New Zealand’s First Practitioner-Accessible Psychedelic Therapy Training Course to Launch in June

23rd March 2026

A new professional training programme in psychedelic-assisted therapy will launch in June, marking the first course of its kind designed specifically for practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand. Unlike previous training limited to clinical trial settings, the programme is open to qualified health and medical professionals, as well as those in related fields, who meet defined entry requirements.

Interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies has grown rapidly worldwide in recent years, with clinical trials exploring potential treatments for palliative anxiety, treatment-resistant depression, addiction, and PTSD.

The Fundamentals of Psilocybin‑Assisted Psychotherapy course delivered by PsyTrain NZ in partnership with Canadian non-profit TheraPsil and UK-based charity Drug Science, will take place online over two weekends—12–14 June and 26–28 June. The programme offers evidence-based training on the therapeutic uses and potential risks of psilocybin in clinical settings.

The programme is designed to equip healthcare professionals with knowledge in psychedelic-assisted therapy and guide them through the process of becoming an authorised prescriber in New Zealand.

Topics include clinical screening and preparation, therapeutic support during psychedelic experiences, indigenous knowledge, integration practices, neuropharmacology, and the history and current state of clinical research.

Guest lecturers on the course bring together world‑leading scientific and cultural perspectives, and contributors announced so far include:

• Internationally recognised psychedelic researcher Dr Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Associate Professor of Psychopharmacology at The University of Auckland whose work uses advanced brain imaging to study how therapies alter brain function; 

• Professor David Nutt, Head of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, who has played a leading role in supporting the rollout of psychedelic therapy and clinician training in Australia, and; 

• Local Māori leaders Stuart McDonald, founder of the Ahipoutu Collective Trust and a Tohunga Tā Moko practitioner, and Dr James Andrew Simonsson, a psychiatry registrar at Tauranga Hospital, whose indigenous knowledge and clinical perspectives have helped shape the course to reflect New Zealand’s culture and healthcare context.

Yasmeen deRosenroll, Director of Training & Operations at TheraPsil says

“Over the past several years TheraPsil has trained hundreds of practitioners in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, so it’s remarkable to see that work now connecting with colleagues on the other side of the world. Our partners at the Ahipoutu Collective, Drug Science, and PsyTrain have built something that reflects the culture and clinical landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand, and we’re honoured that our training experience can support that effort.” 

Prof David Nutt of Drug Science says

“New Zealand has taken an important first step by creating a legal pathway for prescribing psilocybin, but safe access depends on clinicians receiving rigorous, evidence‑based training. This programme gives practitioners the scientific grounding and practical skills they need to apply for their authorised prescriber status and bring their knowledge in line with the best international standards.”

Enrolments are now open, with places limited. More information is available at https://psytrain.co.nz/foundations/

Notes to editors:

Course: Fundamentals of Psilocybin‑Assisted Psychotherapy

Dates: 12–14 June and 26–28 June 2026

Format: Online professional training programme

PsyTrain NZ provides professional education and training in psychedelic-assisted therapies for practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand.

TheraPsil is a Canadian non-profit advocating for legal access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and supporting clinician training internationally.

Drug Science is a UK-based scientific charity focused on improving drug policy through independent, evidence-based research.

The Ahipoutu Collective, who re-indigenise living, learning and healing spaces in Aotearoa through Toi Māori. The collective use practices like tā-moko, whakairo, and pūrakau to blend ancient wisdom with modern creativity, fostering cultural growth, healing and connection.

Media enquiries: info@psytrain.co.nz