Course Schedule and Structure

Course Structure

This course incorporates various delivery methods in order to provide you with some key foundational molecular concepts for psychedelic-assisted therapy, using an evidence-based approach and best practices that will promote your learning retention and engagement. We aim to provide you with sufficient opportunities to practice relevant skills that will help you on your journey to becoming a competent clinician with psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Asynchronous Online Content

This course is entirely asynchronous, and you can complete it whenever is most convenient for you. In total, the whole course should take 4 hours to complete.

Assessments

Throughout the course, there will be various assessments to evaluate your knowledge, skills, and competencies that you have gained from the course. On the upcoming Assessment Overview page, you will learn about the course assessments and what you’ll need to successfully complete them.

Learning Activities

Throughout the course, there will be some opportunities to apply what you learned. In some cases, you will see an invitation to post a response on Flip. Flip is an online discussion tool that allows learners to have asynchronous discussions on a given topic via video or text. There will also be other learning activities scattered throughout the course.

Discussions with Flip

Prior to joining Flip, please read more about this third-party platform in the Welcome to Numinus Training module.

  1. Select the join classroom button at the bottom of this section

  2. Create a new account or login with Microsoft, Google, or Apple

Course Schedule

Before we dive into the course content, take a look at the course schedule to give yourself an idea of what is expected of you each week.

Course Start Date

Your Registration Date

Course End Date

1 Year after your registration date

Final Assignment Submission Date

1 Year after your registration date

Topics

  • Trauma psychobiology

  • Neurotransmitters

  • Neuroplasticity

  • Pharmacodynamics

  • Pharmacokinetics

  • Traditional mental health pharmacotherapy

  • Comparing psychedelic medicines and properties

Learning Outcomes

  • 1.1: Describe the role of neurotransmitters in the body and brain.

  • 1.2: Explain the difference between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

  • 1.3: Explain the general mechanism of action of traditional pharmacopsychotherapy.

  • 1.4: Define the various categories of psychotropic substances within the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

  • 2.1: Distinguish between an effect and a side effect for the purposes of client education.

  • 4.1: Compare the differences and similarities between psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine for the purposes of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Assessments Due

  • This module's Knowledge Check should be completed before the end of the course

Asynchronous Topics

  • Molecular structure of the medicine(s)

  • History of the medicine(s)

  • Legal status of the medicine(s)

Learning Outcomes

  • 1.5: Describe the molecular structure of MDMA and psilocybin.

  • 2.2: Describe the subjective and physiological effects and side effects of MDMA and psilocybin according to different dose ranges as they relate to psychedelic-assisted therapy.

  • 2.3: Explain the primary effects and mechanisms of action of MDMA and psilocybin on the brain, including connectivity in the brain and activation of serotonin receptors.

  • 3.1: List key historical events that led to the usage of MDMA and psilocybin in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

  • 3.2: Identify the current legal status of MDMA and psilocybin in Canada and the United States.

  • 3.3: Discuss the need to uphold cultural safety and humility within an Indigenous context.

Assessments Due

  • This module's Knowledge Check should be completed before the end of the course

Asynchronous Topics

  • Indications treated with the medicine(s)

  • Key studies on psychedelic-assisted therapy

  • Anesthetic vs psychedelic vs psycholytic vs microdoses dose ranges and effects

  • Mechanisms of action

Learning Outcomes

  • 1.6: Explain the risks, benefits, and pharmacological knowledge of MDMA and psilocybin in plain language to interdisciplinary colleagues and to clients as part of the informed consent process.

  • 1.7: Describe recommended dosages, expected duration, metabolism, and expected intensity of MDMA and psilocybin.

  • 1.8: Discuss key areas of research on MDMA and psilocybin.

  • 1.9: Explain the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of MDMA and psilocybin.

  • 2.2: Describe the subjective and physiological effects and side effects of MDMA and psilocybin according to different dose ranges as they relate to psychedelic-assisted therapy.

  • 2.3: Explain the primary effects and mechanisms of action of MDMA and psilocybin on the brain, including connectivity in the brain and activation of serotonin receptors.

  • 4.2: Explain for which indications MDMA and psilocybin is used.

Assessments Due

  • This module's Knowledge Check should be completed before the end of the course

Asynchronous Topics

  • Side effects

  • Harm reduction

  • Topics important for consent

  • Contraindications

  • Concomitant medications and supplements

Learning Outcomes

  • 1.6: Explain the risks, benefits, and pharmacological knowledge of MDMA and psilocybin in plain language to interdisciplinary colleagues and to clients as part of the informed consent process.

  • 2.2: Describe the subjective and physiological effects and side effects of MDMA and psilocybin according to different dose ranges as they relate to psychedelic-assisted therapy.

  • 4.3: Describe the contraindications and concomitant medications of MDMA and psilocybin in order to determine client suitability for psychedelic-assisted therapy.

  • 4.4: Identify models of substance use, potential for addiction, and opportunities for recovery for MDMA and psilocybin.

Assessments Due

  • This module's Knowledge Check should be completed before the end of the course