Deliberate Practice in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (Essentials of Deliberate Practice Series)

Deliberate practice exercises help trainees achieve competence in essential psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy skills and apply them in a range of clinical situations while honing their own personal style and language. These exercises present role-playing scenarios in which two trainees act as a client and a therapist, switching back and forth under the guidance of a supervisor. The therapist improvises appropriate and authentic responses to client statements organized into three difficulty levelsbeginner, intermediate, and advancedthat reflect common client questions and concerns. Each of the first 12 exercises focuses on a single skill that include tending to clients bodily and emotional states before introducing psychedelic medicine to treatment, exploring ethical and cultural implications, and working with clients in altered states of consciousness to promote wellbeing. Two comprehensive exercises follow in which trainees integrate these essential skills into a single psychedelic-assisted therapy session. Step-by-step instructions guide participants through the exercises, identify criteria for mastering each skill, and explain how to monitor and adjust difficulty. Guidelines to help trainers and trainees get the most out of training are also provided. Series Preface Acknowledgments Part I Overview and Instructions CHAPTER 1. Introduction and Overview of Deliberate Practice and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy CHAPTER 2. Instructions for the Therapeutic Approach for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Deliberate Practice Exercises Part II Deliberate Practice Exercises for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Skills EXERCISE 1. Redirecting to the Body EXERCISE 2. Compassionately Witnessing Strong Emotions EXERCISE 3. Exploring Intentions and Expectations EXERCISE 4. Cultural Considerations: Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities EXERCISE 5. Boundaries and Informed Consent EXERCISE 6. Responding to Relational Ruptures EXERCISE 7. Working With the Client’s Internal Conflict EXERCISE 8. Addressing Transference EXERCISE 9. Navigating Strong Emotions EXERCISE 10. Making Sense of the Experience: Integration I EXERCISE 11. Working With Disappointment: Integration II EXERCISE 12. Embodying Insights: Integration III EXERCISE 13. Annotated Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Practice Session Transcript EXERCISE 14. Mock Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Sessions Part III Strategies for Enhancing the Deliberate Practice Exercises CHAPTER 3. How to Get the Most Out of Deliberate Practice: Additional Guidance for Trainers and Trainees APPENDIX A. Difficulty Assessments and Adjustments APPENDIX B. Deliberate Practice Diary Form APPENDIX C. Sample Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Syllabus With Embedded Deliberate Practice Exercises References About the Authors Deliberate practice exercises help trainees learn and apply psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy skills while honing their own personalized approach.