I wanted to let you know that the registration link for my summer course is posted now on the Southwestern College website:
Emerging Trends in Psychopharmacology: Ethical use of Psychedelics and Other Substances used to treat addiction (AAR 5800-2)
July 22-23, 2023, 9-6:30, Zoom online, 16 Continuing Education Credits (counts for Ethics CE requirements)
https://www.swc.edu/applying-to-certificate-specialty-programs/upcoming-cec-classes
This course will provide participants with an overview of the history, science and current ethical perspectives on psychedelic compounds used in the treatment of addiction. Ethical considerations regarding therapeutic application and intervention models and assessing problematic versus therapeutic use of substances will also be explored. Students will be invited to examine internalized cultural messaging and bias at a micro level, while engaging in critical analysis of the effects of the “War on Drugs” on policy, research, treatment, and popular opinion at the macro level. New research and therapeutic models involving psilocybin, ketamine and ibogaine as substances showing the potential to successfully treat opioid, methamphetamine, tobacco, alcohol, and other additions will be explored.
The Psychedelic Studies continuing education program that I will teach at Southwestern College starting in Summer 2023 and ongoing, will offer one weekend course every quarter, over a 1.5 year timeframe.. The entire schedule will be posted very soon (end of June or early July). The next course will be Sept 30-Oct 1 and will about the pioneers in the history of psychedelics (indigenous origins to current cutting-edge research), legalization/policy & activism—with a theme of examining our cultural constructs and understandings of psychedelics (such as myths/biases we may hold for/against psychedelics for instance). Courses may be taken asynchronously and each will qualify for 16 CEU credits (and most will count towards the ethics requirements). Students can elect to get a Psychedelic Studies Program Certificate, which they could use in their profession indicate that they are educated about psychedelics, to clients and for other professional opportunities. One must complete 6 weekend modules to earn a certificate. The program structure will include didactic and ample opportunity to discuss the complex issues that are arising in the emerging landscape of psychedelics. One of my key learning objectives is to encourage critical thinking, self-reflection, accountability, ethics, and informed consent—these will be prominent threads that will run through each of the courses, as I believe that a well-informed public and professional community is the best defense against harm.
I hope to draw a mix of professionals in the community join the course so that discussions are rich and exploratory! Please forward this message to other psychotherapists (psychologists, counselors, social workers), MDs, psychiatrists, nurses/nurse practitioners, public health advocates, legislative folks, and regular folks in the community who are curious about these topics.
