Who is this workshop for?

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is not a drug treatment as such, but a powerful new form of psychotherapy in which the psychotherapeutic process is augmented (deepened and amplified) by the psychedelic. The focus of this workshop is the role of the psychotherapist in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

This workshop is aimed at experienced clinicians working in mental health, including but not limited to psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists. We welcome applications from clinicians who are interested in deepening their understanding of clinical psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, working in clinics, or on future research trials.

While there are many contexts in which psychedelics are used, from the religious to the recreational, this workshop is focussed on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as a medical/psychological intervention to be used within the health system. As such, it is not suitable for “underground” practitioners, or anyone considering working “underground”.

Why Would You Attend this Workshop?

• You are interested in working in a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy clinics or on a research trial.

• You want to better understand this new modality, and how it will change the mental health landscape.

• You want to meet and work with others who are interested in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

• You want to improve your prospects for working on a research trial or in a clinic.

• You are already working on a research trial and want to deepen your knowledge and skills.

• You’re broadly interested in process work or ceremony/ritual, and want to learn more about how to build supportive and transformative container.

Testimonials from 2023 PAT Trainings

_____

"This course was the most interesting, inspiring and fulfilling educational experience I have had so far!"

- Tania Wallace - Counselling Psychologist

“It was a joy to be involved in this course. Sean is a gifted facilitator and you will be quite stunned by how much you can take from this to the therapy space, psychedelics or otherwise.”

- Angela Porter - Psychologist

"This was a fantastic, highly engaging, and very thorough course, which I would highly recommend to anyone interested in dipping into the world of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy."

- Dr Anish Modak, Consultant Psychiatrist

"I have been a Clinical Psychologist and psychotherapist for the past 37 years. Without a doubt, "The Fundamentals of Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy" is the best professional development I have ever done. Sean O'Carroll more than delivered on the stated goals of providing practical and embodied clinical psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. He provided a thoughtful and professional template for clinically addressing the psycho-spiritual crisis facing the planet."

- Dr Annmaree Wilson - Clinical Psychologist

"The psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training is something that I will be forever grateful to have experienced. The training expanded my clinical practice through a perfect balance of experiential and theory based learning. It was one of those unique experiences where a training facilitated both clinical and personal growth. Thank you Sean for such a well thought out and excellent training."

- Dr Nicole Albrecht - Clinical Psychologist

What is covered in this workshop?

A brief outline of the training is described below. Please also watch the video above.

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is not a “drug” treatment as such, but a powerful new form of psychotherapy in which the psychotherapeutic process is augmented (deepened and amplified) by the psychedelic. The focus of this workshop is the role of the psychotherapist in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

We will explore the fundamentals of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as it is currently being employed in Australian clinics and research trials and around the world. Our focus will be on working with psilocybin, however many of the principles are transferable to working with other compounds. The workshop will be highly practical, with a strong focus on group inquiry and experiential learning, informed by real-world experience.

We begin by looking at the broader psychedelic context against which contemporary psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is emerging. We look at what can go wrong with psychedelics, why it goes wrong, and what we can learn from this. (Note: We will not be addressing how to work with psychedelic casualties - this is covered in our other training: Bad Trip Integration)

We then dive into the heart of the workshop - spending the bulk of our time exploring the preparation, dosing, and integration phases of treatment. We look at these phases of treatment across the domains of theory (“thinking about”), practice (“doing”), and presence (“being with”). This material is explored via lecture, seminar, small-group work, demonstration, clinical and experiential exercises, along with Q&A sessions with therapists currently working on trials here in Australia. We will give special attention to topics such as touch and the unconscious perpetration of harm when working with non-ordinary states. Finally, we look to the future, identifying possible pathways to future work in this space, and looking at emerging global trends in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

By the conclusion of this workshop attendees will have a clear sense of current best-practice in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and an embodied understanding of what is involved in guiding a participant/client through a course of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy treatment.

It is fair to say that much of the public discourse around psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is overly simplistic, whether positive or negative. The truth of the matter is more nuanced and complex, and in the field of mental health care we are only beginning to learn how to work with these substances effectively. Attendees will develop a deeper sense of the unique challenges and opportunities afforded by these substances when used in a psychotherapeutic context. It is our hope that by sharing this knowledge with ethically minded and experienced clinicians, the general discourse around psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and emerging clinical practice, will become more mature and nuanced, and in turn, support psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as a safe and effective treatment here in Australia.

You may be interested to read: “Translating Psychedelic Therapies From Clinical Trials to Community Clinics” from Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021) - Co-author: Sean O’Carroll.

What is not covered?

