Overview

The APS hosts this webinar with the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rescheduled two psychedelic medicines in 2023, meaning these medicines can now be prescribed by approved psychiatrist prescribers as part of a comprehensive psychotherapy program.

Psychologists and health professionals may now encounter individuals who have been, or intend to access, legal psychedelic assisted therapy in the community as well as research settings. This webinar provides an introduction to what MDMA and psilocybin assisted therapy is (and is not), the models of psychotherapy that accompany the psychedelic sessions, proposed mechanisms and how these therapies differ from usual psychological approaches. We will explore who is and is not likely to be eligible and suitable to participate in clinical trials and community psychedelic assisted therapy clinics, and the role of psychologists and multidisciplinary health professionals supporting those in the integration process after treatment.

The session will explore the potential risks and benefits of these emerging therapies, including how to support clients who have experienced challenging psychedelic experiences, and the many questions for further research.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

This webinar will be recorded. Access to the recording and presenter slides is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this webinar, participants should be able to:

• describe psychedelic assisted therapy and its accessibility in Australia,

• recognise for whom psychedelic assisted therapy may be suitable or unsafe for, and the potential benefits and risks of these therapies, and

• support clients after they have participated in psychedelic assisted therapy.

Presenter(s)

Monica Schweickle MAPS

About the presenter(s)

Monica Schweickle is a Clinical Psychologist and Director of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Programs for Monarch Mental Health Group, and is a psychedelic assisted therapist working on clinical trials at University of Sydney and Australian National University. She established the one of the first community-based psychedelic assisted therapy program in Australia and has been practicing psychology since 2006. Monica has a private practice and presently supports people who have experienced trauma, such as veterans and survivors of domestic violence. Monica is an Accredited EMDR practitioner, Level 1 Internal Family Systems trained therapist, and her therapeutic approach draws on EMDR, psychodynamic, IFS and somatic perspectives. She is a yoga and meditation practitioner, and a Certified IRest Yoga Nidra teacher. Monica is passionate about supporting other therapists to do their important work in our community, has been a Psychology Board Approved supervisor since 2011 and enjoys providing supervision, training and mentoring to diverse mental health professionals; such as counsellors, lived experience peer workers, medical and allied health professionals including provisional and registered psychologists and those with conditions imposed on their registration by the Psychology Board. Monica is also a non-executive board director for a housing and support service for women and children escaping domestic violence in Newcastle.

Notes

This webinar is not, in and of itself, sufficient to provide psychedelic-assisted therapies.