MEDITATION AND PSYCHOTHERAPY:

The induction or exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness has played an important role in psychotherapy since its inception. For example, dreams, hypnotic trance, free association, and breath regulation, as well as meditation practices like mindfulness, have all been successfully applied in clinical settings to access and integrate challenging emotional experiences that cause psychological disorders. Recently, pharmaceutical psychedelics, such as MDMA, psilocybin and ketamine, are being used in FDA-approved trials in the US, and government-sanctioned studies abroad, to enhance psychotherapy for otherwise intractable disorders such as PTSD, depression, and addictions, as well as to ease end-of-life transitions. These developments represent a novel application of psychopharmacology in conjunction with psychotherapy. While traditional psychiatric drugs have typically been used to reduce or suppress neurobiological processes to alleviate psychological symptoms, current applications are designed instead to enhance or expand awareness and thereby facilitate psychotherapeutic change. The role of meditation (focused attention, open monitoring, compassion) in psychotherapy has also grown enormously over the past 15 years. Recent neuroimaging research suggests that mindfulness meditation and psychedelics share common brain mechanisms. Understanding the common and divergent change processes in meditation practices, psychedelic treatment, and other methods of evoking non-ordinary states offers clinicians and researchers an opportunity for deeper understanding of how psychological disorders are created and alleviated. This course will explore the history, science, neurobiology, and ethical and legal issues involved when working with non-ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelics. It is intended for mental health and health practitioners, and others wanting a deeper understanding of non-ordinary states and their therapeutic potential. Multiple learning formats will be used including didactic presentations, panels, case discussions, and Q&A.