Psychedelic Liberation Training

Become a Steward of Sacred Activism

In order to create an equitable future, we must all be fluent in the language of collective liberation. In this 10-week training program, current and aspiring psychedelic therapists and facilitators will learn how to decolonize themselves and their practice to become stewards of collective liberation. Leaning on ancestral and contemporary teachings, we guide practitioners through a process of sacred learning and activism.

Program Curriculum

  • We cannot work towards collective liberation if we are not have a collective conversation. In this first session PLT Founder + Lead Trainer, Charlotte James, will provide a foundational discussion on psychedelic assisted-care and embodied decolonization.

  • In this session, Hanifa Washington focuses on the revolutionary act of sacred listening. She shares the practice of 'Heart Listening' and gives space for students to engage this practice in breakout groups.

  • In this session, Tony ‘Butterfly’ Pham, a heritage Buddhist practitioner and psychedelic facilitator, offers a Dharma talk on the role of self-compassion in sacred activism, community care, and the psychedelic liberation movement. They also offer a guided meditation on leading with and centering compassion as a necessary tool for decolonization.

  • Led by Therapist, Researcher, and PLT Lead Trainer Sara Reed, this session opens our series on affinity group care with a deep dive on how to center Blackness in psychedelic work. Sara will also share about what it means to provide culturally responsible care in clinical psychedelic work.

  • Founder of Gender Illumination, Ariel Vegosen and returning speaker, Tony ‘Butterfly’ Pham, share about their experience navigating psychedelic spaces as Queer facilitators, and practices they have developed to support their Queer clients and communities when engaging with psychedelic care.

  • Aaron Orsini, founder of Autism on Acid, leads this powerful and practical session on how we can accomodate diverse needs in virtual and in-person psychedelic work. Aaron has facilitated hundreds of virtual integration circles for Neurodivergent folks and allies, and support his community with accessible in-person educational gatherings as well.

  • What is the state of the psychedelic Union? And what steps can you take to reasonably empower yourself and your communities when engaging with work that falls in the gray. This session, facilitated by founding members of the Psychedelic Bar Association Ismael Ali, Robert ‘Roman’ Haferd, and Ariel Clark, is designed specifically to support practitioners dedicated to working within the values of collective liberation in clinical and community based psychedelic spaces.

  • Charlotte James and Sara Reed come together to co-teach this session on holonic preparation of clients, communities, and self as facilitator. This is a practical session aimed at providing tools that support communal comfort with and exploration of the unknown.

  • The purpose of working with psychedelics for healing within a liberatory framework is not to focus on fixing what is broken, but on expanding our capacity to make room for wholeness on a personal and collective level. This session will focus on how we rescue the essence of non-duality in psychedelic decolonization work, as well as practical tools for integration.

  • Our closing session, also led by Charlotte and Sara, welcomes an exploration of our unique roles in the psychedelic resurgence. We use this last live class together to tie up any loose ends and to turn our gaze towards the future, making commitments towards our ongoing journey of personal and collective decolonization.

What will it take for the psychedelic community to truly become an intersectional, interconnected movement?

It will take individuals committed to becoming sacred activists for our collective liberation. Is that you?

This course will provide a context for intersectional social justice work within the psychedelic space and build a foundation for you to work with Sacred Earth Medicines and other healing modalities to decolonize yourself and your work.

We’ve collaborated with speakers ranging from psychotherapists and community organizers to Shamanic healers to explore how you can safely, and respectfully support diverse communities in this work. You will learn practical tips on integrating anti-oppression work into your practice, your work, and your everyday life.

Meet your Lead Trainers:

  • Charlotte James

    FOUNDER

  • Sara Reed

    Program Co-Leader

Our Guest Practitioners:

  • Hanifa Washington

    Co-Founder of Fireside Project and One Village Healing

  • Tony 'Butterfly' Pham

    Meditation Teacher

  • Ismael Ali, J.D

    Director of Policy and Advocacy at MAPS | Founding Board Member of the Psychedelic Board Association

  • Robert “Roman” Haferd

    Board Member of Psychedelic Medicine Coalition | Founding Board Member of the Psychedelic Bar Association |Restorative Justice Coordinator

  • Aaron Orsini

    Founder of Autism on Acid

Our Program Values

  • We know that collective liberation is catalyzed by collective participation

  • We seek to understand and to be understood

  • We are open to feelings of discomfort in the learning and liberation process

  • We value decolonization education as part of psychedelic harm-reduction

  • We are committed to the personal decolonization process as the first step in collective liberation

  • We respect the sacredness of all life

PLT MODEL

Our training weaves together the following four areas of academia and embodied, ancestral practice to deliver curriculum based in evidence and balanced by Spirit:

  • Transpersonal psychology is a field of psychology that focuses on the study of transcendent or spiritual aspects of the human experience. It extends beyond an individual's personal identity and explores the interconnectedness between individuals, nature, and the cosmos. This theory emphasizes the significance of spiritual growth, self-discovery, and the development of an individual's higher potential. It seeks to integrate spiritual wisdom and practices with modern psychological understanding, aiming to promote holistic well-being and a deeper understanding of the human experience. Transpersonal psychology acknowledges the importance of altered states of consciousness, such as meditation, mindfulness, and mystical experiences, in fostering personal growth and transformation. By recognizing the spiritual dimensions of human existence, transpersonal psychology offers a comprehensive approach to understanding human behavior and consciousness, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit.

