Professional Certificate in Psychedelic Practice
Transform healthcare into a more effective and compassionate practice that understands how to support people and practitioners who choose to use psychedelic medicines.
Course begins September 2025
1-year postgraduate programme, delivered online, running from September – July each year.
Live online weekend teaching (1 Saturday morning per month) and weekday evenings (90mins, twice a month).
This is combined with self-directed learning, using the course materials provided.
Course begins September 2025
1-year postgraduate programme, delivered online, running from September – July each year.
Live online weekend teaching (1 Saturday morning per month) and weekday evenings (90mins, twice a month).
This is combined with self-directed learning, using the course materials provided.
How is it taught?
Over 250 hours of Level 6 (Degree/ SCQF Level 9 equivalent) Core Learning, with over 80 hours of ‘live’ teaching in a mix of small and large groups.
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11 x monthly Shared Learning Groups (10am - 1pm on Saturdays, UK time)
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Twice per month - 90 mins weekday evening sessions in small pods
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One weekend per trimester in-person. These are the highlights of the year for both Faculty and Students where the course really comes alive with 'experiential components' (accessing legal 'altered states') and putting many of the skills we talk about into practice. The in-person weekends typically happen in October, January and July.
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1-2 hours per week of reading, listening or watching bespoke content
Students have the opportunity to attend a legal psychedelic retreat in the The Netherlands, with one of our partner retreat organisations.
Who is it for?
The certificate is designed for those already working in professional practice, and is aimed at registered Health and Social Care professionals, or complementary practitioners with at least two years' experience.
Most applicants are:
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Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Psychiatrists, Palliative Care Doctors, GPs or other Doctors with an interest in mental health, Complementary & Alternative Medicine Practitioners (with a University Degree and at least a Level 4 qualification & 2 years’ working experience in their CAM discipline.)
Admission may be granted to other applicants at the discretion of the PsyEdu team.
Opportunities after the course
The psychedelic field is a new, exciting and rapidly evolving space.
Graduates automatically become professional members of the PsyEdu Network. Examples of areas our past learners have gone on to work in include:
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Clinical Psychedelic Trials
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Preparation & Integration Therapy
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Facilitating Psychedelic Retreats
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Therapeutic Sitting Services (in the Netherlands)
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Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
We are currently developing a further year of Apprenticeship Training after the Certificate. Email us for further information.
"Besides developing and consolidating my therapeutic skills, this open-minded course has stimulated my interest in psychedelics and enabled me to understand the field in a broader context."
-Professional Certificate learner 2023-24
Modules
Module 1 : September
The What, Why and How of PsychedelicsLed by: Dr Jake Hawthorn
Module 2 : October
Psychedelics in Human HistoryLed by: Dr Jake Hawthorn
Trimester 1 Intensive
10am – 5.30pm
Helical Theme: The TranspersonalGuest: Dr David Luke
Module 3: November
Indications and ScreeningLed by: Dr Jake Hawthorn
Module 4: December
Launch of the 4 Helical Themes:
Self Care & Self-Awareness; Ethics & Safety; Personal & Professional Development; The TranspersonalLed by: Sam Bloomfield
Module 5: January
Preparing the SoilLed by: Dr Duncan Still
Module 6: February
Supporting Psychedelic ExperienceLed by: Jen Wood
Module 7: March
Boundaries, Consent, Therapeutic TouchLed by: Danielle Tanner
Trimester 2 Intensive
10am – 5.30pm
Helical Theme: Ethics & Safety / Self-Awareness & Self-CareGuest: Daan Keiman
Module 8: April
Challenging ExperiencesLed by: Dr Lauren MacDonald
Module 9: May
Integrating the Psychedelic ExperienceLed by: Dr Karen Egerton
Module 10: June
Psychedelics in The Wild: Nature, Meditation, Recreational Use & Harm ReductionLed by: Dr Catriona Clark
Trimester 3 Intensive
10am – 5.30pm
Helical Theme: Personal & Professional DevelopmentGuest: Professor David Nutt
Trimester 3 Intensive - experiential
10am – 4.30pm
Module 11: July
Sowing Further Seeds: What Next (for you & the Psychedelic Field)Led by: Dr Lauren MacDonald
The Faculty
Danielle Tanner
Dr Jake Hawthorn
Dr Catherine Zollman
Dr Duncan Still
Dr Lauren Macdonald
Sam Bloomfield
Dr Christoph Zwolan
PsyEdu
PsyEdu is one of the UK’s leading Psychedelic Educational organisations, and it is our vision to be the national centre of excellence.
PsyEdu is made up of a broad spectrum of health professionals all involved in the psychedelic renaissance, and run the UK’s only Professional Certificate in Psychedelic Practice programme. It brings in leading lights from other institutions, most notably, several experts from Imperial, the de-facto leader in clinical research in the UK.
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.
The Drug Science Medical Psychedelics Working Group, led by global experts in the field of psychedelic medicines, aims to create a rational and enlightened approach to psychedelic research and clinical treatment. The future of psychedelic medicine is extremely promising, and there is potential for the widespread application of psychedelic drugs within public health models. Drug Science works collaboratively and proactively with interdisciplinary partners to ensure that psychedelic medicines are developed for UK, EU and worldwide healthcare models. Our aim is to ensure that medical psychedelics can be used safely in an ethical and economically sustainable manner and demonstrate a potential for lasting therapeutic benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
To develop the theoretical and practical knowledge and the professional and reflective practice of healthcare professionals interested in becoming psychedelically informed – transforming healthcare into a more effective and compassionate practice that understands how to support people and practitioners who choose to use psychedelic medicines.
The course is aimed at healthcare professionals but we accept people from other backgrounds as long as they can demonstrate adequate understanding of mental health issues, sufficient prior academic achievement and an orientation towards compassionate care. This can include people with pastoral care responsibilities such as chaplains, or those with social care expertise such as social workers or others working with people in difficulty eg coaches, probation officers, link workers etc. Typically, our students are registered Health and Social Care professional, or complementary practitioners with at least two years' working experience. Admission of people not meeting the standard entry criteria is at the discretion of the PsyEdu Academic Director.
Super Early Bird Discount
The first 5 people to sign up before February 1st, 2025:
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£4750 + £300 enrolment fee.
Early Bird discount
The next 5 people signing up before April 1st, 2025:-
£5000 + £300 enrolment fee.
Instalments
It is possible to pay in 3x instalments (with a £100 admin fee per instalment).
Bursary
We are hoping to secure bursaries for learners from £300 to £1,000 towards their fees. Please note there are limited bursaries available, please only apply if you feel you are in genuine need of financial support. Please email for more information.-
Currently, in the UK, the legal status of psychedelic-assisted therapy varies depending on the substance used. Ketamine is legally available and can be used in clinical settings for therapeutic purposes. However, other psychedelics, such as psilocybin and MDMA, are not yet legally approved for therapeutic use. Research and advocacy are ongoing, and changes in legislation may occur as the potential benefits of these treatments become more widely recognised.