in regards 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 and how one can utilize community to create containment.

This module will provide a general overview of ethical considerations in the delivery of psychedelic assisted therapy. Rachel Dundas, Registered Psychologist, will explore the unique consent requirements necessary in the delivery of psychedelic therapy, the current ethical codes which can guide a psychedelic therapists, and the importance of taking specific actions in the integration of psychedelic assisted into your practice.

INSTRUCTORS

Featuring a number of leading experts

Dr. Anthony Bossis

PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry NYU

Devon Christie

Clinical Instructor, UBC, Family Physician

Mark Haden

VP of Clearmind Medicine, Adjunct Prof., UBC

Saundra Jain

Adjunct Clinical Affiliate, School of Nursing, UT Austin

Rachel Dundas

Rachel Dundas

Psychologist, RCC, Certified Play Therapist, Certified Trauma Practitioner

Erika Dyck

Prof. & Canadian Research Chair, USask

Trevor Millar

Ambio Live Sciences Inc. - CoFounder, Ibogaine Facilitator

Ian Mitchell

Emergency Physician & Associate Clinical Prof., UBC

Bruce Sanguin

Clinical Fellow at CAMFT, Psychotherapist

Natalie Bergstrom

ATMA VP of Programming

Mike Mathers

Addictions and Trauma Therapist

QUESTIONS

Questions about our Introduction to PaT Course?

Please reach out to us via phone or email if your question is not addressed on this page.

This course is designed to help practicing social workers, counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, medical practitioners and non-licensed health care providers gain a basic understanding of psychedelic therapy through evidence-based tools and information. This course is a prerequisite for those looking to enrol into our Advanced PaT Certification Program 

This course is facilitated entirely online so you can participate from anywhere in the world. We include weekly live Q&A sessions with leading experts to provide valuable information and face-to-face community building. Our Advanced PaT Certification Program includes an in-person portion.

ATMA’s Introduction to PsychedelicAssisted Therapy course is a prerequisite to ATMA’s Advanced PaT Certification Program. If you have participated in an equivalent PaT training course, you can request an exemption by filling out the Intro course exemption form HERE: https://share.hsforms.com/1gYFQlV1pQCemB9GEf3x8ZAd8d2j 

Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion stating the 21 hours completed and can be utilized to claim CE credits with many organizations. ATMA is currently working on CE Accreditation with the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). If you require assistance, please contact us. 

ATMA is not offering scholarships at this time. Any future updates will be listed on the website. 

All ATMA programs and courses are non-refundable. If your situation changes, contact us to discuss.