Psychedelic-assisted therapy requires more from practitioners than just knowledge. It calls for steadiness in uncertain moments, sensitivity during intense situations, and the ability to remain grounded when the work feels challenging.

So what does it take to prepare for this kind of work?

Examining the Experiential Learning Concept

In this free online event, ADEPT experts Janis Phelps, PhD, and Torsten Passie, MD, step into one of the field’s liveliest questions: the role of experiential training in psychedelic therapy education. Moderated by Daan Keiman, MA, they explore how experiential learning can deepen clinical skills and where it can become misunderstood, overpromised, or ethically complicated.

Join us for a practical and thoughtful discussion that goes beyond buzzwords and focuses on real training. The conversation will cover what readiness means, which skills are best learned through experience, and how training programs can honor growth and professional standards.

Connecting the Dots to ADEPT

ADEPT: Advanced Education in Psychedelic Therapy is a comprehensive two-year program from the OPEN Foundation. It’s designed for licensed mental health professionals who want to build their skills in psychedelic-assisted therapy, with a focus on apprenticeship and supervision.

Rather than treating experientials as a one-off peak in training, ADEPT uses them as a structured developmental thread. Over the two-year programme, students engage in guided experiential learning to explore altered states of consciousness. They then have the chance to step in as facilitators, learning how to guide peers through those states with care, clarity, and ethical attention.

These experientials don’t stand alone. They’re delivered within an apprenticeship-and-supervision model: students build an evidence-informed foundation, strengthen clinical judgment, and keep experiential learning linked to the real work of therapy. Supervision is the thread that holds it together, helping steady the course. 

Get Your ADEPT Fee Waiver

As a thank-you for joining the event, participants will be able to waive the ADEPT registration fee (€80) when signing up for the April 2026 ADEPT cohort.

Meet the Speakers

Janis Phelps, PhD

Founder and director of the psychedelic therapy education programme at CIIS in San Francisco. Her 2017 publication outlines best practices for training psychedelic therapists. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked as a clinical psychologist and professor in various therapeutic modalities.

Torsten Passie, MD

Professor of Psychiatry at Hannover Medical School and Visiting Scientist at Goethe University. An expert in hallucinogenic drug research, he has studied the therapeutic potential of altered states of consciousness. A former Harvard Visiting Professor, he has authored 20 books, including The Pharmacology of LSD and The History of MDMA.

Daan Keiman, MA

Daan is a psychedelic and Buddhist chaplain with a private practice, blending contemplative practices, (neuro)anthropology, cognitive science, and existential therapy. With extensive experience as a facilitator and curriculum developer for psychedelic training programs, Daan promotes a multidimensional approach to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and advocates for community-based care models.