Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Theory & Methodology

This course is the core component of the Postgraduate Certificate in Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy. The hybrid format includes self-paced learning materials–videos, readings, and assignments–and weekly live-online meetings with trainers for discussion, role plays, case discussions, and Q&A time. Small cohorts of live-online groups provide space for relationship and community building and low student to trainer ratios.

Educational materials for this course have been created and compiled by Dr. Ingmar Gorman, Dr. Elizabeth Nielson, Jeffrey Guss, MD, and Casey Paleos, MD. Between them, these researchers and clinicians have extensive experience in 10 clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy and private practice KAP, clinical work in preparation and integration of ketamine experiences, and training clinicians in psychedelic therapy–both for research trials and private practice settings. Live-online discussion and role play cohorts are led by experienced Fluence Trainers who are knowledgeable of the material and specially trained in Fluence’s experiential training methodology.

Enrollment in this course is available Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy Certificate Program Participants and KAP practitioners in the general community by application only.

A limited number of Diversity Fund scholarships are available, please complete this application, in addition to the course application.

• Describe the history and theory behind drug-assisted psychotherapy.
• Compare drug-assisted psychotherapy from other psychotherapeutic approaches.
• List the ethical standards of drug-assisted psychotherapy and informed consent shared with patients for clinical trial research and private practice.
• Describe how integration sessions are designed and implemented in clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
• List common knowledge gaps patients may have about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and appropriate knowledge resources.
• Describe the proposed psychological mechanisms of ketamine’s role in psychotherapy.
• Explain ketamine’s proposed mechanisms of action with regard to neuroscience-based narratives.
• Explain how ketamine’s proposed mechanisms of action and neuroscience-based narratives inform clinical processes and practices.
• Demonstrate how to prepare patients to safely receive ketamine-assisted psychotherapy so that they benefit from the experience in ways suitable to their life situation, diagnosis, and intentions.
• Demonstrate how to prepare patients to engage with the experience safely and meaningfully by cultivating attitudes of openness and curiosity toward their experience.
• List a variety of methods to integrate the ketamine experience with patients that align with the practitioner’s existing therapeutic model and the patient’s treatment history.
• Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the arc of treatment and nonlinear change.
• Describe the wider sociocultural context of drug-assisted psychotherapy, including the stigma and judgment related to drug-assisted psychotherapy that may be experienced by patient and/or practitioner.