This training is not intended to be a comprehensive training in psychedelics. There are many important things that we will touch on only briefly, and not cover in depth, such as: neuroscience, history, politics, and the indigenous use of plant medicines. These are important and interesting topics but are beyond the scope of this training. Happily, much of this information/discussion is available elsewhere, in courses, books and online.

Who is running the workshop:

This training will be delivered by Sean O’Carroll and a full-time “assistant” trainer. The training will also be enriched by a number of visiting practitioners, who will be with us for anything from a few hours to a whole day. All of these visiting practitioners are actively working on research trials and PAT clinics here in Australia, and include psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists.

These visiting practitioners will help with incidental practical instruction, assist in demonstrations, participate in discussions and be available for Q&As. They will also occasionally offer a presentation on a relevant topic. We feel that meeting these practitioners and sharing in their stories of “doing the work” will be invaluable for attendees.

Please Note: For extended trainer and practitioner bios please go to the bottom of page.

Training Lead and Support

Visiting Practitioners and Trainers

Things to consider…

This workshop is offered to qualified professionals in the spirit of education, awareness building, and harm reduction. The surprising announcement by the TGA in 2023 regarding the rescheduling of Psilocybin and MDMA means that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is now available to some members of the general public with a diagnosis of treatment resistant depression or PTSD. Despite this, there remain a great many misunderstandings about what this treatment entails and the risks involved, as well as a dire shortage of practitioners experienced in the delivery of these treatments.

We believe that it is now essential for those of us with experience to share what we know with ethically minded practitioners, and that doing so can support the safe and efficacious provision of treatment to those who need it most. Beyond this, the training material is itself fascinating and complex, and learning about working with psychedelics often has a profound impact on our everyday psychotherapeutic practice.

However, applicants need to be aware of the following:

• There are currently few contexts in which it is legally possible for mental health professionals to practice psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in Australia.

• Undertaking this workshop will improve your suitability/capacity for working on a psychedelic research trial here in Australia, or in a PAT clinic.

• In the current context where demand for psychedelic-assisted therapy vastly outstrips supply - and many people suffering mental ill-health are desperate and seeking out psychedelics - we do not feel it is possible for mental health practitioners to safely and ethically offer “underground” psychedelic services. This is not necessarily due to ill-intent or lack of skill, but often due to forces beyond their control. Clearly you do not need to agree with this statement, but we ask that you do not apply for this workshop if you are considering working “underground”.

Why we are offering this workshop…

There is no doubt that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is emerging as a new and potentially powerful treatment modality. Trial outcomes from around the world are encouraging, and suggest that in the coming years, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may enter the mainstream, offering new hope for people suffering from an array of mental health issues. However, there is a great deal that needs to happen in order for psychedelic therapies to safely make the transition from clinical trials to community clinics.

Public/Media discussion of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is often full of hyperbole and overly simplistic. One simple reason for the perpetuation of myths and misunderstandings is that so few mental health practitioners have had the opportunity to work in the room on a research trial or clinic, or learn about the work in a practical and substantial way, and subsequently develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that this treatment affords. In offering this workshop to experienced mental health clinicians, we hope to support the emergence of a healthier - more balance and better informed - psychedelic eco-system here in Australia. If you are currently working in mental health, and interested in the healing potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, then this workshop may be for you.

Workshop Modules:

Module 1: Background - Contexts & Varieties of Psychedelic Experience

Module 2: “Do No Harm” - Psychedelic Casualties, The Underground, and Lessons Learned

Module 3: An Overview & Key Guiding Principles of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Module 4: Preparation - Theory & Practice

Module 5: Dosing - Theory & Practice

Module 6: Integration - Theory & Practice

Module 7: Summary & Looking Ahead - The Current Landscape, Emerging Challenges & Opportunities & Further Learning

Training Details:

• What: 7 Day Intensive - Foundations of Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

• When: May 3 to 9

• Times: 9am to 5:30 pm Daily

• Where: Abbotsford Convent

• Cost: $3400 (Plus GST) ($3740 Inc. GST)

• $200 Early Bird Discount until 31st Dec, 2024

• OR “Pay in 3” (3 x $1250) - Three month payment plan available

• Includes 7 Days Instruction, Student Manual, Certificate, Morning and Afternoon Tea

If you’d like to discuss any aspect of this training please contact Sean at sean@wild-mind.com

BOOKING & Cancellation PolicY

Booking fees are taken in full.

If we cancel the retreat for any reason, you will receive a 100% refund.

If you cancel:

• More than two months before the training, you will receive a 100% refund.

• More than one months before the training, you will receive a 50% refund.

• If you cancel within a month of the training, you will not receive a refund.

