Deepen Your Practice:
Erotic Transference & Countertransference in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
embrace the opportunity to strengthen your clinical presence
Working with transference and countertransference (T/CT) is at the heart of effective psychotherapy, and in the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), these experiences often become amplified, subtle, and complex.
Among the most challenging and least discussed of these dynamics is erotic T/CT: powerful feeling states that, when understood and handled skillfully, can open doors to deep healing or, if mismanaged, can cause harm.
This 6-session supervision and study group offers a rare and intimate space to explore these themes with expert guidance. Together with Dr. Song and a small cohort of peers, you’ll examine case studies, foundational theory, and practical approaches to understanding and working with erotic T/CT and other intense feeling states in psychedelic contexts.
Gain Deeper Clinical Insight into Relational Dynamics
This is not a passive course; rather, it is an interactive, collaborative group designed for clinicians, guides, and researchers who are ready to engage deeply with their own and others’ clinical material.
Over the course of the six sessions, you’ll:
- Participate in weekly supervision groups, which include 1–2 readings that weave together psychodynamic theory, clinical practice, and spiritual perspectives.
- Learn how psychedelics amplify implicit relational knowing and how this affects the therapy relationship.
- Hear and discuss real-world case studies from Dr. Song and fellow group members.
- Present your own case study or vignette for reflection and feedback in a supportive environment. However, your case does not have to focus on erotic T/CT or even PAT. Any clinical material involving intense feeling states is welcome.
- Build a developmental understanding of how erotic feelings express nonsexual needs and wishes, and how to work with them ethically and therapeutically.
In mastering this material, we will progress through the stages of mastery outlined by Nancy A. Bridges, a highly respected psychotherapist, educator, and author of Moving Beyond the Comfort Zone in Psychotherapy. As the weeks pass, we will transition from a concrete, external focus to a more complex, internal understanding, enabling a more nuanced and targeted response.
Step into the right setting to transform challenging dynamics
This group is designed for:
Practicing therapists, medical providers, and spiritual advisors currently working with or preparing to enter the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Professionals with a foundational knowledge of PAT who want to deepen their confidence and skill in managing relational challenges and erotic T/CT.
Individuals in adjacent fields who are drawn to these topics and can meaningfully contribute to and benefit from the group.
The group is intentionally kept small to allow for depth, safety, and intimacy.
Please note: if the minimum of 7 participants is not met, the group will not run.
Develop the Tools to Navigate Erotic and Intense Dynamics
By the end of this group, you will be able to:
- Explain how implicit relational knowing and psychedelics amplify T/CT.
- Describe foundational psychodynamic concepts such as containment, defenses, projective identification, and the therapeutic frame.
- Identify and work with erotic T/CT through a developmental, psychological, relational, and spiritual lens.
- Recognize the many ways erotic energy can manifest in therapeutic relationships, and what it may indicate.
- Describe how to contain and tolerate these dynamics, and respond in a way that reflects your stage of development as a clinician.
- Understand the skills needed for working with erotic transference and countertransference.
- Spot red flag behaviors in yourself and others, and apply strategies to reduce the risk of boundary violations.
Discover the Practical Details
This supervision and study group runs across six sessions, meeting on Wednesdays at 19:00 CEST / 13:00 EST for 90 minutes each. The sessions are scheduled from October to December 2025 on the following dates:
22 October
29 October
5 November
12 November
19 November
3 December
The group combines assigned readings, optional case material from participants, and a collaborative supervision format. Each session is designed to deepen your understanding while offering space for live reflection and clinical application.
Pricing follows three tiers depending on your OPEN membership status:
| Membership Tier | Price (excl. VAT) | Price (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
|
Professional Community Member |
€200 |
€242 |
|
OPEN Community Member |
€240 |
€290.40 |
|
Non-Member |
€275 |
€332.75 |
Please note that, if you are a mental healthcare professional participating in this supervision as part of your professional practice or training, your fee is VAT-exempt under the OPEN Foundation’s CRKBO registration. If you do not meet this criterion, then the standard Dutch VAT rate of 21% will be added to the programme fee.
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Pat Song
Pat Song, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and an M.Ed. in counseling psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has over 25 years of professional experience in a range of settings, including a Harvard cocaine addiction treatment research project, clinical training at a Harvard Medical School public health teaching hospital, and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Dr. Song is an active member of the Asian Psychedelic Collective and a graduate of the Center for Psychedelic Therapy and Research certificate training program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), as well as the PRATI and Fluence KAP certificate programs.
She has a private psychotherapy practice in Montpelier, Vermont, and provides education about psychedelic-assisted therapy and working with erotic transference and countertransference in the US and Europe. She is currently conducting research interviews with practitioners and participants about their experiences of erotic feelings in psychedelic settings.
This Work Deserves Your Attention
It's your time to join
Understanding and working with erotic T/CT is an essential, yet often overlooked, skill for anyone engaged in psychedelic-assisted therapy or related fields.
This group provides a rare opportunity to explore these challenges honestly, ethically, and skillfully in the company of others who share your commitment to this work.
If you’re ready to deepen your clinical understanding, build confidence in managing complex relational dynamics, and connect with like-minded peers, we invite you to apply.