Live Webinar September 12 - Introduction to Psychedelic Assisted Therapy for CBT Clinicians with Dr. Brian Pilecki

Friday, September 12, 2025

1:00 PM- 2:30 PM Eastern/ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Central/ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Mountain/ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Pacific/ 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Alaska/8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Hawaii

1.5 CE Credits Awarded

$15 Student ABCT Members / $25 ABCT Members / $35 Non-Members

Intermediate level

All prices listed in US currency

Abstract:

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is showing promise as a highly effective form of mental health treatment and appears poised to become a major new form of mental health care moving forward. This workshop will provide CBT professionals with an evidence-based overview of this new clinical area and provide examples of how CBT can be integrated into PAT. Evidence from rigorous clinical trials will be summarized. The basic model of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy will be described with an emphasis on highlighting the importance of CBT-informed preparation and integration in obtaining therapeutic benefits from a psychedelic experience. The current legal status of psychedelics will be reviewed, including recent state level initiatives toward legal psychedelic service access. Diversity and equity issues will be reviewed including lack of access for underserved and non-majority populations and the risks of cultural appropriation involved in modern psychedelic science.  At the end of the workshop, recommendations will be provided on obtaining further training for those who want to learn more. This workshop will help clinicians understand the current state of psychedelic science, as well as to have more informed and evidence-based conversations with clients about psychedelics and their potential risks and benefits, legal status, and timeline for public accessibility as well as understand how CBT can be utilized in the context of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. 

Presenter Biography:

Brian Pilecki, Ph.D., is the Clinical Services Manager and an Associate Scientist at the Portland Institute of Psychedelic Science, a subsidiary of Portland Psychotherapy Therapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center. He is an active researcher and a study therapist on several clinical trials including the investigation of the use of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of social anxiety disorder. Brian is also an instructor for Fluence, a leading psychedelic training organization where he provides training to psilocybin facilitators in Oregon or to study therapists in clinical trials across the country. He is founder of Entropia and provides psilocybin facilitation to individuals and groups in the state of Oregon, and is co-founder of Perspective Retreats which offers group psilocybin retreats in the Netherlands. Brian is a co-founder of Portland Integration Network, a network of professionals offering specialized care related to psychedelics in Oregon. He is also the author of the book ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety and co-host of Altered States of Context, a podcast about psychotherapy and psychedelics. 

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this workshop, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the theory and practice of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

2. Identify at least one clinical application of psychedelic-assisted therapy with the most empirical support.

3. Discuss the current legal status of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy at a state and federal level.

4. Describe at least one CBT intervention that can be utilized in preparation for and integration of psychedelic experiences.

Recommended Readings:

Watts, R., & Luoma, J. B. (2020). The use of the psychological flexibility model to support psychedelic assisted therapy. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 15, 92-102. 

Luoma, J. B., Sabucedo, P., Eriksson, J., Gates, N., & Pilecki, B. C. (2019). Toward a contextual psychedelic-assisted therapy: perspectives from acceptance and commitment therapy and contextual behavioral science. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 14, 136-145. 

Williams, M. T., & Labate, B. C. (2020). Diversity, equity, and access in psychedelic medicine. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 4(1), 1-3. 

Yaden, D. B., Earp, D., Graziosi, M., Friedman-Wheeler, D., Luoma, J. B., & Johnson, M. W. (2022). Psychedelics and psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral approaches as default. Frontiers in psychology, 1604.Leger, R. F., & Unterwald, E. M. (2022). Assessing the effects of methodological differences on outcomes in the use of psychedelics in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 36(1), 20-30. 

Luoma, J. B., Chwyl, C., Bathje, G. J., Davis, A. K., & Lancelotta, R. (2020). A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 52(4), 289–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/027910... 

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All attendees will receive a certificate of completion when the course requirements are satisfied. Certificate of completion is included in the cost of the webinar

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For more information, contact:

Rachel Greeman, ABCT Web Manager
212-647-1890 ext. 208
rgreeman@abct.org

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