Foundations of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Drawing from the decades of research developed by the Beckley Foundation and Amanda Feilding, as well as the seminal work of Janis Phelps, Carl Jung, Stanislav Grof, Kylea Taylor, and Friederike Meckel Fischer, among others, Foundations of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy presents psychoanalytical, psychodynamic, somatic, and transpersonal perspectives of the unconscious and shadow material that emerges in altered states of consciousness. This course distinguishes itself through learning that is relational, embodied, and trauma informed and supportive of liminal space and ontological humility. Coming into presence with ourselves, each other, and the world around us is fundamental to providing safe and ethical PAT. This course helps participants notice and draw insight from the opportunities for healing that o�en emerge from relational dynamics during extraordinary experiences. As participants practice holding and navigating the intersubjective experience of non-ordinary states of consciousness, transformations rooted in curiosity unfold organically. Somatic self-awareness is encouraged through the personal and collective learning journey. Participants cultivate mindful somatic awareness of their own personal histories, relational dynamics, and societal norms that influence each moment while learning strategies for self- and co-regulation. The embodied state achieved through the practice of deep self-reflection and mindfulness helps participants build the skills to hold space safely and effectively for clients before, during, and a�er PAT. By intertwining historical and Indigenous perspectives with contemporary research in the field, this course creates space for ways of knowing and being beyond cognition and academia alone, such as psycho-emotional, felt sense, somatic, and transgenerational. Through a trauma-informed lens, participants identify expectations for equitable and inclusive experiences.