As psychedelic-assisted therapy is emerging as a highly effective new form of treatment, there is a need to better understand what types of psychotherapy may lead to the best outcomes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based model of psychological flexibility that has been shown to be effective for a range of mental health problems and clients and is currently practiced in countries around the world. This workshop will focus on the core processes of change described by ACT and discuss how those same processes may be usefully applied to understanding and maximizing benefits from psychedelic experiences. For example, acceptance is a core process that can be helpful in preparing clients for psychedelic experiences, while values and committed action interventions can help inform working with clients in psychedelic integration. Additionally, ACT’s focus on experiential learning, non-pathologizing the human experience, and conceptualizing the role of language in mental health problems all relate well to commonly described features of psychedelic experiences. Participants will also learn about how ACT has already been used to inform several clinical trials on psychedelic-assisted therapy. This workshop will involve the use of lecture, case studies, and break-out rooms involving experiential exercises to practice with content that is introduced.
AUDIENCE
This workshop is aimed at mental health care professionals who are interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe the theory and practice of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy.
- Summarize how the ACT model can be applied to enhancing the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic experiences.
- Explain how the psychological flexibility model can be used to interpret altered states of consciousness catalyzed by psychedelics.
REGISTRATION
Registration is online. Presentations will be recorded and sent to anyone who registers for the event.
SCHOLARSHIPS
We reserve a number of partial scholarships for potential attendees who could not otherwise afford to come. We give particular priority given to those who would add diverse and under represented voices to our field. To submit an application, please click here.
CE CREDITS
Portland Psychology Clinic, Research & Training Center is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Portland Psychotherapy, Clinic, Research & Training Center maintains responsibility for all programs and content.
This workshop grants 3 CE credits for therapists with the purchase of Professionals with CE Certificate ticket and live attendance of the entire workshop. Credit will not be given for only watching the recording.
REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS: We charge a $15 administration fee for cancellations made by participants more than two weeks before the training event. For cancellations within two weeks of the training event, we will refund 50% of the tuition. Alternately, participants may elect to apply 100% of their tuition to a future training event. No refunds will be given after training events.
SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS: Please contact us if you need accommodations to enable you to fully participate in the workshop. We will work with you and do our best to find a way to ensure your participation.
Dr. Brian Pilecki is a clinical psychologist at Portland Psychotherapy that specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, trauma and PTSD, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Brian practices from an orientation based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and has extensive experience in the areas of mindfulness and meditation that he incorporates into therapy with clients. At Portland Psychotherapy, Brian is an active researcher and a study therapist on several clinical trials including the investigation of the use of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of social anxiety disorder and the use of 5-MeO-DMT for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression. He is a consultant and instructor for Fluence, a leading psychedelic training organization where he is involved in training psilocybin facilitators for Oregon’s psilocybin services program, and is a psilocybin facilitator himself. Brian is also a co-founder of Portland Integration Network, a network of professionals offering specialized care related to psychedelics in Oregon. He is also the author of the book ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety and co-host of Altered States of Context, a podcast about psychotherapy and psychedelics.
Temple Morris, LCSW-C, is a co-founder of True North Therapy and 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 Therapist Consultant at Sunstone Therapies, where she provides MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapy to study participants with treatment-resistant PTSD and Major Depression. Recently, she 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 – where she currently serves as board president. 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.