This one-day intensive supports psychedelic guides in cultivating sustainable, embodied practices for self-care and facilitator development. Participants will explore nervous system regulation, countertransference, boundary-setting as self-compassion, and
practices for releasing what they carry after holding space. Facilitator development is approached as an ongoing process of embodying wisdom—integrating guidance, leaning into growth-edge experiences, resourcing self-care and community, and deepening the embodiment of one’s existing knowledge. The day concludes with a 2-hour art-based experiential session led by Dr. Michael Franklin, integrating these insights through creative practice.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this one-day intensive, through presentations, embodied practices, and partner work, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to:
- Regulate their nervous system and maintain presence while guiding.
- Set boundaries and navigate countertransference as acts of self-compassion.
- Integrate facilitator development, leaning into growth-edge experiences and embodying wisdom.
- Apply creative and integrative practices to release and process what they carry after holding space.
- Deepen connection with the guide within themselves, cultivating self-awareness and inner guidance.
Course Content
- Personal development pathways for facilitators
- Self-care tools for emotional and physical health
- Boundaries and energy management
- Ongoing training and supervision practices
- Preventing compassion fatigue
- Enrollment closes 48 hours before the live class begins.
- Cancellations must be submitted no later than 1 week prior to the class start date to receive a 100% refund.
- No refunds will be issued for no-shows or same-day cancellations.
About Course Facilitators
Michael A. Franklin, PhD, ATR-BC, is the past chair of the graduate Transpersonal Art Therapy program and is the founder and director of the Naropa Community Art Studio (NCAS) at Naropa University in Boulder Colorado. Throughout his career, Michael has worked as a clinician, educator, and practitioner-researcher. Prior to his position at Naropa University, he directed the art therapy programs at the College of St. Teresa and Bowling Green State University.
Michael lecturers and leads workshops nationally and internationally on art and yoga, art and meditation, and art as imaginal intelligence. He has published over 30 papers on various subjects including aesthetics, self-esteem, AID’s iconography, interpretive strategies, transpersonal art therapy, community-based art therapy, art-based empathic interventions, and contemplative approaches including yoga, and meditation. His current research as an artist and writer focuses on integrating the relationships between visual art, social engagement, yoga philosophy, and meditation.
Angela Amirault, BA, Grad Dip, MBPT (she/her) is an Interviewer and Facilitator for Psychedelic Sitters School, and has spent over two decades in the mental health field. Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, Angela has lived and practiced in Ireland, Colorado, and Canada — with her career now focused primarily on psychedelic medicine.
Angela received advanced credentialing as a Mindfulness-Based Psychedelic Therapist through Psychedelic Sitters School in 2022, and subsequently joined the Medicinal Mindfulness team. She became the first practitioner to offer a legal week-long cannabis and psilocybin retreat. In 2023 she returned to Nova Scotia and founded Altered Healing, a cannabis-assisted psychedelic therapy practice.
Her work is informed by her own healing path with psychedelics, connection with nature, movement practices, and community. Angela is grateful to support the next generation of guides entering this field with skill and integrity.
Brendan Caldwell, MA, LPCC is a Psychotherapist and Harm Reduction Specialist serving as an Educator with the Medicinal Mindfulness Academy and the Psychedelic Sitters School. He is a Psychedelic Guide with the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness and a Natural Medicine Personal Use Support Practitioner with the Medicinal Mindfulness Foundation non-profit.
Brendan holds a Master’s degree in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Mental Health Counseling from Naropa University and has advanced training in Mindfulness-Based Psychedelic Therapy. His clinical orientation integrates trauma-informed attachment work, polyvagal theory, somatic interventions, and multicultural / systems perspectives. His background includes extensive harm-reduction and peer-support work through DanceSafe and training through organizations such as the Zendo Project.
Brendan is trained in Psilocybin Support Services and Harm Reduction, Somatic-Concentric Sex Therapy, psychedelic crisis intervention, suicide intervention, and CPR. With over a decade of direct experience in psychedelic journeywork — both as journeyer and guide — Brendan brings grounded expertise, spiritual sensitivity, and ethical presence to his work in the psychedelic healing field.
