NEXT DELIVERY:

7-Day Intensive

Aug/Sept, 2024

Who is this workshop for?

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.

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”, and want to learn more about how to build supportive and transformative container.

Testimonials from the October 2022 Workshop

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“Having done other available courses, for me, nothing compares to how comprehensively Sean covers the combination of the theoretical, phenomenological, practical and experiential aspects of this work.”

- Jon Hart - Psychologist

"This PAP course far exceeded my expectations and was undoubtedly the best workshop experience I have had."

- Ana Almagro - Psychologist

"An intense and deeply rewarding learning experience." 

- Dr. Oliver Haisken, Palliative Medicine Specialist

"This was, by far, the best workshop that I've been to. The breadth of knowledge that Sean brings into the content of the workshop was matched by his wisdom and thoughtfulness in his delivery."

- Novi Sutanto - Counselling Psychologist.

"The Fundamentals of PAP workshop run by Sean O'Carroll was one of the most professionally and personally rewarding courses I have done. Sean's skills as both teacher and psychotherapist are exceptional and he created a safe and inspirational environment for learning and participation. The workshop has further motivated me to be part of this very important field of research."

- Dr Joanne Shannon - Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist

“This course was incredible on every level.” 

- Ashley Ogilvie - Psychotherapist 

"I cannot recommend this training highly enough. You will come away with a practical understanding of the What, When and How of each step in the PAP process, informed by a clear theoretical framework to orient you as to the Why. Sean brings a depth of understanding to this material that far surpasses other training I have done in this space." 

- Ben Stiel - Clinical Psychologist.

"I highly recommend this course! Do not miss out on this opportunity.This workshop was one of the best training opportunities I have ever experienced. Sean has generously distilled his lifetime of learning into this course and I feel richer and privileged to have participated."  

- Deb Blecha MPsych BPsych(Hons) MAPS - Psychologist

"I wholeheartedly recommend Sean’s Foundations of PAP course not only for any mental health professional (or researcher) considering working in this space, but to those who wish to deepen their psychotherapy practice more generally. You’ll leave having a confidence in your understanding of safe, ethical PAP on experiential and practical levels. Even if you aren’t working on a PAP trial in the foreseeable future, any mental health clinician would find the course very valuable. Sean has a gift for sharing his experience and knowledge in a practical and immediately absorbable way. The course was enjoyable, challenging, relevant, real and engaging, and above all very useful - a privilege to learn from diverse therapists with experience in psychedelic assisted therapy."

- Monica Schweickle, Clinical Psychologist 

“Without doubt this training is the most important training for the health care sector at this time. I feel grateful and privileged to have been a participant of the first cohort of PAP training. Sean is an incredibly gifted teacher. He consistently shares an enormous wealth of knowledge and experience with generosity. His integrity creates a sense of rock solid trust."

- Jen Thompson - Gestalt Psychotherapist

"To date, the Foundations of PAP training has been my most treasured learning experience, having a profound impact on me therapeutically, which inevitably will influence my day to day professional practice. Sean cultivates a unique, carefully considered and curated, fundamentally clinically informed, yet perfectly human approach to learning that allows for deep professional and personal growth.

- Tamara Tusia - Psychotherapist

"This course is excellent!" 

- Scott Kelly - Psychologist

What is covered in this workshop?

A very brief outline of the workshop structure is shown below.

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 workshop 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 workshop. Happily, much of this information/discussion is available elsewhere, in courses, books and online.

Who is running the workshop:

This bulk of the workshop will be delivered by Sean O’Carroll. Sean will be supported in the everyday running of the workshop by Caroline Dale - a clinical psychologist and study therapist on a number of PAT clinical research trials.

The workshop will 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 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 will soon be 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:

• Outside of research trials - 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.

• Finally, in the current context where demand for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy 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 (currently less than 100 here in Australia) have had the opportunity to work “in the room” on a research trial, 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 Details:

August/September 2024 - 7 day residential - VIC (TBC)

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

Module 5: Dosing

Module 6: Integration

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

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. If you fulfil the above criteria, please fill out the application form when sent.

2. If successful, we will invite you to book a brief interview.

3. If eligible, we will send you a booking link.

NOTE: This workshop 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 workshops.

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.

Caroline Dale - Training Support

Caroline (www.carolinedale.org) works in private practice in the Blue Mountains of NSW and is a study therapist on two psilocybin assisted therapy trials at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney and an MDMA assisted therapy trial at Sydney University.

Caroline is a clinical psychologist who has been working with people individually and in groups for over fifteen years. She comes from a foundation in mindfulness, attachment based therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy, and takes a psychoanalytic approach to understanding personality development in the context of early attachment relationships. She has worked in hospital and in-patient settings as well as with community groups and in long-term individual therapy. A constant in her work has been accompanying adult survivors of childhood traumas as they do the hard work of coming toward a more trusting and compassionate relationship with the self, and it is this that first drew her to learn more about psychedelic medicine: the possibility of being able to visit with the most painful parts of the self with fresh eyes gives her great hope. Caroline’s other therapeutic interests include using movement, the voice and somatic work to access knowledge that the cognitions can’t easily reach. She sees great value in taking this work outdoors as a way to offer clients the opportunity to come into relationship with the natural world and the peace and wisdom it has to offer.

Visiting Practitioners Bios

Campbell Townsend

Campbell Townsend is a Clinical Psychologist working on the Psilocybin for GAD trial through Monash University Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab as well as the Psilocybin for treatment-resistant Depression trial taking place at Swinburne University.  

When not working in the big smoke researching psychedelics Campbell is working as the co-director of a small but bustling private practice based in the Central Victorian Goldfields. He is a board approved Clinical Supervisor and just loves supporting young psychologists in the country. Campbell is the Clinical Support at Spinifex Health Service in a remote aboriginal community called Tjuntjuntjara in Central Dessert  WA.  In this role he drives development of culturally appropriate therapeutic interventions.

As a rural generalist he supports children, adults and couples to lead full, rich and meaningful lives and relationships. He draws on a range of therapeutic modalities including  ACT,  EMDR and IFS. When working with couples he specialises in the Gottman Method and conducting what’s called  ‘Marathon Therapy” (12 hours of therapy in just 2 days).

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.

Sarah Pant

Sarah is a Clinical Psychotherapist with nearly 20 years of experience in mental health in Australia and the UK. She is the founding Director of Being Found, providing training, consultancy, and psychotherapy. She has worked extensively in the community sector with adults and youths, focusing on psychosocial rehabilitation, early intervention, psychotherapy, and the justice system. Sarah has specialized in eco-psychotherapy and served as a wilderness therapist. In 2021, she joined the Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University, where she completed training in Psilocybin and MDMA assisted Psychotherapy through Monash and MAPS. She was a trainer and core therapist in the pioneering Psilocybin for Generalised Anxiety trial and is now a clinical supervisor and therapist in the MDMA for PTSD trial at Monash. Her approach integrates a deep interest in altered states, nature, and the cultural contexts influencing mental health and our responses to contemporary challenges.