Postgraduate Certificate
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration
The Postgraduate Certificate in Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration is designed to prepare licensed clinicians to provide psychedelic integration therapy in their clinical practice. Students will learn from experts about psychedelic harm reduction and integration as a transtheoretical framework, and about a wide range of psychedelic substances and the varying contexts in which they may be used. The program provides a strategic overview of relevant clinical research and theoretical literature, and generally prepares clinicians to support patients before and after psychedelic experiences of all kinds, immediately applicable in the scope of their existing practice.
Learn directly from the clinicians who are defining the emerging modality of Psychedelic Harm Reduction & Integration
150 hours of class and training time
Individualized peer and instructor feedback
Continuing Education credits available
Small group learning environment, with dedicated online classroom and discussion board with your cohort
Live online and in-person training
1:1 mentoring
Access to our rich community of peer practitioners
Learning Components
Psychedelic Integration: Premise & Promise*
Clinical Consultation Group
Access & Inclusion Series
Integration Essentials
Reading and Study Group
Elective
Experiential Retreat
*Prerequisite
Psychedelic Integration: Premise & Promise
Our foundational workshop is a pre-requisite for applying to the PHRI program. If you haven’t yet completed or registered for Premise & Promise, start here!
All Certificate Program students are paired with a Mentor from Fluence’s training faculty to support them through their journey. Mentorship is a rich and unique aspect of the program that allows for individualized feedback beyond the scope of individual courses and program components.
Alexander Camargo, PsyD Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration Certificate Program Director and Trainer
Dr. Camargo is a psychologist based in New York City and maintains a private practice in Manhattan. His work is heavily influenced by psychoanalytic and attachment theories. In addition, he provides psychedelic harm reduction and integration, helping clients prepare for psychedelic experiences, incorporate insights or cope with challenges post-experience.
Expand the items below to review further details about the program.
Cost & Scholarship
Program Fee: $7450 USD, payable in 12 monthly instalments.
The Program Fee includes Certificate Program enrollment, online classroom and discussion board, individual mentoring meetings, monthly program meetings, Integration Essentials, the Psychedelic Integration Experiential Practice Retreat, one Reading and Study Group elective, one Clinical Consultation Group, the Access and Inclusion in Psychedelic Therapy webinar series, optional program offerings (see below for more details), and final Certification Review which must be within 1 year. Fees for any travel, lodging, meals at retreat programs are not included. At the Program Director’s discretion, if you have taken some of required courses no more than 18 months prior to enrollment you may be granted a corresponding discount and not required to retake the course.
Application Process
Please note that Fluence’s foundational workshop, Psychedelic Integration: Premise & Promise is a prerequisite for applying to this program.
The certificate program begins with an application. The application includes basic information about the applicant, their professional background, and existing experience. It also includes opportunities for applicants to present their intentions for joining the program, their values, goals, and aspirations. Applications are submitted online with a $100 application fee. The application fee covers review of the application and is non-refundable. The application will be reviewed by the Fluence Certificate Program Administrator and Program Director. The Program Director and another staff member will interview the applicant.
The Program Director will review and come to a decision on the approval and admission of the applicant within 4 weeks of receipt. Additional Fluence training team members may be consulted for input during this process, and any team members’ existing relationship with the applicant may be taken into consideration. Once a decision has been reached the program administrator will provide the applicant with an acceptance, deferral, or refusal letter.
Upcoming Deadlines & Start Dates
Cohort 23E Application Deadline: 4/26/23 Program Start Date: 5/3/23 Program End Date: March 2024
Cohort 23F Application Deadline: 4/26/23 Program Start Date: 5/3/23 Program End Date: March 2024
Cohort 23G Application Deadline: TBD Program Start Date: September/October 2023 Program End Date: June 2024
Certification Review
When the trainee has completed all of the courses and mentoring sessions with satisfactory evaluations, they are to submit a formal Certification Review request. Review process will include feedback from the mentor and all Fluence trainers who have had interactions with the Trainee. Upon the Program Director’s determination that program learning objectives, knowledge, competencies, and experience have been successfully met, the Certificate will be issued.
Optional Courses
In addition to the core Learning Components, Certificate Program students may select additional Course Electives to bring their total number of study hours to 150. These options currently include: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Psychedelic Therapists, the Fluence Book Club, Psychotherapeutic Touch.
Program Meetings
All currently enrolled certificate program trainees are invited to attend a monthly online program meeting. The meeting will be conducted by the Program Director. The meeting’s purpose is a general discussion of topics relevant to the trainees and for community building among the trainees. Attendance is not mandatory (due to potential schedule conflicts), but is highly encouraged.
Graduate Expectations
Fluence Postgraduate Certificate programs are structured around three domains of competency necessary for PAT practice. These domains include:
Knowledge
Skills
Experience
Students will be evaluated on Competencies throughout the training program and will receive summative and formative feedback on these Competencies periodically through program progress reports. By the completion of the Fluence program students will be expected to have met the following performance standards for each of the competencies.
