At Sunstone Therapies, we are working to set the industry standard for high quality training that prepares mental health professionals to work safely, ethically, and effectively in psychedelic therapy research.
Winter 2025
Drawing from our extensive experience in psychedelic therapy research across multiple protocols, indications, compounds, therapeutic approaches, and research projects, Sunstone has developed training that addresses the foundational, core principles and competencies of psychedelic therapy.
We recently completed a live 4 day training for 40 clinicians from 9 different research sites globally to provide them with the key knowledge, skills, and attitudes relevant for investigational MDMA-assisted therapy research. Attendees explored fundamental concepts of MDMA-assisted therapy including trauma informed care, therapist self awareness, risks related to altered states, and how to utilize a supportive, inner-directed therapeutic approach in a research setting.
Sunstone centers the development and delivery of high quality training for providers and clinical teams for safe and ethical investigational psychedelic treatments. Our MDMA-assisted therapy research training included in depth topics addressing these core learning objectives:
- Core principles of safe and ethical psychedelic therapy in clinical research
- Specific qualities, skills, and psychoeducation essential for working with MDMA with participants with PTSD in clinical research
Sunstone understands the complexity and nuance involved in training clinical teams to deliver psychedelic therapy in a research setting and is committed to designing training that equips teams with the knowledge and skills necessary to begin to practice safely and ethically. Our training model takes a supervision forward approach, delivering didactic and experiential training components that are then supported by ongoing supervision and consultation for safe practice.
Our training encourages teams to approach their work with a strong sense of responsibility, integrity, curiosity and compassion, to ensure they are prepared to deliver care that mitigates risk and prioritizes participant safety, autonomy, and well-being at every stage of the process.
We are thrilled to be at the forefront of delivering practical, knowledge and skills based training that addresses the needs of research sites getting started with psychedelic therapy. Through this work we aim to set a standard for the field in both training for clinical teams and delivery of high quality care. —Rachel Winzer, M.S., Sunstone’s Therapist Program Director
