April 2026: Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy
As psychedelic-assisted therapies continue to gain visibility, it is important that we build a grounded, ethically informed, and clinically thoughtful understanding of this area, including both its possibilities and its limitations.
This month, we will learn from Mina Samuels and Suzanne Forrester, from Synthesis Institute, who will speak with us about psychedelics in psychotherapy, with a specific focus on psilocybin. This conversation will help us strengthen foundational literacy, consider clinical implications, and reflect on how to approach this topic with nuance, humility, and care. They will additionally talk about training and certification in becoming a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist and any specific implications for Colorado providers under the Natural Medicine Act.
Required Preparation Materials (recommended by Synthesis):
Psychedelic Practitioner Fundamentals (Synthesis, free on-demand course) Please review at least one of the conversations (you are welcome to review more).
Read: General article about the science of psilocybin/neuroplasticity
Read: Psilocybin: A Clinician’s Guide to Pharmacological Interactions (Please note: this article does not mention the impact of GLP-1s.)
Watch: Oprah Talks Psychedelics with Dr. Roland Griffiths
Reflection Questions
What stands out to me most about the current science and clinical discourse around psilocybin?
What questions do I have about safety, scope of practice, and ethical responsibility when clients ask about psychedelics?
How might knowledge of pharmacological interactions impact clinical assessment, screening, or referral conversations?
What assumptions (positive, skeptical, or fearful) do I notice in myself when I think about psychedelics in psychotherapy?
How do I stay grounded in clinical ethics while engaging an emerging and rapidly changing area of practice?
In what ways might this topic intersect with access, privilege, cost, and systemic inequities in mental health care?
Optional Materials (available in your Google Classroom)
IFM Podcast: Psychedelics in Mental Health
Michael Pollan, How to Change Your Mind, Chapter 5: The Neuroscience: Your Brain on Psychedelics
