The more a client prepares for a psychedelic experience, the more they will get out of it. This course educates Natural Medicine facilitator trainees in best practices related to creating the necessary safety, rapport, psychoeducation and resourcing to maximize the therapeutic potential of sessions. Students will learn the theoretical orientation and practical steps that are foundational for productive preparation sessions.
Learning Objectives
Thorough, skillful and trauma-informed preparation sessions create the necessary conditions for successful psychedelic therapy processes to unfold. This course will:
- Support you in knowing the right questions to ask during Preparation sessions
- Offer guidance around how to provide trauma-informed psychoeducation and harm reduction services for your clients
- Educate you in how to decrease the risk of potential harms related to medicine use and increase the potential for positive outcomes.
Webinars included:
- Preparing Clients for Psychedelic Sessions with Alison McQueen (90 min)
- W4-2: Lecture on Preparation with Alison McQueen (1 hr)
- Somatic Resourcing & Guidework with Katie Asmus: Part 1 (51 mins)
- Somatic Resourcing & Guidework with Katie Asmus: Part 2 (56 mins)
- W5-5: Trauma Resolution with Psychedelic Medicines Part 3: Resourcing with Katie Asmus and Alison McQueen (2 hrs)
- Finding Your Seat Meditation with Skye Weaver (12 min)
- The Importance of Preparation Rituals for Guides Leading Psychedelic Sessions with Dr. Michael Franklin
- 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 the Facilitators
Alison McQueen, MA, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS (she/her) is the Clinical Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness clinic. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Art Therapist, and Approved Clinical Supervisor. Alison also serves as a Board Member and Natural Medicine Personal Use Support Practitioner with the Medicinal Mindfulness Foundation non-profit, and is a Lead Instructor for Psychedelic Sitters School.
With 15 years of experience in the mental health field, Alison specializes in trauma-informed, mindfulness-based psychedelic therapy, art therapy, somatic trauma work, and psychedelic integration. She has extensive training in MDMA-Assisted, Cannabis-Assisted, Ketamine-Assisted, and Psilocybin-based support services and harm reduction. Alison served as Sub-Investigator and MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapist/Researcher in an FDA-approved MAPS Phase 2 clinical trial for complex PTSD.
Alison holds a Master of Transpersonal Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Art Therapy from Naropa University, along with advanced training in somatic trauma work through the Somatic Training Institute. She brings together clinical expertise, research experience, and international art-therapy work to support clients and students in cultivating authenticity, resilience, and post-traumatic growth.
Skye Weaver, MFA, CYT is the Lead Practitioner for Psychedelic Sitters School and an Advanced Practitioner of Cannabis-Assisted Psychedelic Therapy. She is a medicine mentor and psychedelic self-care specialist who supports the international medicine community through mentorship, education, and ceremony. Skye’s work focuses on living in right-relationship, nervous system regulation, integral medicine practice, and sacred self-care.
Based in Southern California, Skye offers online services and hosts community psychedelic integration circles through InnerSpace Integration and The Aware Project. She is the founder of NOT a Shaman School, an experiential training for journeyers developing facilitation and guardianship skills, and she leads CannAbyss, a legal cannabis-assisted non-ordinary state exploration practice.
Skye has walked the medicine path for more than 11 years. She trained at the Hakomi Institute of California in Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy and with Medicinal Mindfulness (PSS1-3, Psychedelic First Aid/CPR, DMTx). She is a certified 500-hour yoga teacher, Reiki Master (Usui & Karuna), trained bodyworker in Thai Yoga Massage and stretch therapy, and holds an MFA in Acting from Harvard University.
