Naropa Center For Psychedelic Studies
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies supports the development and integration of psychedelic studies at Naropa University and offers a range of public education opportunities focused on the transformative healing potential within this emerging field.
After 50 Years of intellectual prohibition, a recent resurgence in science and research has demonstrated remarkably promising results for the use of psychedelic substances in the treatment of depression, end-of-life anxiety, addiction, and other mental health conditions. As a pioneer in the integration of contemplative training with counseling psychology, chaplaincy, eco-psychology and other therapeutic disciplines, Naropa is uniquely positioned to expand the unprecedented healing potential within this emerging field. Learn more about Naropa University’s Psychedelic History.
The work of the Center for Psychedelic Studies has been supported in close collaboration with Naropa Extended Campus.
Center for Psychedelic Studies
Current Public Offerings
The Naropa University Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies is an 8-month, 150-hour non-degree certificate program that provides postgraduate level training for advanced professionals working in relevant therapeutic areas. Trainees will receive an in-depth education in essential aspects of psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT), trauma-informed care, and spiritual integration.
The program features a hybrid delivery of online and retreat-based learning and is deeply rooted in ethics, psychedelic justice, and respect for the Indigenous roots of entheogenic medicine. The program culminates in an experiential practicum, where participants facilitate psychedelic therapy sessions under guided supervision.
The Naropa University Psilocybin Facilitator Training certificate program (PFT) is designed specifically to support education and training for legal psilocybin facilitation under state regulatory models. This 6-month virtual program features dynamic live class sessions combined with asynchronous content. Trainees will learn about traditional roots of natural medicine, healing justice, ethics, harm reduction, trauma informed care, set and setting, and much more.
Naropa’s PFT program is a Fully Approved training program in both Colorado and Oregon, meeting state regulatory requirements for psilocybin facilitation with the standards of excellence for which Naropa is known.
Psychedelic Alchemy is a speaker series dedicated to exploring the modern psychedelic landscape. Featuring prominent and emerging leaders in the field, these free public events investigate salient topics in the psychedelic space such as psychedelic-assisted therapy, science, social action, spirituality, healing integration and more.
Whether you’re a novice or well-researched expert, join us for this curated series of inspiring à la carte discussion panels, lectures, and interviews with galvanizing psychedelic luminaries.
Current Offerings For Naropa Students
Introduction to Psychedelic Therapies
CNSG-799 Special Topics: Introduction to Psychedelic Therapies provides current Naropa graduate students with a foundational understanding of psychedelic medicines and their use in healing modalities. This course centers on harm reduction, safety concerns, ethical implications, and the benefits of psychedelic use in a variety of settings, and offers an overview of current psychedelic therapies in such areas as palliative care and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Students will approach the topic of psychedelic therapies from an interdisciplinary perspective, blending teachings from counseling psychology, religious studies, chaplaincy, and ecopsychology.
Beginning Fall 2024, Naropa University’s BA Psychedelic Studies Minor equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the emerging field of psychedelic studies, while fostering critical thinking and ethical awareness.
At the heart of our curriculum is a humanities-focused approach, offering a comprehensive introduction to psychedelic practices. We delve into the rich tapestry of history, including an investigation of sacred natural medicine traditions. While our program does not aim to train students to conduct psychedelic-assisted therapy, it serves as a springboard for thoughtful exploration of key issues in the field.
Learning Outcomes
- Psychology and Neuroscience: Applying knowledge from peer-reviewed research to understand the psychological and neurological aspects of psychedelics.
- History and Healing: Articulating an understanding of the historical and therapeutic uses of psychedelic medicines.
- Contemplative Inquiry: Exploring the impact of psychedelics on individual and collective consciousness.
- Literature and Art: Evaluating the interplay between psychedelics, creativity, and artistic expression.
- Entrepreneurial Thinking: Designing innovative projects to address challenges within the emerging field of psychedelic studies.
- Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Understanding and addressing issues of social justice and cultural appropriation within psychedelic practices.
Course Requirements
Required:
- INTD 220/220e– Intro to Psychedelic Studies (3)
Choose 9 Credits from the Following Courses:
- PSYB 209: Herbal Medicine (3)
- PSYB 354/354e – Transpersonal Psychology (3)
- PSYB 415 – Maitri: Working With Emotions (3)
- PSYB-415E Maitri: Working With Emotions (3)
- PSYB 471/471e: Theories of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (3)
- PSYB 495e – Special Topics Advanced Research: Decolonial Psychology (3)
- WRI 490 – Special Topics: White Rabbit: The Poetry of Psychedelics (3)
Highlighted Past Offerings
Naropa President Charles Lief speaks at TEDxBoulder
President Lief discusses psychedelics as an increasingly proven vehicle for addressing the mental health crisis in his TEDxBoulder talk titled, “Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Bridging Science and Spirituality”.
Psychedelic Alchemy: Dr. Rosalind Watts
Dr. Rosalind Watts, clinical psychologist, explored profound insights gained as the visionary behind ACER (Accept, Connect, Embody, Restore) integration—a psychedelic integration community rooted in acceptance and commitment therapy and ecopsychology.
