Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: Neglected Clinical Complexities

Clinicians encounter a wide range of complex clinical challenges in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP). While many of these arise in other forms of treatment, longer sessions with dramatically lowered defenses and the frequent arising of transpersonal, spiritual, and other novel experiences require clinicians to broaden their skillsets and relational capacities. 

In addition to providing an update to progress in the field, our 5th conference will explore a wide range of these challenges, including potential adverse effects of PAP, how to identify and work with our own metaphysical assumptions, and how to understand and respond to novel experiences. 

The program will include multiple case studies and clinical vignettes designed to illuminate the nuances of PAP for both newcomers and veteran therapists alike. If you would like to join the exploration and gain confidence in addressing these and other often neglected facets of the work, please join us in February 2026, either in person or online. We look forward to meeting you or seeing you again!

Learning Objectives

• Articulate the basic structure and core principles of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP).
• List the most commonly used medicines in PAP and their current applications.
• Review the current evidence base for the efficacy of PAP for various conditions.
• Explain how clinicians can improve the patient experience by fully exploring the emotions of grief and awe in PAP sessions.
• Summarize common metaphysical interpretations of the PAP experience, and techniques to respectfully acknowledge these in client sessions.
• Identify opportunities to effectively integrate spiritual, existential, religious, and theological domains in PAP.
• Describe Western vs. Indigenous approaches to understanding and working with non-ordinary states of consciousness.
• List several potential harms that can occur with PAP, and how therapists can minimize them.
• Discuss benefits and challenges of working within a multidisciplinary PAP team.
• Name categories of somatic experiences common in PAP.
• Describe the foundations and aspects of the non-directive approach as a framework for working with participants through psilocybin sessions, and pragmatic advantages of this approach when working with OCD.
• Articulate effective ways that clinicians can address neglected complexities of the clinical encounter in PAP..

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Medical Knowledge
• Professionalism
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

• Provide Patient-Centered Care
• Employ Evidence-Based Practice

Questions?

Please contact the Continuing Education Programs with any questions by email at ceprograms@hms.harvard.edu.

Marni Chanoff, MD

Founder and CEO, Joy In Health
Clinical Associate, McLean Hospital
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part-time, Harvard Medical School 

Terence Ching, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine 

Rheinila Fernandes, MD

Psychiatrist in Private Practice, Embodied Mind Medicine

Daniel Grossman, MA

Fifth-year doctoral candidate in Medical/Clinical Psychology, University of Alabama Birmingham

Daan Keiman, MA

Educational Lead ADEPT, Open Foundation; Psychedelic and Buddhist Chaplain, Heart-Head Healing 

Roman Palitsky, MDiv, PhD

Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
Director of Research Projects in Spiritual Health, Emory University

Sergio Pérez Rosal, MD

Adjunct Professor, Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies, University of Ottawa
Research Associate, Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines

Anne Vallely, PhD

Associate Professor, Classics and Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa
Founding Member, Academy of Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies
Member of the Board, Learning Committee, LIFE Research Institute; Member of the Board, Mahatma Gandhi Peace Council of Ottawa

Course Directors

Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD

Faculty, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance
Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Part-time Harvard Medical School
Faculty, Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy

Jim Hopper, PhD

Consultant, Outpatient Addictions Service, Cambridge Health Alliance
Teaching Associate in Psychiatry, Part-time Harvard Medical School
Psychotherapist in Private Practice

Laura Warren, MD

Psychiatry Faculty Member, Cambridge Health Alliance
Faculty and Mentor, CHA Center for Mindfulness and Compassion
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part-time, Harvard Medical School
Member, Board of Advisors, Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy

Monnica Williams, PhD

Canada Research Chair for Mental Health Disparities, Director of the Laboratory for Culture and Mental Health Disparities and Associate Professor, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada
Clinical Director, Behavioral Wellness Clinic, LLC

Karen Kuc, MPH

Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance​​​
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 13.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Psychologists

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 13.25 continuing education credits.

Social Workers

This program has been approved for a total of 13.00 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approval Program Authorization Number D-10663. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 13.00 contact hours.

Counselors

Cambridge Health Alliance is an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 13.25 continuing education hours, and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 13.25 credits. 

Canadian Accreditation

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

European Accreditation

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present and sign in on both days to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.