Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) represents a class of treatments that combine certain psychoactive drugs (e.g., psilocybin, LSD, MDMA) with a specialised program of psychotherapy. Research in the mid 20th century, and again over the past two decades, suggests this class of treatments could have substantial community impact, with results showing promising safety and efficacy for a range of different mental health and addiction conditions, including depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and substance use disorders.

This course will be delivered by world-leading national and international educators, researchers and experienced practitioners, in live teaching sessions. Students will learn about the therapeutic methods and evidence from clinical psychedelic research, explore case studies with experienced PAT practitioners, and hear first-hand experiences of PAT from clinical trial participants. Students will be introduced to the stages of PAT, approaches to screening and safety monitoring, ethical practice, and key considerations at the intersection of pharmacology, altered states of consciousness, and mental illness. Students will learn about psychedelic and psychedelic-like compounds, models of care, patient groups, and therapist training, and explore controversies and debates in the field. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and reflective activities, students will develop a broad understanding of the rapidly developing clinical psychedelic field.

This exciting new course is developed and delivered by the nation-leading Clinical Psychedelic Lab within the Dept of Psychiatry at Monash University. It features flexible, engaging, and convenient delivery with a mixture of live and asynchronous options, depending on student preference. No prior familiarity with psychedelic science or therapies is required, and yet even those working in the field will have the opportunity to gain fresh insights and learn from leading educators, covering both well-established and emerging areas of PAT. This short course is for people with any interest in clinical psychedelics, including those wanting to pursue a path in psychedelic therapies. This course does not train people in how to deliver psychedelic treatments, and is aimed at a wide range of students.

You may also be interested in the following short course: Psychedelic Science: Fundamentals to Frontiers

For more information about our research and education offerings, please visit http://monash.edu/psychedelic-education or write to psychedelic-edu-PG@monash.edu  

Please note: on its own, this short course does not comprise sufficient training for learners to work as psychedelic therapists, but may contribute to such training. The Clinical Psychedelic Lab plans to develop and deliver further clinical training programs, including a planned Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies (GCPT). Please note, the short courses listed above would be micro-credentialed to the planned GCPT, should the GCPT be delivered.

Location: Online
Launch Date: Semester 2 (July) 2025
Duration: 12 weeks