John Anderson holds a first degree in Neuroscience and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Cardiff University. He worked as a Postdoctoral researcher for Nottingham Trent University where his research explored relationships between positive Schizotypy and anomalous perceptual experiences due light-flicker Ganzfeld exposure.
John was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder in his late 20s a first episode of psychosis and suicide attempt. Having recovered from this initial episode, John continued to struggle with his mental health. Seeking a better way to manage his Bipolar, John tried psilocybin containing mushrooms in his 40s. The experience changed his life for the better and inspired him to retrain as a Humanistic Counsellor where he now works in private practice as a Psychedelic Practitioner (preparation and integration). John is a key member of the Scottish Psychedelic Research Group (SPRG), where he runs a collaborative project with the Independent Practitioners Network and others to develop an ethical framework for therapists and other practitioners working with altered states of consciousness. John also took part in a recent event by the SPRG that was filmed by Drugreporter. This resulted in the release of a powerful documentary on the struggle to liberate psychedelic medicine in Scotland. In the film, John and others passionately discuss their lived experience and testimony of the healing powers of psychedelic drugs.
In addition to being passionate about all things psychedelic, John is also passionate about teaching. In addition to his counselling practice, John currently works as Tutor and Course Director for an Undergraduate course in Cognitive psychology at the Institute of Continuing Education in Cambridge, where he also teaches on the MSt in Coaching. John has also trained professional counsellors, and recently co-founded the Institute of Psychospiritual Therapy which is dedicated to developing his Diploma level counsellor training for Psychedelic Practitioners. John is also a member of the Institute of Psychedelic Therapy.
Colloquium Presentation: 3 May 2024 (speaking in person)
Title: Psychedelic Practitioner Training – Meeting the Challenges Ahead
After a long hiatus, psychedelic therapy is undergoing a resurgence of interest in many countries for a wide range of mental health conditions. Thus, psychedelics open the door to a wide array of exciting career opportunities for individuals seeking to work in a worldwide industry projected to grow substantially in the years ahead.
Facilitating the investigation of psychedelics, and or the delivery of legal support services within professional Health and Wellbeing settings, requires robust training programs that support future practitioners in cultivating the requisite specialist knowledge and skills. To meet the increasing interest and eventual clinical demand, several companies in the U.K. now offer Psychedelic Practitioner Training. The important question is, are any of the current courses fit for purpose?
To help you decide, my talk will explore some of the key issues with current Psychedelic Practitioner Training in the UK, and how an emerging training sector can start to address these challenges. My talk draws on my own career as a Tutor in Cognitive Psychology, Coaching, and Counselling, as well as my private practice as a Counsellor and Psychedelic Practitioner. My hope is that by the end of this talk you will be better informed of the challenges and potential solutions relating to Psychedelic Practitioner training in the UK. Additionally, for those interested in undertaking Psychedelic Practitioner Training, this talk will help you to ask informed questions of any training provider with the aim of deciding which if any of the courses on currently on offer, might be right for you.