Psychedelics, Psychoanalysis, and Ethics

• Location: Live Webinar
• Presenter: Megan Rundel, PhD
• Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
• Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. (Pacific Time)

Course Description

In this class, we will learn about the major psychedelic agents being used and researched for use with mental health issues. We will explore the powerful links between psychedelics and psychoanalysis, including opening and working with the unconscious, non-ordinary states, and transference and countertransference. We will also discuss what analysts need to know about talking with patients interested in psychedelics, including ethical issues, so participants can leave feeling well-informed and able to navigate this cutting-edge terrain.

Presenter’s Bio

Megan Rundel, Ph.D., is a graduate of the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California, where she is on the faculty, and is a personal and supervising analyst. She is also a graduate of several training programs on psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, and has written and taught widely on the intersection of psychedelics and psychoanalysis.

Course Level

This program is designed for psychologists, LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs; instructional level is intermediate.

Learning Objectives

1. 1. Participants will be able to list the major psychedelic agents currently being used or researched for their efficacy in treating mental health issues, and their effects, methods of actions, contraindications, and research findings so far.
   2. Participants will be able to describe some of the transference and countertransference paradigms and issues that are common in clinical work with psychedelic agents, and how they can be ethically navigated.
   3. Participants will be able to explain how analysts can work in a skillful and knowledgeable way with patients who are interested in working with psychedelics or who are currently using them in an ethical harm reduction framework.
   4. Participants will be able to discuss what analysts need to know to work ethically with non-ordinary states and their integration into everyday life, including containment, attunement, and negative capability.

Credit

4.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit (completion of this course will apply 4 hours towards your Ethics requirement)

Fee

$65 general, $45 students (please send a copy of your student I.D. to admin@sanville.edu)

The Sanville Institute, formerly a PhD-granting institution, now sponsors programs for continuing professional education. The Sanville Institute is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for Psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, and LPCCs. The Sanville Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.

The American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work (AAPCSW) is a national membership organization, with local chapters, that is dedicated to furthering psychoanalytic education and practice.

To download a flyer for this event click here