In this article, we explore the variety of online programs available for mental health providers to become educated and earn certifications in psychedelic-assisted therapy. In the coming years, we are bound to see many opportunities arise for trained therapists to learn new tools and gain new hope for patients suffering from various mental health conditions.
If you’re a therapist wondering if you can offer psychedelic-assisted therapy to your clients today, the answer is both yes and no. There are numerous psychedelic psychotherapy training programs in place already, such as IPI, Vital, and Psychedelic Support. There are also those who train mental healthcare providers to become psychedelic-assisted therapists. In the coming years, there will be many opportunities for trained therapists within this field. Such opportunities will offer new hope for patients suffering from various mental health conditions.
Within this article, we break down:
- Today’s legal landscape for psychedelic-assisted therapy
- Current and future opportunities available to trained psychedelic-assisted psychotherapists
- How to begin and further your training as a psychedelic-assisted therapist
- Specific training programs with certifications in psychedelic-assisted therapy to advance your education and scope of practice
Can I Be a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist Today?
FDA-approved clinical trials for MDMA as a treatment for PTSD have been happening for over a decade. Recently, however, the FDA requested an additional phase 3 trial by Lykos Therapeutics in August 2024. Currently, MDMA and psilocybin are the only psychedelic substances to make it this far in the FDA process. Two Phase 3 trials of MDMA generated positive results for patients who have chronic PTSD. We also expect that psilocybin will become FDA-approved for depression in 2026. Indeed, it was already granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA in 2018 as a therapeutic adjunct for treatment-resistant depression and in 2019 for major depressive disorder.
If and when these substances make it through the FDA approval process, there will be a need for thousands of trained therapists and other types of facilitators to assist patients in their psychedelic journey of healing. Of course, only once legal by prescription in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy,
Expanding Opportunities for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
As the demand increases for therapists trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy, opportunities for those therapists will also increase, as will the number of psychedelic psychotherapy training programs.
Currently, MDMA and psilocybin hang in the wings, awaiting FDA approval. In the mean time, ketamine clinics treating patients with depression are legal and fully operational across the United States. In addition to the potential for integration therapy following the administration of ketamine, there is a need for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP).
KAP is a novel approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy that has shown promise for treating major depressive disorder and many other mental health conditions. During KAP, the therapist administers low to moderate doses of ketamine to the patient to lower inhibitions and facilitate deeper psychotherapy.
In the coming years, there will be an increasing number of opportunities for psychedelic-assisted therapists in the following contexts:
- Clinical trials
- Legal US-based clinics administering MDMA and psilocybin
- Ketamine clinics
- Harm reduction and integration therapy for clients
Where Do I Find a Psychedelic Psychotherapy Training Program in Order to Become Certified?
There are numerous training programs currently available (and likely more to crop in the future) that offer certifications in psychedelic-assisted therapy to mental health professionals interested in practicing psychedelic-assisted therapy. The trick is finding a reputable program that will provide you with the necessary tools and adequate training, such as the Integrative Psychiatry Institute’s (IPI) Year-Long Online Training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Vital’s comprehensive 12-Month Training on Integrative Psychedelic Studies for practitioners and professionals from Psychedelics Today.
Online Psychedelic Psychotherapy Training: Ongoing Education & Certification
Alternatively, Psychedelic Support offers online training & education for therapists interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy across various psychedelic substances and topics.
For the busy professional, Psychedelic Support offers the ability to learn online and follow your own timeline while receiving high-quality education from respected thought leaders in the field. This approach allows you to deepen your knowledge with evidence-based learning while earning your continuing education (CE and CME) credits.
By participating in these engaging, self-paced courses and training programs, you will gain the education needed to:
- Answer questions from clients about safety and effectiveness
- Become familiar with psychedelic therapeutic approaches
- Understand clinical trial outcomes and best practices
- Deliver psychedelic-assisted therapies in your practice
Below is a selection of Psychedelic Support’s online, self-paced courses and partners’ training programs for certifications in psychedelic-assisted therapy:
Certificate Training Program – IPI Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Training
If you are a health practitioner ready to get certified to deliver psychedelic medicines, the Integrative Psychiatry Institute offers a year-long training program entirely online! A world-class faculty teaches the IPI training program and covers everything you need in order to treat clients is taught by a world-class faculty and covers everything you need to know in order to treat your clients with ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA.
The 200-hour program includes online modules, virtual intensives with expert faculty, online lectures, small group sessions, and optional experiential training in Boulder, CO (ketamine) or Oregon (psilocybin). The program provides up to 80 hours of CE credits and is open to mental health and medical professionals; the program offers up to 80 hours of continuing education (CE).
Schedule a call to learn more about IPI’s Certificate Training Program.
Certificate Training Program – Vital’s Training in Integrative Psychedelic Studies
The Vital program, offered by Psychedelics Today, is a comprehensive 12-month training designed for a wide range of professionals, including medical specialists, therapists, coaches, and holistic practitioners. This program helps practitioners integrate psychedelic-assisted therapy into their practice through a well-rounded and engaging curriculum.
