Fundamentals of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy (NZ)
Delivered across two weekends, TheraPsil’s Fundamentals of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy is a New Zealand-focused training for clinicians and professionals preparing to work in psychedelic-assisted care.
Course begins on 12 June 2026
Fundamentals of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy is delivered on New Zealand-friendly hours and is geared towards Kiwis looking for the legal, scientific, and healthcare knowledge necessary to deliver psilocybin treatments. With a particular emphasis on end-of-life care, the course comprises 10 Units, across the following times (NZST):
Friday, June 12th, 09:00 - 12:00
Saturday, June 13th, 09:00 - 15:00
Sunday, June 14th, 09:00 - 15:00
Friday, June 26th, 09:00 - 12:00
Saturday, June 27th, 09:00 - 15:00
Sunday, June 28th, 09:00 - 15:00
About the Program
This two-part psychedelic pathway is delivered live online for practitioners in New Zealand, covering everything from foundational theory to real-world practice. Designed for mental health, medical, supportive care, and allied professionals preparing to work with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, the 11-unit curriculum spans didactic foundations with NZ-specific content woven throughout training blocks. The program totals approximately 106.5 hours of engagement across live seminars, webinars, reading, reflection, and supervision.
Cohorts are intentionally kept small to foster meaningful discussion and close faculty involvement, with acceptance based on fit, scope, and readiness. This intimate structure ensures participants receive the depth of support needed to translate learning into practice.
New Zealand Focus
The hallmark of this training is its specificity for Kiwi practitioners. Throughout the program, experts from New Zealand will guide you through these topics and more:
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Legal status of psilocybin in New Zealand
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Advice for Section 29 applications
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Festival harm reduction opportunities
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Maori health/Hauora
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Drug policy in New Zealand
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Indigenous Psilocybe varieties in NZ
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PAT's potential to align with Te Ao Maori, equitable access for Maori
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New Zealand's first authorised prescriber, lessons learnt from the process
Who is it for?
This program is intended for practitioners engaging in or preparing for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy within mental health, medical, and supportive care contexts. As such, we require each participant to hold one of the following: a medical degree (MD, RN); a graduate degree (MA, PhD) in psychology, counselling psychology, or a closely related field (e.g., psychiatric social work [RSW] or psychiatric nursing [RPN]); naturopathic medicine (ND); paramedicine (e.g., paramedics, first responders); death doula training; a credential in osteopathic or chiropractic practice (e.g., DOMP, DO, DC); or a graduate diploma in a related field.
Each applicant will be admitted to the training program following a successful interview with the Director of Training and Operations to assess personal and professional suitability.
Learning Outcomes
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Understand the legal and ethical landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand, including authorised prescriber pathways.
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Apply TheraPsil’s intake, assessment, inclusion criteria, and follow-up protocol to identify who may benefit.
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Build preparation, dosing-session support, and integration skills using trauma-aware frameworks.
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Develop competency in neuropharmacology, medication interactions, contraindications, and risk mitigation.
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Work skillfully with end-of-life distress and complex presentations, including family support and palliative care considerations.
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Engage with NZ cultural dimensions, including Māori health, equity, and local realities.
“The relational, personal, and experiential aspects of the week were nothing short of transformative. The week went far beyond conventional learning outcomes, it was healing, connective, and life affirming.”
Steph Blyth, RCC, MDiv
“The content was incredibly useful and integrated beautifully into my practice. As someone with years of plant medicine experience, I still learned so much.”
Dawn Slykhuis, MSW, RSW
“This is an excellent program for learning how to prepare, support, and help clients integrate psychedelic assisted therapy. The online course was very well done, and a great way to access this pioneering information.”
Online Training Attendee
Course Outline
Unit 1
Navigating psilocybin access in Aotearoa, legal frameworks, advocacy, and prescribing pathways
Unit 2
History of clinical research in psychedelic therapy, current evidence, and directions forward
Unit 3
Psychedelic neuropharmacology, drug interactions, contraindications, and de-prescribing considerations
Unit 4
Models of change, mystical experience, COEX, and contemporary frameworks including REBUS
Unit 5
Preparation and integration sessions, set and setting, readiness, intention, and integration groups
Unit 6
The dosing session, roles, music, safety, challenging sessions, and case study review
Unit 7
Therapeutic relationship, boundaries, co-therapy, self-care, and ethics
Unit 8
Palliative care in psychedelic psychotherapy, end-of-life distress, family support, death literacy
Unit 9
NZ clinical and cultural dimensions, Māori health, equity, harm reduction realities, local knowledge
Unit 10
Complementary modalities including breathwork, creative arts, bodywork, and adjunctive frameworks
Unit 11
Clinical supervision minimums, mentoring, and supervised transition into practice (minimum 10 hours)
The Faculty
Prof David Nutt
Australian Drug Policy
Dr Rohini Kanniganti
Palliative Care
Prof Suresh Muthukumaraswamy
NZ Context and Prescribing Pathways
Stuart McDonald
Māori perspectives on healing, wairua (spirituality), and traditional frameworks for understanding altered states of consciousness
Dr James Andrew Simonsson
Māori perspectives on healing, wairua (spirituality), and traditional frameworks for understanding altered states of consciousness
Musheerah Nuha
Pasifika healthcare professionals' perspectives on psychedelic-assisted therapy
James Bunn
Legal Status of Psilocybin and MDMA in New Zealand
Jagpaul Deol
Neuropharmacology
Sam Lasham
Mushroom Species of Aotearoa
Dave Phillips
Trainer & Supervisor
Bianca Sebben
Indigenous Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies
Jem Stone
Indigenous Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies
Kylea Taylor
Ethics
Adam Waugh
Working with Psychedelics in the Real World: Festival Harm Reduction Opportunities
TheraPsil
Founded in 2019 by Dr. Bruce Tobin, TheraPsil emerged from a deep understanding of the mental health challenges faced by Canadians. Driven by a commitment to compassionate, human-centred care, TheraPsil is dedicated to helping Canadians access psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with the support of qualified healthcare professionals.
TheraPsil works towards this goal by focusing on four strategic pillars:
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Advocacy and compassionate access
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Education
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Community
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Research
Drug Science
Drug Science is the only completely independent, science-led drugs charity in the UK, uniquely bringing together leading drug experts from a wide range of specialisms to carry out ground-breaking research into drug harms and effects.
Drug Science works to provide an evidence base free from political or commercial influence, creating the foundation for sensible and effective drug laws, and equipping the public, media and policymakers with the knowledge and resources to enact positive change.
Psychedelic Training Centre NZ
The Psychedelic Training Centre NZ was established to ensure that professionals across Aotearoa have access to world-class, industry-leading psychedelic training. It is the first New Zealand-based organisation dedicated to equipping Kiwis with the knowledge and skills needed to work in psychedelic medicine.
Ahipoutu Collective
The Ahipoutu Collective empowers rangatahi, whānau, and communities by weaving together traditional and contemporary Toi Māori. Through practices like tā-moko, whakairo, and pūrakau, the Collective blends ancient wisdom with modern creativity, fostering cultural growth, healing and connection.