introduction to assisted psychedelic therapy

INTRODUCTION TO ASSISTED PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY

Psychedelic-assisted therapy uses a combination of psychotherapy and the controlled and supervised administration of psychedelic substances. It treats disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments resulting from an individualistic and crisis-ridden society.

This course is designed to provide a general introduction to psychedelic-assisted therapy, its theoretical and practical foundations, as well as the risks and benefits associated with the use of these substances in the therapeutic context. It is relevant to anyone interested in the field and no previous experience in therapy or psychedelics is required.

Research on psychedelic-assisted therapy has grown significantly in recent decades, especially in the context of the renaissance of psychedelic research in medicine. Advances in research indicate that they will soon be available for healing in therapeutic settings. When we speak of psychedelic substances we refer to both master plants and synthetic ones such as MDMA, Lsd, ketamine.

PROGRAM

By participating in this module, students will have access to a better understanding of these topics.

FACILITATORS

Joseph Maria Fabregas

A doctor specializing in psychiatry, he boasts over 40 years of experience and comprehensive training across various domains within the field. An authority in areas such as drug addiction, alcoholism, compulsive gambling, and personality disorders, among others. He is the founder and director of the Center for Research and Treatment of Addictions (CITA) in Catalonia and the Institute of Applied Amazonian Ethnopsychology (IDEAA) in Brazil. Right from the outset, he has stood as a national and international benchmark for addressing these challenging conditions.

Pablo Friedlander

Expert in the Convergence Between Traditional Wisdom and New Ecological Paradigms in Science, he holds a background in Ethnobotany and Humanities. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and a Master’s degree in Anthropology, History, and Aesthetics from the University of Barcelona, as well as a Bachelor’s degree specialized in Greek Philology from the National University of La Plata in Argentina. With a robust track record as a consultant for the Beckley Foundation in Oxford since 2012, as well as President of the Biospheric Activities Foundation in Argentina since 2008 and Director of the Treeangle Foundation in the United Kingdom since 2013, he has led ecological restoration projects and intercultural programs. His membership in the Institute of Ecotechnics in the United States since 2007 reflects his dedication to ecological innovation.His passion for bridging ancestral knowledge with modern approaches is evident in his role as a coordinator of restoration projects and a leader in research and development initiatives. His experience and commitment make him a bridge between traditional wisdom and contemporary challenges, fostering a balanced and conscious approach for a sustainable future..

Jose Carlos Bouso

José Carlos Bouso is a Clinical Psychologist and a Doctor in Pharmacology. He conducted his scientific work at the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Biomedical Research Institute IIB-Sant Pau in Barcelona, and the Hospital del Mar Institute of Medical Research in Barcelona (IMIM). During this time, he conducted studies on the therapeutic effects of MDMA (“ecstasy”) and psychopharmacological studies on the acute and long-term neuropsychiatric effects of various substances, both synthetic and plant-derived. As the Scientific Director of ICEERS, José Carlos coordinates studies on the potential benefits of psychoactive plants, primarily cannabis, ayahuasca, and ibogaine, with the aim of improving public health. He is a co-author of numerous scientific articles and several book chapters. He is also a member of the Center for Research in Medical Anthropology (MARC) at the Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, a visiting professor in the mental health program at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, and the vice president of the Clinical Endocannabinology Society (SEC).

Karina Bertolotto

She is a psychologist with a Master in Humanistic Psychotherapy from the Erich Fromm Institute in Barcelona. Currently, she teaches at the University of Barcelona in the Psychotherapy area of the Master in Music Therapy. She is also a professional member of Eurotas, the European Association of Transpersonal Psychology. Her training includes Claudio Naranjo’s Integrative Psychology program, having been involved since 2007 in Claudio Naranjo’s SAT. For five years, she had the responsibility of organizing this program in various places such as California, Canada, Brazil, China and Uruguay.Beyond her training in psychology, she is also an artist and writer. Her passion for comparative mysticism has led her to be a curious traveler, enriching herself with meaningful and transformative experiences during long stays in different countries.Founder and CEO of BMed Global Academy.

Galia Tanay

Dr. Galia Tanay is a student of various ancient paths and a teacher on the path of freedom. Galia spent many years in the deep practice of traditional Buddhism and has been teaching intensive meditation retreats for the past decade. Galia is a certified yoga teacher who teaches yoga therapy and emphasizes the body in all mindfulness practices. For the past 14 years Galia had been working intensively with psychedelics, mainly ayahuasca and psilocybe mushrooms, deepening and learning personally, while accompanying others on these journeys. She has a PhD in psychology and for many years has worked with suffering individuals, as well as taught and trained therapists in academic and non-academic programs. Galia is a vocal artist and writer who believes that freedom is an art form and creativity is necessary to come home to our being.

Oscar Soto

Óscar Soto Angona is a psychiatrist, researcher and therapist. Graduated in Medicine from the University of Valladolid, he specialized in Psychiatry at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, where he has also developed research and clinical activity in the Resistant Depression Program. Doctoral candidate at the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, his interest is focused on the phenomenology of altered states of consciousness induced by psychedelics, and their therapeutic utility. He has been or is a sub-investigator or therapist in several clinical trials with psychedelics, including esketamine, psilocybin, MDMA, and 5MeoDMT. He is president and founder of the Spanish Society of Psychedelic Medicine.