CLERKENWELL HEALTH LAUNCHING FOUNDATION COURSE FOR PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED THERAPY

New 30-hour course brings together leading experts

1^st May 2024, London – World-leading psychedelic clinical trials provider Clerkenwell Health is launching a new practitioner programme for healthcare professionals interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Clerkenwell Health’s Foundations Programme will provide participants with the knowledge required to prepare themselves to safely, ethically and effectively deliver psychedelic treatments.

Starting on May 27 2024, the programme is designed for any healthcare professional or student in professional training. The Foundations Programme will explore the ethical and practical aspects surrounding psychedelic treatments, within a regulated healthcare setting.

Once completed, graduates of the programme can take the advanced Certificate Programme – a practical training course which will provide further knowledge and skills required to deliver psychedelic assisted therapy, either in clinical trials, or in clinical practice where these compounds are licensed for medical use.

The Foundations Programme is an opportunity to learn from practitioners at the forefront of psychedelic research in the UK, with Clerkenwell Health running nearly half the phase II clinical trials currently taking place across the global psychedelic market.

Treatments for mental health conditions have been at a standstill for decades. Patients are increasingly curious about the availability of alternative therapies, including psychedelics. The Foundations Programme will allow healthcare professionals to continue their professional development and stay up to date with the latest research in mental health, while equipping them with the knowledge to inform patients about future treatment options.

Dr Iain Jordan, Clinical Director at Clerkenwell Health, said: “A growing evidence base in research, as well as changes in the law in Australia and possibly in the US soon too, has led to a growing recognition of the role psychedelics could play in improving care for people with mental health problems.”

“This training programme is a science- and experience-led, evidence-based curriculum for healthcare professionals to learn more about the theoretical foundation for psychedelic practice, but also the potential risks and harms, as well as the limitations of the current research literature. It’s a great opportunity for anyone interested in developing the skills that will be required to safely and effectively deliver these complex treatments, and to learn from some of the foremost thinkers and clinicians in the field.”

A host of world-leading psychedelic experts, comprising both clinicians and scientists, will help deliver the programme curriculum. Dr Sara Tai, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Manchester; Dr David Luke, Associate Professor of Psychology; and Dr Jules Evans, the writer, philosopher and award-winning author of Philosophy for Life, are just a few of the experts programme participants will learn from.

The Foundations Programme will consist of 30 hours of self-directed learning, taken over the course of two months. The learning is conducted online and the course costs £500. Participants will learn about:

• A transdiagnostic understanding of mental disorders
• Evidence and mechanisms of psychotherapy
• Phenomenology and proposed mechanisms of psychedelic treatments
• Limitations of psychedelic research
• Clerkenwell Health’s approach
• Perspectives from patients and groups
• Risks, harms, and ethical and legal issues around psychedelic treatments

More information about the Foundations and Certificate Programmes, including instructions for how to pre-enrol, can be found here.