A growing number of clinical studies indicates that the therapeutic use of altered states of consciousness can be a promising addition to existing treatment options in mental health care. In Psychedelic-Augmented Psychotherapy,altered states of consciousness are purposefully induced to promote psychotherapeutic processes. As we explain here, Augmented Psychotherapy includes the following components:
Integration-Focused Psychotherapy helps patients draw therapeutic benefits from psychedelic experiences that have taken place (or will take place) outside of the therapy setting while also minimizing potential harms.
The APT program takes a transtheoretical approach that understands and conceptualizes psychotherapeutic processes from an integrative perspective. No specific psychotherapeutic orientation or school is emphasized over others.
Empirical psychotherapy research has identified a number of common factors that are thought to underlie the effectiveness of all psychotherapies. Following this view, the distinct methods used in different schools of psychotherapy are thought to harness the same or similar therapeutic mechanisms. One conceptualization of common factors that seems particularly useful for psychedelic therapy are the general change mechanisms of psychotherapy proposed by the psychotherapy researcher Klaus Grawe:
In our experience, the common factors perspective allows for productive discussions across different psychotherapeutic schools and traditions. It is also immensely helpful for understanding and making optimal use of the therapeutic potential of altered states of consciousness. The common factors perspective is therefore strongly emphasized in the APT program.
We teach a broad scope of methods to induce altered states of consciousness: Pharmacological methods include classical psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, etc.) and atypical psychedelics (ketamine). Non-pharmacological methods include breathwork, guided imagery, music, and stroboscopic light. The self-experience curriculum in APT currently includes ketamine as well as all of the non-pharmacological methods mentioned above.
The APT program covers all essential aspects of Psychedelic-Augmented Psychotherapy and Integration-Focused Psychotherapy. Hands-on practice, role-play, and case work are central elements of the program. Self-experience with altered states is also an integral part. The theoretical frameworks provided are discussed in connection with their clinical relevance and interlinked with experiential exercises.
Small-group online mentoring sessions (4-6 participants each) led by experienced therapists are an integral part of the APT program. Mentoring sessions focus on case discussions and include elements of clinical supervision. Participants are encouraged to use mentoring sessions to discuss current treatment cases.
The APT program includes of a total of 3 intensive training weeks in Berlin, Germany, and continuous online training sessions (lectures, journal club, mentoring sessions, and meditation training). Online sessions take place weekly on Thursdays (19:30 CET/CEST).
The program also includes the on-demand course Molecules that participants can attend in their own time. Participation in the integration workshop Beyond Experience is also required. If you have completed Molecules and/or Beyond Experience before enrolling in APT, you will be granted a corresponding discount on the tuition. Learn more about teaching contents and learning formats in APT here.
The three intensive training weeks take place on-site in Berlin, Germany. Since the intensive trainings involve experiential contents such as role-play, exercises, and self-experience with altered states (ketamine, breathwork, etc.), it is not possible to attend these trainings remotely.
If you miss an on-site training (e.g., due to illness), you will be allowed to attend the event with the next APT course.
To become certified, participants are required to attend a minimum of 80% of the program.
The price you have already paid for Molecules will be discounted from your tuition fee for APT.
Each APT course includes a maximum of 32 participants. During the training, the group will often split up into subgroups for self-experience, mentoring sessions, role-play, groups discussions etc.
Information about the tuition fee is provided here.
No, participants are required to take care of their own accommodation and meals.
CME credits have been granted for the programs Molecules (37 credits) and Beyond Experience (39 credits), which APT participants are required to complete.
After successfully completing the APT Program, participants are awarded a certificate in Psychedelic Therapy (Integration-Focused and Psychedelic-Augmented Psychotherapy). Depending on their professional background, certified professionals are qualified to work independently and lead multiprofessional teams providing psychedelic therapy, or to work in such multiprofessional teams under the supervision of a medical doctor with training in psychotherapy or a licensed psychotherapist. The certificate covers breathwork-, ketamine-, and psychedelic-augmented psychotherapy. However, the certificate does not legally entitle you to work with medications or other pharmacological substances. This authorization is acquired through country- and region-specific approbations and is subject to corresponding legal regulations. We strictly require all APT participants to comply with the legal regulations applicable at their respective place of work.
The APT program teaches therapists to purposefully induce altered states of consciousness to promote psychotherapeutic processes. We teach different methods for inducing altered states of consciousness. Some of these methods are completely free to be used, and others are legally regulated. While non-pharmacological methods are at your disposal wherever you practice, ketamine-augmented psychotherapy is available to medical doctors in most jurisdictions. In most countries, the use of classical psychedelics such as psilocybin is still restricted to clinical studies and (in some counties) to so-called “compassionate use” licenses. However, with the imminent approval of several psychedelic substances, the legal situation in many countries is likely to change substantially in the next years.
We explicitly do not train therapists who work illegally in the underground, but professionals who adhere to the given legal frameworks.
