When Words Are Not Enough:
Foundational Art-Based Skills
for Psychedelic Facilitators
Learn practical, ethically grounded art-based skills
to support preparation, medicine work, and integration.
A 2-Day Intensive for Psychedelic Therapists, Facilitators, and Helping Professionals
July 18–19, 2026 | 10:00am–5:00pm MT
Virtual or In Person in Boulder, CO
(Only 16 In-person spots available)
Application Deadline: July 10th, 2025
Learn practical, ethically grounded art-based skills to support preparation, medicine work, and integration.
When Language Falls Short
Psychedelic work often unfolds through image, sensation, symbol, and story — before, during, and after medicine sessions.
A client may circle around a story without touching the emotion beneath it. An experience may feel profound yet remain abstract. Symbolic or somatic material may surface that initially resists explanation.
During and after psychedelic experiences, clients may express:
- “I can’t explain it.”
- “It felt important, but I don’t have words.”
- “I saw something, but I don’t know what it means.”
Verbal processing alone is not always sufficient for integrating image-based, somatic, or archetypally saturated material.
This intensive introduces clinically grounded, ethically informed art-based approaches that expand your ability to work with foundational non-verbal and imaginal material when language falls short.
What Makes This Art Training Different
Over two days, you will learn how to incorporate art processes ethically, within your scope of practice, and in alignment with psychedelic care. Through applied theory, case vignettes, and experiential learning, we will explore how art can support:
- Intake and early assessment
- Preparation sessions
- Medicine sessions
- Integration sessions
- Working safely with symbolic and imaginal content
This course provides foundational training in art-based skills and professional decision-making frameworks. It does not confer the credential of Art Therapist or serve as certification in Art Therapy. Advanced practice requires additional formal training and supervision
What You Will Learn
Theoretical, Ethical & Transpersonal Foundations
Theoretical and ethical foundations for using art within psychedelic contexts
Clear scope-of-practice boundaries and professional responsibility
Understanding the transpersonal dimensions of psychedelic work
Symbol, Image & Clinical Understanding
Understanding metaphor, archetype, and imaginal material in psychedelic experiences
Introducing the 4-Lens method for tracking and understanding clinical material
Learning how to look at art collaboratively with clients in a grounded, non-directive way
Art Materials & Application Across the Psychedelic Arc
Therapeutic qualities and properties of art materials and art processes
The role of art in intake, preparation, medicine sessions, and integration
Translating symbolic experiences into grounded, embodied change
What You Will Leave With
- A foundational framework for introducing art-based processes within psychedelic facilitation
- An expanded toolkit for when clients feel limited by verbal processing
- Increased confidence working with visual and symbolic material without over-interpretation
- Clearer understanding of ethical application within your professional scope
- Strengthened capacity to support embodied meaning-making across the psychedelic journey
- Renewed connection with your own creative, artist identity
Who This is For
This training is designed for:- (Licensed) therapists working in psychedelic-informed practice
- Psychedelic therapists, facilitators and guides
- Students currently training in psychedelic facilitation
No prior art training is required.
Participants are expected to approach this work with professionalism, multicultural sensitivity, and a commitment to ongoing self-reflection.
Tuition
Early Bird: $850 (Save $100)
Standard after May 1: $950
A list of supplies needed by virtual attendees will be provided prior to the workshop.
Early Bird Deadline: May 1, 2026 (Use Code ‘Early_Bird’ to save $100)
Application Deadline: July 1, 2025
Event Dates: July 18-19 | 10:00am–5:00pm MT
If you are currently enrolled in our PGT or NMHA program, your scholarship amount applies to this workshop and you can add this workshop to your payment plan. Email training@medicinalmindfulness.org with the subject line ‘Art Therapy Workshop Registration’ to save your space.
Meet Your Facilitators
Michael A. Franklin, PhD, ATR-BC
Dr. Michael A. Franklin is an active researcher, international workshop leader, clinician, and professor of Art Therapy at Naropa University. He is the founder of the Naropa Community Art Studio social engagement research project and is the recipient of the American Art Therapy Associations Distinguished Educator and Distinguished Service award.
His book on art as contemplative practice (SUNY Press) focuses on the transpersonal intersections between visual art, yoga philosophy, imaginal traditions, and meditation (see ArtisYoga.com).
Alison McQueen, MA, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS
Alison McQueen is Clinical Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness. She practices as a Licensed Natural Medicine Clinical Facilitator, Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Art Therapist, and Approved Clinical Supervisor. She served as Sub-Investigator and MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapist in the Phase 2 FDA-approved MAPS study for complex PTSD.
Her work integrates art therapy, somatic trauma care, mindfulness-based psychedelic therapies, and professional consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Psychedelic experiences often unfold through image, sensation, symbol, and narrative rather than linear language. Art-based processes can help externalize internal material, support client-led meaning-making, and enhance client experience across preparation, medicine work, and integration.
You will develop greater confidence working with symbolic and non-verbal material, expand your toolkit beyond verbal processing, and gain structured approaches for incorporating art responsibly within your scope of practice.
Yes. No prior art experience is required. The focus is on facilitation and application, not artistic skill.
- To save your space, submit your registration payment here and choose whether you'll be attending in-person or virtually.
- After submitting your payment, you’ll be emailed a registration form to enter your personal details.
❗Your registration is not complete until you’ve submitted BOTH your payment and your registration form.
Yes. Students can participate online via Zoom. Before registering, please verify the time of the workshop in your own time zone. The workshop takes place from 10 AM - 5 PM Mountain Time (Denver).
Virtual participants will receive instructions and a materials list to purchase in advance.
Virtual students will be responsible for securing the following art materials:
1. Journal for writing and notes
2. One 11x14 – good quality, wet-dry, multi use paper
3. Glue stick
4. Scissors
5. Simple drawing pencils
6. Thin line black Sharpie
7. Wet-dry Aquarelle pencils, basic set
8. Old magazines for collage
9. Oil pastels, basic set
10. Clay – simple stoneware to experiment with
11. Clay tools, basic set, (make sure there is a wire tool and digging tools)
12. Camera (phone) – for taking photos and video
The in-person portion of our training will be held at our licensed healing center in Boulder, Colorado.
All art supplies are provided for in-person attendees. Please note that meals are not included. For those who are not local, but would like to attend in person, the hotel next to our building offers our students 20% off their stay.
Yes, you can add the investment for this workshop to your payment plan. If you are on scholarship, you can also apply your scholarship amount to this workshop. To redeem your scholarship amount or add this course to your payment plan, please email us at training@medicinalmindfulness.org with the subject line ‘Art Therapy Workshop Registration’.
Psychedelic Shine is part of Medicinal Mindfulness
Founded in 2012 in Boulder, Colorado by Alison and Daniel McQueen, Medicinal Mindfulness operates both a legal psychedelic therapy center and professional training organization rooted in ethical, trauma-informed care.
We are a small, independent, family-owned organization with no corporate backing or profit-driven investors. Our work has grown organically over more than a decade, making Medicinal Mindfulness one of the early pioneers of legal psychedelic plant medicine services in North America.