Vital combines live webinars, study groups, and immersive experiential retreats to deliver a balanced approach to learning. With a focus on both academic theory and practical application, students benefit from insights shared by over 30 industry leaders. The program covers everything from the history and science of psychedelics to ethical practices and harm reduction, providing the tools necessary to support clients safely and effectively.
Upon completion, participants receive a Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Integration, enabling them to incorporate psychedelic therapies into their practice. The program also offers tuition discounts and scholarships to ensure accessibility for a diverse range of professionals.
Find out more and apply here for Vital’s Certificate Training Program.
Online Course – Ketamine Assisted Therapy Training for Clinicians
If you’re a mental health provider interested in ketamine, learn the principles and procedures of ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP). In this 40-hour KAP Training program, you’ll acquire the skills necessary to administer ketamine in combination with psychotherapy in a clinical setting. The curriculum is live-taught online by experienced practitioners of ketamine and MDMA protocols. You can also learn more about ketamine in our substance guide.
In Module 1, you will receive an introduction to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. In Modules 2–5, you’ll participate in intermediate workshops on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. The 40-hour course is live-taught by experienced faculty from Polaris Insight Center.
Online Workshop – Advanced Topics in Ketamine and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
If you’re a mental health provider, learn the advanced topics related to KAP and incorporate the tools and practices offered in this program into your practice. These training modules integrate diverse clinical theories, traditions, and philosophies, offering participants a wide-angle lens on the evolving field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
This 2-day workshop builds off the previous Ketamine Assisted Therapy Training for Clinicians and includes Modules 6 and Module 7, which are advanced workshops taught live online by Polaris Insight Center. There’s no requirement that you complete any courses before taking this one if you already have some understanding of ketamine-assisted therapy.
Online Workshop – Ketamine Rainfall Medical Module
If you’re a mental healthcare provider, this course will help you become well-versed in the medical topics and safety issues around ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Steve Rosonke, MD, an ER and addiction medicine physician, leads the live online workshop. Joining him is Leanne Lopez, BSN, RN, who works within an integrative therapy office providing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
This learning workshop focuses on the medical, pharmacologic, and neuroscience considerations to safely and confidently operate a ketamine clinic performing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Online Course – Ketamine: Therapeutic Applications, Clinical Research, and Neural Mechanisms
If you’re a mental health provider, researcher, or just interested in understanding the science and therapeutic approaches to ketamine, this self-paced course is a great primer. This online course offers access to over 200 reviewed publications and interviews with leading experts, making it educational and engaging.
In Module 1, you’ll learn about ketamine pharmacology, its effects, and safety. In Module 2, you’ll learn ketamine clinical applications and therapeutic approaches. Anyone can take this course! Great price, too.
To earn CE/CME credits, you’ll choose the Continuing Education (CE/CME) option for:
- 5 hours of continuing education (CE/CME) credits
- CME Certificate (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™) for doctors, nurses, medical professionals, etc.
- CE Certificate for licensed professionals, including psychologists, therapists, social workers, etc.
Online Course – Understanding Psilocybin: Effects, Neurobiology, and Therapeutic Approaches
This course is perfect for health professionals, guides, or researchers interested in gaining insight into the science and therapies behind psilocybin (the main psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms), a plant-based medicine used to treat mental health conditions. You can also learn more about psilocybin in our substance guide.
This online course provides a comprehensive summary of the pharmacology and effects of psilocybin, how it works in the brain, and why people can have mystical experiences and sensory-perceptual shifts. Become knowledgeable on clinical protocols, safety and efficacy results, study participant accounts, and potential risks in both medical and non-medical settings. Anyone can take this course!
To earn CME credits, you’ll choose the Continuing Medical Education (CME) option for:
- 9 hours of continuing education (CE/CME) credits
- CE Certificate for licensed professionals, including psychologists, therapists, social workers, etc.
- CME Certificate (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™) for doctors, nurses, medical professionals, etc.
Online Course – Foundations in MDMA Safety, Therapeutic Applications, & Research
This course is perfect for mental health professionals interested in gaining insight into the science and therapies behind MDMA, currently used to clinically treat PTSD and other mood disorders. You can also learn more about MDMA in our substance guide.
This course covers the safety and risks of MDMA in both medical and non-medical settings. (Note that you might have heard of MDMA by the number Ecstasy, which usually refers to an impure version of the substance.) Designed by leading MDMA researchers and therapists, this course will educate you on information gleaned from evidence-based research and observations from therapists who administered MDMA in conjunction with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in clinical trials. This self-paced course is available to everyone!
To earn CE/CME credits, you’ll choose the Continuing Education (CE/CME) option for:
- 6 hours of continuing education (CE/CME) credits
- CE Certificate for licensed professionals, including psychologists, therapists, social workers, etc.
- CME Certificate (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™) for doctors, nurses, medical professionals, etc.
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