Learning from Expanded States of Consciousness: Mindfulness, Compassion, and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
Practical insights about the origins of suffering and its alleviation
Overview
Ever since Freud, psychotherapists have worked with non-ordinary or expanded states such as dreams, hypnosis, and free association to understand and heal the heart and mind. In the past decade, mindfulness and compassion practices have become mainstream tools, while more recently, research on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has mushroomed. Psychedelics, often combined with insights from mindfulness and compassion practices, now offer not only possible breakthrough treatments for PTSD, depression, addictions, and end-of-life anxiety but also provide new insights into the nature of psychological distress and mechanisms of healing.
What can clinicians learn from these developments? What can they teach us about the neurobiology of human suffering and flourishing? How can they inform our practice?
This presentation explores ways that expanded states of consciousness can help clients integrate split-off traumatic memories, open their hearts, embrace vulnerability, surrender to the flow of ever-changing experience, move from isolation to deep connection with people and nature, appreciate the unreliable fluidity of thought, and find meaning in everyday moments.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
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Identify the common elements in a wide variety of psychological disorders
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Describe how mindfulness practices work to resolve psychological distress
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Discuss the role of compassion and self-compassion in psychotherapeutic progress
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Discuss the role of transpersonal or “mystical” experience in both mindfulness-informed and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
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Describe practical ways to introduce the transformative elements of mindfulness and compassion-informed, and psychedelic-assisted sessions into other forms of psychotherapy
Curriculum
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Introduction
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Learning from Expanded States of Consciousness
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Conclusion
About this course
- $30.00
- 1.5 hours of video content
Faculty Instructor
Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD
Faculty, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance; Assistant Professor of Psychology (part-time), Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Faculty, Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy
Dr. Ronald D. Siegel is Assistant Professor of Psychology, part time, Harvard Medical School; serves on the Board of Directors and faculty, Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy; is author of The Mindfulness Solution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems, coauthor of Back Sense: A Revolutionary Approach to Halting the Cycle of Chronic Back Pain and Sitting Together: Essential Skills for Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy; co-editor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, 2nd Edition, and author of the new book, The Extraordinary Gift of Being Ordinary: Finding Happiness Right Where You Are.
Continuing Education
Psychologists: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 1.5 continuing education credits.
Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 1.5 contact hours. Social workers from other states should check with their individual board to confirm credit reciprocity with NY.
Counselors: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 1.50 continuing education hours, and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 1.50 credits.