Psychedelics and Psychoanalysis

This 12-week Psychoanalytic Psychedelic Clinical Consultation Group is designed for analytically oriented therapists and other practitioners to discuss their clinical work in psychedelic integration within the discourse of psychoanalysis. The group meets weekly and provides a creative and supportive environment for members to share and discuss clinical material, such as treatment experiences with patients, personal experiences, and other related subjects.

This course presumes basic knowledge of psychedelic integration therapy and a strong foundation in psychoanalytic/dynamic therapy. The group offers a combination of peer supervision and analytic listening, as well as exploration of transference and countertransference processes, affect, fantasy, and imagination. The discussion will also touch upon the motivations and experiences of patients seeking psychedelic integration therapy and how it can amplify transference and impact the therapist's emotional responses.

Participants will be able to reflect on the motivations behind patients seeking psychedelic therapy, understand the complex motivations of patients using psychedelics, and acknowledge and respond to their own emotional reactions to patient reports. They will also learn to prepare for shifts in language, meaning, and self-concept that may accompany psychedelic experiences and assess the need for more intensive treatment if necessary.

The group emphasizes psychoanalytic and psychodynamic perspectives and strives to create a supportive, safe, and confidential environment. While personal sharing is encouraged, any clinician’s underground work administering psychedelics is strictly prohibited from discussion. The course is open to all practising clinicians, regardless of their therapeutic approach, and will provide participants with the necessary skills to provide guidance and support to patients in their psychedelic integration therapy.

This course (previously given as Psychedelics & Psychoanalysis) is given each quarter. The course awards 15 continuing education (CE) credits.