If you have any questions regarding payment, payment plans, or cancellation policy, please get in touch.

Application Criteria:

Psychedelics are powerful “medicines” that engender non-ordinary states of consciousness. Working with psychedelics in a psychotherapeutic capacity is different to doing everyday psychotherapy. This workshop is designed for qualified and experienced clinicians who wish to understand these differences, and begin the process of bridging the skills gap from competent psychotherapist to competent psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist.

Note: Applications are not processed by Sean O’Carroll alone, but by a team of three. We will review all applications as they come in, ensure that the criteria are met. A number of factors will inform selection, including wanting a diversity of experience in the cohort. We will get back to you ASAP.

APPLICANTS MUST:

• Have a minimum Bachelor or Masters level qualification in a relevant field such as Psychotherapy, Psychology, or Psychiatry

• Have 3+ years supervised clinical experience

• Be committed to NOT working as an “underground” psychedelic practitioner

• If you are unsure about whether or not you are eligible, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Application Process:

1. Watch the course info video (BELOW)

2. Fill out the application form HERE

3. Book a brief interview HERE

   Then, following the interview, once we’ve sent an invite…

4. Book your place HERE!

NOTE: This training will have limited places. If your application is successful, but the course is full, we will manage a waiting list and you will be contacted for any future trainings.

Extended Trainer Bios

SEAN O’CARROLL - Lead trainer

Sean O’Carroll will be head trainer for this workshop. Sean is Head of Psychotherapy at Clarion Clinics and Trainer + Psychotherapist with the Monash University Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab in Melbourne, Australia.

He developed and delivered PAT training to teams at Monash University, Swinburne University and Curtin University for trials working with psilocybin and GAD, TRD, and Chronic Pain, respectively. He has completed the MAPS training, and been training assistant on a second MAPS training. He is currently working working on the Monash University MDMA for PSTD trial.

Sean works as a psychotherapist in private practice in Melbourne, Australia, specialising in working with psychedelic casualties. He first degree was in philosophy (2001), completing his honours thesis (2004) on “Science, Subjectivity and the Sacred”. In 2017 Sean completed three years of qualitative research, culminating in his MA (research) thesis entitled "An Inquiry Into the Experience of Being Alone with Nature". He has worked as an academic in the field of psychotherapy for the past ten years teaching integrative psychotherapy, eco-psychotherapy, arts-based psychotherapy, transpersonal psychology, and offering supervision, training and consulting through the Wild Mind Institute (Since 2015).

His focus is on mastering and sharing the craft of psychotherapy, and on exploring the role of nature and non-ordinary states of consciousness in health and wellbeing. Key areas of interest and training include working with psychedelic casualties (and other non-ordinary state trauma), eco-psychotherapy, transpersonal psychology, embodiment/dance practice, arts-based psychotherapy, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

SARAH PANT - ASSISTANT trainer

Sarah is a Clinical Psychotherapist with nearly two decades of experience in mental health across Australia and the UK. Since joining the Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University in 2020, she has played a pivotal role as a core therapist and trainer in the world’s first Psilocybin for Generalized Anxiety trial. Currently, Sarah serves as a clinical supervisor and therapist on the lab’s MDMA therapy for PTSD trial. Her experience on these trials makes her one of the most experienced psychedelic-assisted therapists in the country.

Sarah completed MAPS training and now assists in delivering MAPS trainings in Australia. She was also a key member of the training team for psilocybin-assisted therapy at Monash University.

Before transitioning to psychedelic-assisted therapy, Sarah spent 10 foundational years in the not-for-profit sector, focusing on psycho-social rehabilitation and early intervention programs. Her work involved supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, those in the justice system, AOD issues, complex trauma, refugees, and asylum seekers. Additionally, her interest in ecopsychotherapy led her to work as a wilderness therapist before founding her private practice. Sarah’s approach to therapy is experiential integrating somatic, creative arts, ecopsychotherapy, systems thinking and process-oriented techniques.

As the founding Director of Being Found, Sarah offers long-term integration services for individuals post-psychedelic treatment. She is also a therapist supervisor and screening therapist at Clarion Clinics, a psychedelic-assisted therapy clinic in Melbourne.

With a holistic approach to health and well-being, Sarah is deeply interested in fostering human connection, exploring altered state experiences, enhancing our connection with nature, and navigating the unique challenges of our time.

Visiting Practitioners Bios

Campbell Townsend

Campbell Townsend is a Clinical Psychologist working on the pioneering Psilocybin for Generalized Anxiety Disorder trial through the Monash University Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab. He also serves as a lead therapist at Clarion, Australia's first private psychedelic clinic.

