This introductory presentation will cover a wide range of topics to help clinicians understand the potential use and efficacy of PAT, the essential elements and principles of the therapeutic model, as well as risks, contraindications, and limitations. The focus will be on the contribution psychologists and other mental health professionals can provide as part of PAT treatment teams. PAT is a clinical intervention that requires specialized knowledge and training in assessment, working with non-ordinary states of consciousness, trauma-informed treatment, collaboration with other medical and mental health professionals, and understanding the trajectory of healing and recovery in medicine-facilitated psychotherapies.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has recently emerged as an innovative form of psychotherapy that combines the administration of a psychedelic compound (e.g., MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, cannabis, etc.) with psychotherapy, leading to new alliances and creative collaborations between the medical and mental health fields. Integrating pharmacological, psychological, and archetypal, transpersonal, somatic, and experiential elements, PAT represents a new model of psychotherapy. Empirical results, particularly during the past decade, demonstrate that PAT may be able to assist certain clinical populations whose symptoms and psychological concerns have not been responsive to other forms of treatment. This introduction to PAT will help practitioners understand the basic protocols, identify patients who may benefit from PAT, and distinguish between the therapeutic potentials of MDMA and Ketamine -assisted protocols. These talks are not meant as a training in providing these treatments, but rather an introduction to the current research and practices.
4 CE credits are INCLUDED in the price of the ticket for Licensed Therapists.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Discuss screening criteria for patients who may not be appropriate for KAP.
- Describe the three components of the KAP protocol and their place and value in the treatment process: Preparation, Experiential, Integration.
- Describe the history of MDMA assisted psychotherapy research, and differentiate between clinical trials and Expanded Access.
- Describe the currently researched indications for MDMA assisted psychotherapy, and the various therapy models being used.
About the Presenters
Julie D. Megler, NP, is a board certified nurse practitioner in psychiatry and family medicine. She received her Master’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Miami, Florida. After graduating she worked at an emergency room (ER) in Detroit, Michigan. Her ER experience illustrated the gap between medical and psychiatric care, and how the mind/body connection is often ignored. Julie is co-founder of Sage Integrative Health, an integrative mental health and wellness center in Berkeley, CA. Sage Integrative Health strives to weave together allopathic and holistic approaches to health incorporating psychedelic assisted therapy as is legal. She is an approved therapist by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) for their upcoming expanded access program using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment resistant PTSD. Julie has also trained in ketamine assisted therapy with KRIYA Institute, and has completed the Somatic Experiencing trauma training.
Genesee Herzberg, PsyD is a clinical psychologist practicing psychotherapy and ketamine assisted therapy in Berkeley, CA. She is also a co-therapist and assistant trainer for the MAPS MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD program. In 2018, Genesee co-founded Sage Integrative Health, a holistic psychedelic clinic, and a year later she co-founded its sister nonprofit, Sage Institute, a sliding scale psychedelic clinic and internship training center. Genesee co-developed the program ad curriculum and is core faculty for Sage’s ketamine assisted therapy training. Genesee is passionate about making psychedelic medicine accessible to everyone who can benefit. When not wearing one of her many hats in the psychedelic field, Genesee can be found on meandering walks in the Berkeley hills, exploring the far reaches of consciousness, or working on an edited book on psychedelic assisted therapy.
Veronika Gold, LMFT, is Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and co-founder, lead trainer, and consultant at Polaris Insight Center. She specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, transitional, and relationship issues. Veronika is currently a sub-investigator, study therapist, supervisor for the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Phase 2/3 Clinical Trials for treatment-resistant PTSD and assistant trainer in the MAPS MDMA Therapy Training Program. She is as well an EMDR consultant, an EMDR HAP facilitator, a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, an Organic Intelligence Expert, and Realization Process Teacher. Veronika describes herself as an engaging, passionate, dedicated, and innovative psychotherapist. She is deeply committed to personal and professional development and has a regular meditation practice.
Eric Sienknecht, Psy.D., is a Licensed Psychologist, co-founder and lead trainer at Polaris Insight Center and also has a private practice in San Francisco. His areas of specialization include treatment of depression, chronic pain, trauma, and integration of psychedelic experiences. He has undergone training in psychedelic psychotherapy with the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and the Ketamine Training Center (KTC) and currently serves as sub-investigator, study therapist, supervisor, and assistant trainer with the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Phase 2/3 Clinical Trials for treatment resistant PTSD. His professional interests include psychoanalysis, consciousness research, mystical and peak experiences, mindfulness, and studying the synergistic effects of yoga, music, and psychedelics. He writes articles for Chacruna.net and presents regularly at psychedelic conferences on topics such as Preparation of Set and Setting, Music for Psychedelic Sessions, and Ethics of Psychedelic Therapy and Research.
Other Information
The Redwood Psychological Association, a chapter of the California Psychological Association (CPA)*, is an organization for psychologists. We are located in Sonoma County, serving Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties and the Redwood Empire.
*CPA is co-sponsoring this event with the Redwood Psychological Association. The California Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for Psychologists. CPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The BBS also recognizes CPA CE credit for their licenses.
Important Notice: Those who attend the workshop and complete the CPA evaluation form will receive the designated number of continuing education credits. Please note that APA CE rules require that we only give credit to those who attend the entire workshop (for online workshops: video camera must be ON). Those arriving more than 15 minutes after the start time or leaving before the workshop is completed will not receive CE credits.
Refunds will be credited to original payment method (minus fees) up to 1 day prior to event.
For questions or more information regarding this policy, please contact RPA: (707) 595-0490.