The session will cover the most up-to-date information on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances and the latest findings on their effects on mental health and well-being.
This presentation will discuss the construct of ‘connectedness to self, others and world’, why it is so crucial at this time, and consider how psychedelic therapy can boost it. However, in order for a sense of connectedness to last, we need to nurture the social and environmental container that participants come from and return to after a session. It is not enough to hope that psychedelic medicines will transform our toxic culture, because if we don’t start to build a more compassionate infrastructure, psychedelics could just amplify rather than heal the problems at our collective roots. Psychedelic therapists can play a role in supporting the development of community connectedness: not only is this important for optimizing and safeguarding psychedelic therapy, it will also make it cheaper, and more scalable, sustainable, and regenerative.
As clinicians, we all want to better serve our patients but sadly, mental health outcomes are lackluster at best. As the story of psychedelic-assisted therapy began to circulate, we were excited about the possibilities. Even though the field is rapidly developing, opinions about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy vary as do outcomes. Additionally, there is a lack of standardized protocols and training. This session will explore the world of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the practice of combining psychedelics with therapeutic techniques for healing. We will delve into the history of psychedelic-assisted therapy, its practical applications, and some promising results in using this approach in treating mental health conditions. Ethical considerations and future directions will also be discussed.
In this session, Chantelle Thomas will review ways in which Ketamine and Esketamine are being used to better the outcomes of patients with some of the most devastating mental health conditions, such as addiction, PTSD, and treatment resistant depression. Providing practical tips for the use of Ketamine and Esketamine in clinical practice, including dosing, administration, monitoring, and patient selection. She will teach you how you can help your patients safely and legally access ketamine treatment, as well as prepare for and integrate those treatments into practice by using a psychedelic-assisted therapy framework.
Dan Rome will cover the important issue of how to make psychedelic medicine readily accessible and affordable to all who can benefit from it.
A theoretical seminar that will discuss the burgeoning field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Including a somatic focus in this work-as well as recognizing the importance of therapists, guides, and sitters being prepared for the possible emergence of trauma-will be discussed. The presenters will report some of their own observations, including reflections on their work supporting the integration of psychedelic experiences with their clients. They will detail how to ground expanded states of consciousness in the body and support access to the here-and-now through the felt sense. Experiential exercises useful for the preparation and integration phases of this work will be introduced for attendees.
This presentation will discuss the updates and uses of various psychedelics for addiction treatment and examine how and why they show promise in this field. It will also highlight the objectives, methodologies, and preliminary findings of various research studies on the use of psychedelics in addiction treatment.
Take a deep dive with a lineup of experts who will explore with you the current state of psychedelic agents; Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ibogaine.
This session will look at the mechanism through which psychedelics exert their effects, including intriguing updates on non-5HT2A mechanisms of action via the TrkB receptor agonism, and psychological mechanisms via induction of oceanic boundlessness, awe enhancement, enhanced spiritual and societal and nature connections, improved cognitive reappraisal, and improvement in experimental avoidance.
This panel discussion will highlight the different missions, resources, and programs available from the Psychedelic Medicine Association (PMA), American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA), and California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and how they all fit into the larger framework of establishing safeguards for the integration of psychedelic medicine into the mainstream medical world. The PMA helps expand practitioner knowledge and awareness of psychedelics and helps practitioners feel more comfortable and confident discussing psychedelic therapies with patients and referring patients to those therapies, while APPA is working to make sure there are safe and regulated places for practitioners to refer patients that are interested and good candidates for this type of treatment. CIIS provides training opportunities for both licensed medical prescribers or therapists and facilitators who are not licensed but who may do this work legally per state law.
An update on The Oregon Psilocybin Services Act (M109) since the completion of the development phase for the implementation of M109 on December 31, 2022, and began accepting applications for licensure on January 2, 2023. Highlighting the past year of licensing manufacturers, laboratories, service centers, and facilitators, with a focus on shifting from a drug policy framework rooted in the 'War on Drugs' to a health policy approach that holds promise for transformational healing and wellness. Also discussing implementation challenges, considerations for centering equity, access, and affordability, and potential impacts to patients seeking licensure or access to psilocybin services. Wrapping up, with how this work aligns with the Oregon Health Authority's goal to eliminate health inequities and is part of broader efforts to advance collective public health goals.
The introduction of psychedelic assisted therapies (PAT) marks one of the most significant changes in available treatments for our patients. While much research has been conducted to get the treatments through the FDA, there is much that is still not known and will need to be considered when determining how to use these treatments. Complicating matters are the cultural and policy issues around psychedelics such as decriminalization and recreational use that may already be impacting our patients. This session, led by two expert researchers in the field, will attempt to disentangle these issues and prepare clinicians to thoughtfully deploy these treatments.