  • Entheogenic shamanism is a spiritual practice that involves the ceremonial use of psychoactive substances to induce altered states of consciousness, often for healing, spiritual exploration, and personal transformation. This ancient practice is rooted in various indigenous cultures, where shamanic practitioners use plant-based substances, such as ayahuasca, peyote, or psilocybin mushrooms, to facilitate transcendent experiences and connect with the spiritual realm. Entheogenic or psychedelic shamanism is believed to offer profound insights into the nature of existence, consciousness, and the interconnectedness of all life. It is often seen as a tool for psychological healing, self-discovery, and the exploration of one's innermost being. In contemporary research, the study of these substances has gained traction for their potential therapeutic benefits, particularly in the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The exploration of entheogenic or psychedelic shamanism continues to shed light on the intersection of spirituality, consciousness, and psychological well-being. Unfortunately, the role that indigenous wisdom keepers have played in protecting and advancing this knowledge is frequently overlooked or erased in the psychedelic resurgence, and in mainstream PAT training programs.

  • Liberation psychology is a framework within psychology that focuses on the understanding and dismantling of oppressive power structures and systems, aiming to promote social justice and liberation. This theory emphasizes the importance of examining how societal, political, and economic factors contribute to the oppression of marginalized and disadvantaged groups, and how this impacts the experience of mental health for these marginalized groups. Liberation psychology seeks to empower individuals and communities to challenge and resist systemic forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, classism, and other forms of discrimination as an act of healing and collective wellbeing. It advocates for the development of interventions and strategies that foster collective empowerment, critical consciousness, and community mobilization. By addressing the socials roots causes of mental health, liberation psychology aims to promote equitable access to resources, opportunities, and rights, ultimately moving us closer towards collective liberation.

  • Decolonization is a critical theoretical framework and a political and social movement that seeks to dismantle colonial structures, ideologies, and practices that continue to perpetuate systems of oppression and marginalization. At its core, decolonization challenges the dominance of colonial powers and aims to restore autonomy, sovereignty, and self-determination to colonized peoples and communities. This multifaceted process involves reclaiming cultural identities, revitalizing indigenous knowledge systems, and fostering inclusive and equitable governance structures. Decolonization recognizes the importance of addressing historical injustices, promoting the recognition of indigenous rights, and revitalizing marginalized languages and cultural practices. It also emphasizes the need for equitable distribution of resources, including land, education, and healthcare, to redress historical inequalities. By acknowledging and rectifying the enduring legacies of colonialism, decolonization contributes to fostering a more just and inclusive society, ultimately promoting social, cultural, and economic empowerment for marginalized communities.

Faq

    • impacts of systemic oppression and drug policy on oppressed communities

    • ethical care in psychedelic practice

    • intergenerational and epigenetic trauma

    • decolonizing yourself + your practice

    • spiritual and emotional bypassing

    • culturally responsible care in clinical and ceremonial settings

    • sacred activism for collective liberation

    • considerations for working with oppressed individuals and communities

    • challenges and solutions for accessibility

    • what to do when you've caused harm

    • how to sustain yourself through liberatory work

    • holonic preparation and integration

    • + much more

    • 20 hours of live and recorded lectures, learning exercises, and embodied practices

    • weekly discussion questions and resources

    • access to private practitioner community

    • access to the Psychedelic Anti-Racism Workbook, and 60-minute webinar on using ketamine to treat racial trauma

  • One of the unique and powerful benefits of participating in PLT is that our cohorts act as a meeting place for folks working in diverse realms of the psychedelic resurgence. We welcome clinicians, underground practitioners and ceremonialists, legacy and lineage practitioners, policy makers, community leaders, and entrepreneurs. As long as you are dedicated to you personal decolonization process, and the co-creation of Collective Liberation, you are welcome to register for PLT.

    You do not need to have any clinical designation or prior certificate to participate in this program. You do not need to have any prior knowledge of psychedelics in a ceremonial or therapeutic context. Personal experience with Sacred Earth Medicines or other consciousness expanding modalities is encouraged but not required.

  • Live classes for Cohort 5 will be held Tuesday October 1st, 2024 through Tuesday December 3rd, 2024 on Tuesdays from 12-2PM EST on Zoom.

    All classes are recorded and uploaded within 24 hours of the live class.

  • Requirements for receiving a PLT Certificate of Completion:

    • Attend a minimum of 7 lives sessions, and watch remaining recordings (tracked by learning platform)

      • *we recommend attending as many live sessions as possible!

    • Engagement with self:

      • 4 individual activities and contemplative integration questions

    • Engagement with community:

      • 4 group questions - requires meeting with your small learning group

      • Comment on a minimum of one other student’s individual activity responses on the learning platform

    • Complete final project. This can include a written or creative project demonstrating how you plan to carry this learning forward into your communities

  • Early-bird pricing is available until August 1st, 2024: $1295

    Regular pricing: $1395

    4-Part Payment Plan: $370(x4)

  • We award 2 scholarships per cohort. To apply to be considered for a PLT scholarship, please fill out the application HERE.

    *Please note we have a high volume of applications are consider new applications on a rolling basis. You may not hear back from us immediately, but we have received your application.

Download our Free Informational Webinar!

Learn about our training ethos, curriculum, and frequently asked questions about the program! This session is led by PLT's founder and lead trainer, Charlotte Duerr James.

Ready to get started on your journey to stewardship?