An Introduction to the Use of Psychedelics in Mental Health Treatment

An Introduction to the Use of Psychedelics in Mental Health Treatment

October 13, 2023

9:00am – 4:00pm CT

In-person only

6 CEUs

After a two-decade moratorium on psychedelic research in the United States, new studies on psychedelic assisted psychotherapy have shown promising results in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and the betterment of well people. In the past three years, numerous cities have voted to decriminalize some psychedelics, and the state of Oregon is working on a legal framework for psilocybin therapy centers which will open in 2023.

Psychedelic use is becoming more common and many of our clients have had or will have a psychedelic experience. Whether or not one has interest in the potential use of these medications as a catalyst for the psychotherapy process, being familiar with and having a framework for psychedelic experience will help us make meaning of these experiences with our clients.

This workshop will briefly cover the history of the use of psychedelics in mental health treatment, some psychological and neuroscientific theories around how these treatments work, and a look at what mental health professionals need to know about the current research. In the afternoon, we will take a more focused look at Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, which is currently the only legal psychedelic treatment available in Illinois.

At the conclusion of this workshop participants will be able to:

1. Describe psychedelic assisted psychotherapy in contrast to other psychopharmacological treatments.

2. Describe the history of psychedelic use in mental health treatment.

3. Explain how psychedelics are currently being used in research studies to treat various mental health disorders.

4. Compare multiple theories of therapeutic action in psychedelic research.

5. Understand current models of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Kevin Barrett (he/his) received his master’s degree from the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. He is in private practice in Chicago, IL and a lecturer at the Crown Family School. Kevin was an APsaA Teachers’ Academy Fellow in 2020, and is a Clinical Associate Faculty Member at the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis. He teaches at the SoundMind Institute’s psychedelic facilitator training program and has published on the use of psychedelics in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Jordan Dobrowski (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider with experience providing psychotherapy to youth and adults in both English and Spanish. She received her Master’s in Social Work with certificates in Trauma-Informed Care and Culturally Responsive Mental Healthcare for Immigrant Families from the University of Chicago in 2018. Jordan has also completed special training in crisis intervention, trauma-focused therapies (EMDR, IFS), suicide postvention, eating disorders, and technology usage as it relates to mental health. She teaches with Naropa University and the Integrative Psychiatry Institute in their psychedelic clinical training programs. She is the founder of Willow & Leaf Counseling, and the executive director for Kaleidoscope Psychedelics – an organization working to improve psychedelic therapy access for BIPOC, queer, and neurodivergent folks in Chicago.