For the past several years I have often found myself talking with clinicians who are deeply interested in psychedelic therapy but unsure about when, exactly, this field will become legitimate enough to justify serious professional investment. Until recently, waiting was justifiable: We were looking only at early or isolated proof-of-concept studies. This year, as we are watching multiple programs of research move further along the regulatory path, with clearer development plans, stronger data packages, and growing signs that psychedelic and psychedelic-inspired treatments are moving closer to widespread clinical adoption, the question shifts from when to start investing in training to how to become part of the clinical workforce prepared for work in this area.
Let me revisit some of the recent news that justifies this shift:
One of the developments that stands out most to me is Reunion Neuroscience’s luvesilocin, formerly RE104, for postpartum depression. On February 23, 2026, the FDA granted the program Breakthrough Therapy designation. Reunion reported that in its Phase 2 RECONNECT study, luvesilocin showed rapid and durable efficacy, with benefits beginning as early as Day 1 and continuing through Day 28. The company also reported that 70% of patients receiving the 30 mg dose were in remission at both Day 7 and Day 28. Reunion has said it remains on track to begin a pivotal Phase 3 trial in 2026. Fluence provided the clinician training for the preceding Phase 2 study and we’re proud to have contributed to this milestone—because postpartum depression is an area of enormous need, where rapid relief could have profound implications for maternal functioning, attachment, and family wellbeing.
Another major milestone this year is the progress of AtaiBeckley’s BPL-003, a nasal spray related to 5-MeO-DMT, for treatment-resistant depression. In March 2026, the company announced a successful End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA and said it remains on track to launch two parallel Phase 3 studies in Q2 2026. The company has also said that the Phase 2b study, for which Fluence also provided therapist training, resulted in data supporting selection of the 8 mg dose for Phase 3. What is especially notable to me is the fact that BPL-003 can be delivered in a short, approximately two-hour in-clinic dosing session aligned with existing interventional psychiatry workflows. That kind of practical delivery model and the ability to deliver quality care within it matters tremendously for adoption, systems planning, and patient access.
And there’s more: In February, Compass Pathways announced that its second Phase 3 trial of COMP360 psilocybin in treatment-resistant depression achieved its primary endpoint putting an FDA approval on the horizon. According to the company, rapid effects can be seen from the day after administration and a generally well-tolerated safety profile has emerged across both studies to date. Whether every timeline unfolds exactly as hoped is less important than the larger pattern: multiple late-stage research programs are now moving through development in ways that make workforce readiness a present-tense issue.
This is why I believe now is the time for clinicians to begin training and for sponsors to plan their workforce development accordingly.
By the time approvals arrive, the field will need professionals who understand screening, preparation, risk management, relational safety, ethics, altered-state support, documentation, and the realities of working within clinical systems. It will need clinicians who can translate research protocols into competent care, without diluting rigor or drifting into ideology. In my view, waiting until the market fully arrives is the wrong approach. Capacity has to be built before demand peaks.
That is where Fluence comes in, and why I am so proud of what we have built. From the beginning, we have taken clinician education seriously as a professional and clinical responsibility. We have focused not only on broad psychedelic literacy, but on the real training needs of drug developers, research sites, therapists, and other professionals preparing to work in this emerging field. Fluence is the leader in psychedelic therapy education for both research organizations and clinical practice enterprises. That position came from years of building robust, credible, research-grounded systems for clinician development in partnership with drug developers seeking regulatory approval.
The competencies that matter in trials — careful assessment, fidelity to protocol, strong boundaries, safety awareness, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to support intense psychological experiences skillfully — are also the foundation of ethical professional practice in any future care environment. At Fluence, we have always believed that these are not separate worlds. The work we do with research sponsors and drug developers helps build the standards, habits, and educational pathways that clinicians will need to become true professionals in this field.
When I look at 2026 so far, I do not see a field that is waiting to begin. I see one that is consolidating, maturing, and demanding greater clinical rigor and preparation. Psychedelic medicine is continuing to move toward mainstream clinical reality, and clinicians who want to participate meaningfully should start preparing now. Fluence is here to help make that preparation serious, ethical, and worthy of the field we all hope to build.
Thanks for reading,
Fluence Co-Founder
Dr. Dominique Morisano, CPsych is a clinical psychologist and Adjunct Professor at University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa. Since 2019 she has completed extensive psychedelic therapy training (e.g., CIIS CPTR 2019, MAPS MDMA 2019, KTC), as well as training in Somatic Experiencing (3 years) and Transformational Breathwork (Levels 1-3). She has received mentorship from many teachers across the Americas (including the Shipibo maestros of Nihue Rao and their apprentices).
She served in executive leadership at psychedelic company Field Trip Health for 2 years, and runs a trauma/addiction-focused psychology practice (NY/CT/OR/ON), with Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). She facilitates legal psilocybin retreats with Beckley Retreats, runs consultation groups, lectures, and consults for several companies and professionals in the psychedelic space (including Heal Trauma Ukraine, Mind Foundation, Fluence, Journey Clinical and others). She sits on the Advisory and Executive Boards of two Europe-based non-profits: Psychedelia Stiftung (Germany) and SIMEPSI (Italian Psychedelic Research Association), respectively. As well, she leads the practicum course at UOttawa’s MA in Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies program. Her passions involve supporting individuals from all walks of life to align with a sense of meaning and purpose, and lead their best possible lives.
We are pleased to announce the release of an updated edition of our Introduction to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy course will be released soon. This revised version reflects the latest advancements in the field, incorporating updated competency frameworks, refined learning objectives, and new recommendations for ethically grounded, clinically effective practice. As the evidence base and professional standards around ketamine-assisted psychotherapy continue to evolve, so does our commitment to ensuring that practitioners have access to training that keeps pace with them. Whether you are new to the modality or returning to strengthen your foundation, this updated course offers a current, rigorous, and practically oriented entry point into one of today's most promising approaches to mental health care.
Curious about training in psychedelic therapy but unsure where to begin?
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Otsuka Pharmaceutical to Acquire Transcend Therapeutics
The Hawaii Senate passed a bill to create a state task force exploring access to psilocybin and MDMA therapies
A newly introduced bill proposes $30M annually to fund VA-based psychedelic research centers for veterans
