FULL – Analytic Explorations in Psychedelic Therapy | Winter 2023

Faculty

Course Description

Learning Objectives

• Analyze prior dynamic concepts of the psyche, consciousness, and the process of psychotherapeutic transformation with DIED.
• Compare and contrast the concept of “connection” as described in the psychedelic-assisted therapy literature with the psychoanalytic concepts of attachment, object-relatedness, and transference.
• Apply the core elements of subjective change identified in psilocybin-assisted therapy for cancer-related existential distress to concepts in psychoanalytic theory and practice.
• Discuss the psychoanalytic perspective on the “reduction in defensiveness” commonly reported as an effect of psychedelic therapy.
• Apply Winnicott’s concept of transitional phenomena to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
• Describe how a transitional space can support the psychedelic-assisted therapist’s approach to working with drug-induced non-ordinary experience.
• Describe how Donnell Stern’s concept of “partners in thought” applies to the psychoanalytic and psychedelic processes.
• Discuss the pros and cons of using eyeshades, music, headphones, and the couch in psychedelic-assisted therapy from a psychoanalytic framework.
• Explain how “implicit relational knowing” and “moments of meeting” may be experienced in psychedelic therapy.
• Describe what is meant by “native healing intelligence” and “inner healer” in contemporary psychedelic therapy.
• Explain how these concepts are utilized in Randomized Clinical Trials using psychedelic-assisted or MDMA-assisted therapy.
• Analyze the components of “flight instructions” commonly used in contemporary psychedelic-assisted therapy with the explicit goals and unconscious effects of these instructions.
• Discuss how these concepts contrast with psychoanalytic approaches to psychedelic therapy.
• Compare ethical guidelines for the use of touch in recent psychedelic-assisted therapy trials to guidelines in psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy.
• Describe the many meanings of physical touch and emotional touch.
• Discuss the implications on transference and countertransference from the use of touch.
• Compare shamanic models of psychedelic healing to “flight Instructions.”

Perks

• Registration includes access to our online classroom, course handouts, and private course discussion board. All attendees may opt to be added to our professional community email list of about 1,000 professionals who have completed this (or similar) courses with us.