eiseEducation

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has now been legalised in Australia; however, the therapeutic mechanisms underlying these treatments remain insufficiently defined within existing psychotherapy models. Are the changes observed following psychedelic use driven solely by psychopharmacological effects, or do psychedelic states create a unique therapeutic window that deepens, accelerates, or amplifies psychotherapeutic processes? How might mechanisms such as neuroplasticity, enhanced interoceptive awareness, and shifts in consciousness relate to phenomena therapists typically conceptualise as dissociation, trauma processing, or memory integration?

This webinar will trace the historical use of psychedelics in human cultures, review contemporary research on mechanisms of action, and position these insights within relational psychotherapy and trauma treatment. Participants will be invited to reflect on how psychedelic-assisted therapy may interface with core therapeutic processes and where future research and clinical innovation could be directed.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe key historical, neuroscientific, and psychotherapeutic perspectives on psychedelic-assisted treatment and its proposed mechanisms of action.
• Analyse how psychedelic-induced states—including heightened neuroplasticity, altered interoception, and shifts in consciousness—may interact with core relational and trauma-focused therapeutic processes.
• Evaluate emerging clinical questions and potential directions for future research within psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, particularly as they relate to trauma, dissociation, and relational models of care.