Knowledge:
The graduate will:
Number
Knowledge Competency Description
K.1
Demonstrate knowledge of how to evaluate and conceptualize a patient’s relationship to ketamine and the relationship between the patient’s experience with ketamine and their presenting problem or concerns;
K.2
Demonstrate knowledge of how to embed preparation for ketamine experiences and integration of ketamine experiences into the existing course of psychotherapy or treatment plan;
K.3
Demonstrate knowledge of ketamine’s effects, risks, and the extremely varied ways it can be used in treatment;
K.4
Know (in their own therapeutic orientation) how to understand (make meaning of) and work with experiences that may be neutral, positive, challenging, traumatic, and ranging from under- to overwhelming intensity that can occur with ketamine;
K.5
Identify and respect a range of motivations patients bring to their ketamine experiences while screening and identifying appropriate patients for ketamine administration;
K.6
Recognize common signs clinical danger that may be related to ketamine treatment, and be prepared to consult with other professionals and provide crisis intervention;
K.7
Demonstrate knowledge of transference reactions, both those commonly seen in non-psychedelic-assisted treatment, and also those unique to psychedelic work;
K.8
Demonstrate knowledge of how to recognize countertransference reactions, how to use them creatively when possible, and seek consultation when difficulties arise;
K.9
Demonstrate working knowledge of the legal aspects of ketamine administration in the US and all local laws and regulations.
Skills:
The graduate will:
Number
Skill Competencies Description
S.1
Establish and maintain a therapeutic alliance as well as skillfully manage termination and referral process for ketamine assisted therapy (KAP) patients;
S.2
Recognizing both verbal and non-verbal communication as they relate to KAP;
S.3
Maintain boundaries and confidentiality, as required by their licensing board as these relate to KAP;
S.4
Understand and integrate a broad range of treatment modalities as these relate the patient’s care;
S.5
Identify and understand the range of psychological reactions to psychedelic experiences as these relate to the patient’s care;
S.6
Provide psychoeducation regarding ketamine;
S.7
Demonstrate respect for wisdom traditions (indigenous and alternative treatments) that may be part of the patient’s experience.
S.8
Possess an ability to access higher meanings, values, and abiding purposes, and to integrate these in living richer and more creative lives, with respect to themselves and their patients.
S.9
Maintaining self-care and identifying need for expanded work in self-care domains, with respect to themselves and their patients.
S.10
Monitor themselves in clinical work at all times.
S.11
Accurately represent themselves and their professional services, including KAP, to the public in ways that are aligned with all applicable laws and regulations.
S.12
Provide professional services, including KAP, to the public in ways that are aligned with all applicable laws and regulations.
Experience:
The graduate will:
Number
Experience Competencies
E.1
Integrate program lessons into plans to conduct their own KAP services.
E.2
Apply program lessons to NOSC work with peers and/or clients
E.3
Demonstrate applied understanding of the relationship between their own NOSC work in any form, setting, and origin—including non-drug NOSC work as part of the Program—to future work as a KAP Practitioner.
E.4
Have close clinical consultation with Fluence trainers regarding the KAP they have conducted or witnessed with a patient who has undergone KAP
E.5
Have thorough consultation with Fluence trainers regarding their own NOSC work in any form, setting, and origin.
I came to the PHRI program confused about how I could ever integrate psychedelic medicine into my clinical and academic work, but the journey through the classes (especially Dr. Guss!), the wonderful retreats and mentoring has brought me to a useful place of confidence in working with patients around their psychedelic experiences.
My Fluence experience has been deep, rich and broad. It included education, but also connection, inspiration, wisdom, and opportunity. I am grateful for the structure, facilitation, diversity and meaningfulness of the material. My heart is full of love and gratitude for every single person within the Fluence community who has been part of my training. The entire experience has exceeded expectations.
With the many psychedelic training programs emerging, it can be daunting to choose one. I have found the instructors at Fluence warm and welcoming, as well as extremely knowledgeable and passionate about this field. The courses are relevant and practical, providing actionable concepts and skills that be instantly applied in my professional life. I feel supported by the Fluence community and have benefited from the ability to network with others. I am grateful for my experience at Fluence and would not hesitate to choose this program again!
Frequently Asked Questions
All courses are available online except for the Psychedelic Integration Experiential Practice Retreat and Trauma-informed Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Our KAP certificate program also includes an observational practicum, which is in-person (whether locally or with one of Fluence’s Practicum Leaders).
For Postgraduate Certificates (KAP and PHRI): Yes, participants are expected to be independently licensed and able to practice psychotherapy within their scope of practice. Fluence will not review everyone’s scope of practice in their particular jurisdiction. If you are applying we are asking you to inform us of your license. You are responsible for determining that you are practicing within your scope of practice.
For the Psilocybin-assisted Therapy Certificate: No, however program participants are required to have prior training and experience practicing psychotherapy or related health care services in the field of mental health or addiction treatment. Participants may be currently or formerly licensed (retired) psychotherapists, social workers, counselors, or other similar professions.
For the Postgraduate Certificates (KAP and PHRI), most of the courses you take for the certificate program are open to non-certificate students. The Psilocybin program includes Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy: Parts 1 & 2, which are only for program participants.
Psychedelic Integration: Premise and Promise, Understanding Ketamine, Reading and Study Groups, on-demand courses, and our experiential practice retreat programs remain open to both those who are and are not licensed clinicians.
Supervision is a legal term denoting a situation in which a trainee works under a supervisor’s license, usually towards hours for independent licensure. We do not offer supervision. We do offer clinical consultation, which includes elements of supervision, but is intended for providers who are already independently licensed.
Certificate In Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration
