Students will be able to:

• Describe the historical and current role of plant medicines in various wisdom traditions and identify key differences and shared principles across cultures

• Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural impact of psychedelics in the West

• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic pharmacology and neuroscience of psilocybin and other psychedelics

• Understand key milestones in science and research relating to the ongoing development of psychedelic use as an adjunct to therapy over the last 65 years

• Comprehend relevant ideas and theories relating to consciousness, personal transformation, and the psychedelic experience

• Demonstrate a capacity and commitment to facilitate from an embodied, grounded, supportive presence

• Develop core communication skills necessary to render psilocybin and psychedelic services in a participant-centered manner

• Define problematic facilitator dispositions and interactions and explain how each can interfere with one’s work as a facilitator

• Develop and practice flexible self-care systems that support the physical, mental, relational, spiritual, and emotional capacities necessary to do this work

• Understand considerations when working with diverse populations

Students will be able to:

• Develop skills to strengthen rapport and alliance with participants

• Facilitate and review required intake forms with participants and conduct an effective information gathering intake interview

• Conduct a preparation session that includes screening, applying scope of practice, safety planning, and appropriate expectation setting

• Assess a participant’s readiness for psychedelic services and make final determinations regarding a participant’s goodness of fit

• Orient a participant regarding what to expect from the service sequence and the psychedelic experience itself, while providing helpful advice

• Understand and learn to establish a facilitator’s role, responsibilities, and authority with participants

• Describe and discuss various dosing strategies and considerations 

• Evaluate participants with an understanding of drug and supplement interactions with psychedelics

Students will be able to:

• Adapt facilitation practices to meet the needs of diverse populations

• Understand the effects of psilocybin and other psychedelics on specific mental health populations

• Convey the current findings of research into psychedelics in relation to specific client populations

• Apply knowledge and skills attuned to the unique needs of persons with terminal illness

• Apply knowledge and skill attuned to models of substance use, addiction, and recovery

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of what is required to facilitate a smooth entry into a psychedelic experience

• Demonstrate facilitation skills necessary to effectively facilitate a safe psychedelic experience

• Demonstrate an understanding of skills, processes, and criteria involved in completing a psychedelic experience and session

• “Hold space” for a variety of participant experiences

• Work effectively with psychological distress and challenging behaviors

• Implement protocols for responding to emergencies

• Employ nondirective communication skills

• Implement appropriate modes of intervention and know when not to intervene

• Recognize and address adverse behavioral reactions and adverse medical reactions

• Identify, describe, and internalize facilitator characteristics and skills related to effectively working with challenging experiences and behaviors during session

• Identify and respond appropriately to forms of psychological distress common to the psychedelic experience

• Identify and respond appropriately to difficult or challenging behaviors that can arise during a psychedelic session

• Identify and work with repressed trauma rising to the surface of consciousness 

• Identify and respond appropriately to medical emergencies

Students will be able to:

• Describe what integration is, the goals of the integration phase and its importance to healing, as well as communicate guidelines for an effective integration experience

• Demonstrate skills that help participants integrate their psychedelic experiences into their daily lives

• Understand various facilitator approaches and techniques relating to integration

• Assess the impact of integration and when to recommend additional support

• Identify safety concerns during integration

Students will be able to:

• Apply skills to assess client compatibility with group format

• Develop a group container and incorporate group considerations during intake process

• Establish group agreements including confidentiality and safety

• Demonstrate a capacity to orient participants effectively within a group-based orientation session

• Understand and demonstrate essential skills involved in facilitating a small group ceremony

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to conduct integration in a group format

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of the important ethical issues related to being a psychedelic facilitator and a commitment to living / implementing core values

• Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions around working across diverse social locations and cultures

• Provide services with an awareness of racial justice and systemic inequity in the delivery of healthcare, mental healthcare, and behavioral health services

• Develop a strategy to take responsibility for professional development, leadership presence, and impact on others

• Demonstrate a detailed understanding of related laws, regulations, and professional standards as they pertain to the rights and ongoing professional obligations of licensed facilitators

• Develop responsible referral and support systems

• Develop a strategy for being an active agent of transformation, grounded in the emerging research of the field