Readings

Reading Resources for Training Attendees

Welcome to our curated list of readings designed to support your journey in becoming a psychedelic therapist. These resources have been carefully selected to provide a comprehensive foundation and to deepen your understanding of the field. We have organized the list into three sections to help you navigate through the materials based on their importance and your interest level:

  1. Essential Readings: These texts are fundamental to your training and provide crucial knowledge that will be referenced throughout your coursework. Completing these readings is necessary to grasp the core concepts and principles of psychedelic therapy.

  2. Recommended Readings: These books and articles will enhance your understanding and provide broader context and depth to the essential materials. While not mandatory, they are highly encouraged to give you a more rounded perspective.

  3. Further Exploration: For those who wish to delve deeper into specific topics or explore advanced concepts, this section offers additional resources. These readings are ideal for expanding your expertise and staying current with the latest developments in the field.

We hope you find these resources valuable and engaging as you progress through your training and beyond. Happy reading!

Essential Readings

Bright, S., & Williams, M. (2018). Should Australian psychology consider enhancing psychotherapeutic interventions with psychedelic drugs? A call for research. Australian Psychologist, 53(6), 467-476.

Carhart-Harris, R., Giribaldi, B., Watts, R., Baker-Jones, M., Murphy-Beiner, A., Murphy, R., Martell, J., Blemings, A., Erritzoe, D., & Nutt, D. J. (2021). Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. The New England Journal of Medicine, 384 (SUPP) https://www.nejm.org/doi/suppl/10.1056/NEJMoa2032994/suppl_file/nejmoa2032994_protocol.pdf

Guss, J., Krause, R., & Sloshower, J. (2020). The Yale manual for psilocybin-assisted therapy of depression (using acceptance and commitment therapy as a therapeutic frame)   https://psyarxiv.com/u6v9y/download/?format=pdf

Levin, A. W., Lancelotta, R., Sepeda, N. D., Gukasyan, N., Nayak, S., Wagener, T. L., Barrett, F. S., Griffiths, R. R., & Davis, A. K. (2024). The therapeutic alliance between study participants and intervention facilitators is associated with acute effects and clinical outcomes in a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial for major depressive disorder. PloS one, 19(3), e0300501. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300501

Mithoefer, M. C. (2015). A Manual for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder https://maps.org/research-archive/mdma/MDMA-Assisted-Psychotherapy-Treatment-Manual-Version7-19Aug15-FINAL.pdf  

Watts, R. (2021). Psilocybin for depression: The ACE model manual   https://psyarxiv.com/5x2bu/download

Williams, M. L., Korevaar, D., Harvey, R., Fitzgerald, P. B., Liknaitzky, P., O'Carroll, S., Puspanathan, P., Ross, M., Strauss, N., & Bennett-Levy, J. (2021). Translating Psychedelic Therapies From Clinical Trials to Community Clinics: Building Bridges and Addressing Potential Challenges Ahead. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.737738

Recommended Readings

Carhart-Harris, R., Giribaldi, B., Watts, R., Baker-Jones, M., Murphy-Beiner, A., Murphy, R., Martell, J., Blemings, A., Erritzoe, D., & Nutt, D. J. (2021). Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. The New England Journal of Medicine, 384(15), 1402-1411. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032994

Greń, J., Gorman, I., Ruban, A., Tylš, F., Bhatt, S., & Aixalà, M. (2023). Call for evidence-based psychedelic integration. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000684

Mitchell, J. M., Ot'alora G, M., van der Kolk, B., Shannon, S., Bogenschutz, M., Gelfand, Y., Paleos, C., Nicholas, C. R., Quevedo, S., Balliett, B., Hamilton, S., Mithoefer, M., Kleiman, S., Parker-Guilbert, K., Tzarfaty, K., Harrison, C., de Boer, A., Doblin, R., Yazar-Klosinski, B., & Group, M. S. C. (2023). MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nature Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02565-4

Phelps, J. (2017). Developing guidelines and competencies for the training of psychedelic therapists. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 57(5), 450-487.

Meling, D., Ehrenkranz, R., Nayak, S. M., Aicher, H. D., Funk, X., van Elk, M., Graziosi M., Bauer, P.R., Scheidegger M. & Yaden D. B. Mind the Psychedelic Hype: Characterizing the Risks and Benefits of Psychedelics for Depression. Psychoactives. 2024; 3(2):215-234. https://doi.org/10.3390/psychoactives3020014

Peill, J., Marguilho, M., Erritzoe, D., et al. Psychedelics and the ‘inner healer’: Myth or mechanism? Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2024;38(5):417-424. doi:10.1177/02698811241239206

Further Exploration

Thal, S., Bright, S., Sharbanee, J., Wenge, T., & Skeffington, P. (2021). Current Perspective on the Therapeutic Preset for Substance-Assisted Psychotherapy. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.617224

Thal, S. B., Wieberneit, M., Sharbanee, J. M., Skeffington, P. M., Baker, P., Bruno, R., Wenge, T., & Bright, S. J. (2022). Therapeutic (sub)stance: current practice and therapeutic conduct in preparatory sessions in substance-assisted psychotherapy-a systematized review. Journal of Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811221127954

Thal, S. B., Wieberneit, M., Sharbanee, J. M., Skeffington, P. M., Baker, P., Bruno, R., & Bright, S. J. (2023). Dosing and therapeutic conduct in administration sessions in substance-assisted psychotherapy – a systematized review, Journal of Humanistic Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678231168516

Thal, S. B., Wieberneit, M., Sharbanee, J. M., Skeffington, P. M., Baker, P., Bruno, R., & Bright, S. J. (2023). Therapeutic Frameworks in Integration Sessions in Substance-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematized Review. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2945

van Elk, M., & Fried, E. I. (2023). History repeating: Guidelines to address common problems in psychedelic science. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 13, 20451253231198466. (Full text).

Lett, S. (2024). Psychedelics and Music: Listening for Liberation. MAPS Bulletin: Volume XXXIV Number 1.