Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and ACT: Considerations and Opportunities for Clinical Social Workers

 

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/iJlnhNGsT0azquIxwOo66A

 
Presenters: Temple Morris, LCSW-C & Miranda Morris, PhD

Audience: Micro and macro social workers in all settings and any level of CBS/ACT knowledge

Overview: As psychedelic medicines move toward mainstream therapeutic use, clinical social workers trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) are uniquely positioned to contribute to this emerging field. This presentation explores the natural alignment between ACT's psychological flexibility model and the therapeutic process of psychedelic-assisted therapy, while highlighting how social workers' distinct training in systems thinking, cultural competency, and accessibility can help shape this treatment modality. Participants will gain an understanding of current psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols, including the preparation, dosing, and integration phases, and learn why ACT practitioners are particularly well-suited to this work. We will examine the present legal landscape across different jurisdictions and discuss various pathways for professional development. This workshop addresses both the practical and ethical considerations for social workers interested in expanding their practice to include psychedelic-assisted therapy, emphasizing the profession's vital role in ensuring these promising treatments become accessible to diverse populations.

Learning outcomes:
1. Describe how ACT principles align with psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols
2. Apply social work competencies to psychedelic-assisted therapy delivery
3. Navigate legal and professional pathways in psychedelic-assisted therapy practice

About the presenters: 

Temple Morris, LCSW-C, is a co-founder of True North Therapy & Training, a group dedicated to sharing contextual behavioral therapies with clients, practitioners, and the broader community. As a therapist, her primary modalities are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration therapy (PHRI) – models in which she provides clinical supervision and consultation. In addition to her private practice, Temple is a Consultant Therapist at Sunstone Therapies, where she provides MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapy to study participants with treatment-resistant PTSD and Major Depression. She is also a co-founder of Perspective Retreats – a team of therapists and researchers offering ACT-informed psychedelic preparation, guidance, and integration through retreats designed to train professionals from the inside out in supporting psychedelic experiences safely and effectively. Recently, Temple helped co-found Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Healing (PATH) – a not for profit group working to make legal psychedelic therapy available and affordable to all. She also serves as co-chair of the board of the ACBS Psychedelic Special Interest Group, where she co-leads monthly ACT-informed PHRI peer consultation groups.

Miranda Morris, PhD, is a psychologist in Bethesda, MD. She is a Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer, and she conducts regular workshops in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and related therapies including Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) and basic Relational Frame Theory (RFT).  She has served as the President of the Association for Contextual Behavior Science (the primary organization of the ACT community) and is an active member of the Mid Atlantic Chapter of ACBS Chapter and their ACT Carolinas affiliate.  In her paid-work life, she is the Co-founder of True North Therapy and Training, a group dedicated to sharing contextual behavioral therapies with clients, practitioners, and the broader community.