When not immersed in the cutting-edge realm of psychedelic research in the city, Campbell co-directs a thriving private practice based in the historic Central Victorian Goldfields region. As a board-approved Clinical Supervisor, he takes great pleasure in nurturing and guiding the professional development of early-career psychologists in rural areas.

Embracing the role of a rural generalist, Campbell supports children, adults, and couples on their journeys toward leading rich, meaningful lives and cultivating fulfilling relationships. He draws from a diverse therapeutic toolkit, including ACT, EMDR, IFS. For couples, he specializes in the renowned Gottman Method and conducts intensive "Marathon Therapy" sessions, providing 16 hours of counseling within a condensed 2.5-day timeframe.

Dr Simon Amar

Dr. Simon Amar completed his medical school and psychiatric residency training at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He spent the last nine years working as a psychiatrist in private practice in Montreal, specialising in psychotherapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders. Since 2013, he has been following the MAPS research on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. From 2016 to 2021 he was the Co-Principal Investigator and therapist for the Montreal site of the Phase 3 MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD trial. Since moving to Australia in 2022, he has been working as a therapist on the Monash trial looking at psilocybin-assisted therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Marg Ryan

Marg is a senior clinical psychotherapist with twenty years in mental health and private practice. She conducts therapy and supervises clinicians working with individuals, couples, and those developing psychedelic-assisted therapy skills. Marg has been involved in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research at Monash University’s Clinical Psychedelic Lab in Melbourne, Australia. She served as a core therapist in Australia’s largest psilocybin trial for Generalised Anxiety Disorder and in the MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD trial. She completed intensive psilocybin training and MDMA therapist training with MAPS in 2021. Marg co-facilitated a training program for psychedelic trial therapists at Curtin University, delivered by Monash, and assisted in the first Australian MAPS MDMA training at Monash. She is also a tutor for the MIND (Berlin) two-year psychedelic therapist training program.

DR DAVID SPEKTOR

David is a Senior Clinical Psychologist having worked in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. He has coming up to 20 years' experience working in Mental Health as a clinical psychologist and much of that was spent in the public sector working with severe and enduring mental health issues. However, after many years of witnessing and struggling with the medicalisation of misery inherent within the mental health system, he left to build his own private practice (www.psychologycare.com.au) and alongside that took a senior lecturer position at the University of Melbourne, Clinical Psychology Program. He has trained for over a decade in an emotion focussed and psychodynamic psychotherapy known as Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).

David has now left the University of Melbourne to focus on being involved in psychedelic-psychotherapy research through the Monash University Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab in Melbourne, Australia.  He is actively working as a therapist on the psilocybin for GAD trial and will also be a therapist on the upcoming MONASH/MDMA/PTSD trial.

DR Paul Liknaitzky

Dr Paul Liknaitzky is Head of the Clinical Psychedelic Lab (monash.edu/psychedelics), and Senior Research Fellow within the Dept of Psychiatry at Monash University. He has played a central role in establishing the field of clinical psychedelic research in Australia, and is the Principal Investigator on a program of psychedelic trials. Paul leads the country’s largest and most experienced group of psychedelic researchers and clinicians, is involved in numerous psychedelic studies across Australia, and collaborates with many international experts and organisations in the field. Paul is also a co-founder of Clarion Clinics. His work is focused on investigating novel applications for psychedelic therapies, translating evidence into best clinical practice, exploring under-examined risks, delivering next-generation therapist training, and improving access and affordability.

ESME DARK

Dr Esme Dark is a Clinical Psychologist currently working as a therapist at the Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University, investigating Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy to treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder.

Esme is the founder of a private psychology practice based in Melbourne through which she provides individual therapy and runs therapeutic group programmes that draw on her skills in somatic psychotherapy, nature based practice and creative arts therapy. Esme has over 15 years of experience supporting clients in distress from a diverse range of backgrounds. She draws on a range of psychotherapeutic approaches including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems and Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy. Esme has provided training and consultation to hundreds of staff teams working in the mental health space across Australia.

SHANTI MONTEIRO

Shanti Monteiro is an experienced clinical psychologist who works in private practice (Solana Psychology), training provisional psychologists in Psychodynamic therapy and serving as a therapist within the field of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP). Shanti has worked on and participated in numerous PAT trials, including those involving psilocybin for generalized anxiety, MDMA for PTSD, and DMT-5EO for treatment-resistant depression. Her approach to therapy is to compassionately guide people towards gaining a deeper and more insightful understanding of themselves, their relationship with themselves, their patterns of relating with others, and their interactions with the world around them. She practices from a trauma-informed, relational, holistic, and psychodynamic perspective.