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Evaluation ViewAttendees 8

Traditional Workshop - Ticketed

Transdiagnostic

Workshop 6 - An Introduction to Psychedelic Assisted Therapy for CBT Clinicians

Friday, November 17, 2023
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM PST
Location: 405 (Kachess), Level 4
Earn 3 Credit
Ticketed Session
Keywords: Transdiagnostic, Evidence-Based Practice, Treatment
Level of Familiarity: Basic
Recommended Readings: Watts, R., & Luoma, J. B. (2020). The use of the psychological flexibility model to support psychedelic assisted therapy. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 15, 92-102.,   Luoma, J. B., Sabucedo, P., Eriksson, J., Gates, N., & Pilecki, B. C. (2019). Toward a contextual psychedelic-assisted therapy: perspectives from acceptance and commitment therapy and contextual behavioral science. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 14, 136-145.,   Williams, M. T., & Labate, B. C. (2020). Diversity, equity, and access in psychedelic medicine. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 4(1), 1-3.,   Yaden, D. B., Earp, D., Graziosi, M., Friedman-Wheeler, D., Luoma, J. B., & Johnson, M. W. (2022). Psychedelics and psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral approaches as default. Frontiers in psychology, 1604.Leger, R. F., & Unterwald, E. M. (2022). Assessing the effects of methodological differences on outcomes in the use of psychedelics in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 36(1), 20-30.,   Luoma, J. B., Chwyl, C., Bathje, G. J., Davis, A. K., & Lancelotta, R. (2020). A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 52(4), 289–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2020.1769878
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is showing promise as a highly effective form of mental health treatment and appears poised to become a major new form of mental health care moving forward. Patients participating in psychedelic-assisted therapy often relate that their sessions were among the most meaningful experiences in their life, often rating them similarly to events like the birth of a first child or getting married. Thus, these interventions don‘t just reduce suffering, they appear to increase meaning-making, fulfillment, and positive mental health. This workshop, led by presenters currently running clinical trials of this type of therapy, will provide CBT professionals with an evidence-based overview of this new clinical area. Differences between the most common psychedelics will be outlined and results from the most recent and rigorous clinical trials will be summarized. The basic model of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy using ACT and CBT models will be explained with an emphasis on highlighting the importance of preparation and integration in obtaining therapeutic benefits from a psychedelic experience. Mechanisms of change will be discussed, including intriguing findings suggesting that psychedelic-assisted therapy may functions more through increasing positive functioning, meaning, self-transcendence, flexibility, interpersonal engagement, and fulfillment rather than directly reducing symptoms. The current legal status of psychedelics will be reviewed, including recent state level initiatives toward legal psychedelic service access. Diversity and equity issues will be reviewed including lack of access for underserved and non-majority populations and the risks of cultural appropriation involved in modern psychedelic science. We will also provide recommendations on obtaining further training for those who want to learn more. This workshop will help clinicians understand the current state of psychedelic science, as well as to have more informed and evidence-based conversations with clients about psychedelics and their potential risks and benefits, legal status, and timeline for public accessibility.

Outline:

I. Introduction
A. Presentation of the significance and promise of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a new form of mental health treatment
II. Psychedelic Substances
A. Outline of the differences between common psychedelics
B. Review of the most recent and rigorous clinical trial results
III. The Basic Model of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
A. Overview of the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) models in psychedelic-assisted therapy
B. Emphasis on the crucial role of preparation and integration for therapeutic benefits
IV. Mechanisms of Change in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
A. Discussion on neuroscience models of change
B. Discussion of psychological models of change with focus on psychological flexibility
V. Legal Status of Psychedelics
A. Overview of the current federal and state-level legal status
B. Discussion on recent initiatives toward legal psychedelic service access
VI. Diversity and Equity in Psychedelic Science and Practice
A. Review of current problems related to diversity and equity in psychedelic science
B. Examination of the risks of cultural appropriation in modern psychedelic science
VII. Further Training
A. Recommendations on obtaining additional training for interested professionals

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
  • Describe the theory and practice of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy.
  • Summarize research findings and identify the clinical applications with the most empirical support.
  • Discuss the current legal status of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy at a state and federal level.
  • Describe the role of CBT in preparation for and integration of psychedelic experiences.
  • List at least 3 current problems in the literature relating to diversity and equity in psychedelic science and practice.
  • Outline the differences between common psychedelics being studied.
  • Provide recommendations on obtaining further training for interested professionals.
  • Long term goal:Attendees should be able to critically analyze and articulate the current state of research on psychedelic-assisted therapy, including an understanding of the common psychedelics, their therapeutic mechanisms, and the empirical support behind their use. This knowledge should enable participants to engage in informed, evidence-based conversations about psychedelic-assisted therapy, its potential risks, benefits, and legal implications both within their professional circles and with their clients.