In this special Psychedelic Alchemy presentation, Dr. Watts explains how fundamental principles of nature, such as slow growth, circular rhythms, and interconnectedness, can serve as instructive guides for creating a sustainable, collaborative, and more accountable psychedelic field. Furthermore, Dr. Watts delves into the potential pitfalls of the psychedelic revolution and provide innovative solutions rooted in her ACER model.
Psychedelic Alchemy: Erik Davis, PhD
Today’s psychedelic enthusiasts seem equally fascinated with ancient plant medicines and the latest pharmaceutical patents, but what about good old LSD? What if this substance is actually an alchemical sacrament, whose wild underground lineage offers precisely the sort of sacred values that might help guide us through the maelstrom of our moment?
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was pleased to host author, teacher, and award-winning journalist Erik Davis as he wrestled with these questions, and explored the mythopoetic legacy of LSD!
Course in MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy
In 2020, Naropa University was pleased to offer its first trailblazing course in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. With training in contemplative psychotherapy led by Naropa’s Counseling Psychology faculty, this course was one of the first and few to be selected by MAPS PBC (now Lykos Therapeutics) to include their nationally recognized MDMA-assisted therapy education. This education is now offered as part of Naropa’s Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies.
Psychedelic Alchemy: Nicholas Powers, PhD
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was elated to host professor, poet, novelist, and journalist Nicholas Powers for an inspiring Psychedelic Alchemy speaker event. Dr. Powers’ lecture, “Flowers in Gun Barrels: How the Psychedelic Renaissance Can Stop War” examined the ways in which patriarchy, militarism, and poverty distort self-image and censor consciousness, and how a re-imagined psychedelic social movement can begin to repair these damages.
Affiliate Programs & Partner Offerings
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was a proud Community Ally for the 2022 Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in New York!
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was a proud Community Ally for the 2022 Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in Oregon!
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was a proud Community Partner for the 2023 Psychedelic Science conference in Denver!
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies is a proud sponsor of the 2022 Emergence Psychedelic Education Festival.
Emergence invites the public into a dialogue around psychedelic reform through education and community. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with a diverse group of psychedelic advocates, ranging from legal experts to social artists.Topics will include psychedelic-assisted therapies, spiritual exploration, plant medicine and ceremony, current policy initiatives, ethics and safety, equity and access, and evolving research and advocacy efforts. Presented by the Nowak Society, this festival combines educational booths, interactive workshops, speakers, vendors, music, and more.
Naropa is a proud sponsor of a new ethnographic project to preserve the legacy and archives of Maria Sabina and other Mazatec curanderas. The Mazatec people of Mexico shared their knowledge of the use of psilocybin mushrooms with the world.
Historias y Memorias Mazatecas is a project born from the dedication of a Mazatec family to preserve and celebrate their traditions and cultural heritage. Presented by Alma Institute and the Fungi Foundation, this new project launched this year with a special online event on Maria Sabina’s birthday, July 22.
Horizons New York Conference 2024
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was proud to be a Community Ally for the 2024 Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in New York!
Horizons Northwest Conference 2023
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was proud to be a Community Ally for the 2023 Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in Oregon!
reMind: Psychedelics Business Forum 2023
The 2023 reMind Psychedelic Business Forum took place at MJBizCon in Las Vegas, November 28th and 29th.
Psychedelic Science Conference 2023
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was a proud Community Partner for the 2023 Psychedelic Science conference in Denver!
Emergence: Psychedelic Education Festival 2022
The Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies was a proud sponsor of the 2022 Emergence Psychedelic Education Festival.
Emergence invited the public into a dialogue around psychedelic reform through education and community. Attendees had the opportunity to speak with a diverse group of psychedelic advocates, ranging from legal experts to social artists.
Topics included psychedelic-assisted therapies, spiritual exploration, plant medicine and ceremony, current policy initiatives, ethics and safety, equity and access, and evolving research and advocacy efforts. Presented by the Nowak Society, this festival combined educational booths, interactive workshops, speakers, vendors, music, and more.
Historias Y Memorieas Mazatecas
Naropa is a proud sponsor of a new ethnographic project to preserve the legacy and archives of Maria Sabina and other Mazatec curanderas. The Mazatec people of Mexico shared their knowledge of the use of psilocybin mushrooms with the world.
Historias y Memorias Mazatecas is a project born from the dedication of a Mazatec family to preserve and celebrate their traditions and cultural heritage. Presented by Alma Institute and the Fungi Foundation, this new project launched this year with a special online event on Maria Sabina’s birthday, July 22.
Sponsors and Supporters
Collaborations and Acknowledgements
Naropa University is honored to work with many individual and institutional contributors whose expertise helps strengthen the ongoing development and integrity of our certificate program. Contributors include members of our faculty, staff and leadership teams, as well as prominent leaders in the field of psychedelic studies, who provide programmatic and advisory support that enhances the depth and efficacy of our offerings. Past collaborators include The Psychedelic Training and Research Institute (PRATI), Modern Spirit, and many more.
