A New Model Integrating Pharmaceuticals and Psychotherapy - Cutting Edge Treatment in Mental Health

November 26, 2021, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Presented by Dr. Dawn DeCunha  EdD

SCHEDULE/PROGRAM

9:00 - 9:10 AM
Introductions and Outline of Workshop

9:10-  10:30 AM
TOPIC – Renaissance or Revolution?

  • A Brief Review of the History of Psychoactive Compounds
  • A Brief Review of What We Know About States of Consciousness
  • Ordinary and Expanded States of Consciousness
  • How Occasional Psychoactive Substances Could Change How We Practice
  • Current Research and Training Around the World
  • The Current Health Canada Position on Research and Practice
  • Q and A

10:30 - 10:45 AM Break

10:45 – 11:45 AM
TOPIC – Ketamine Enhanced Therapy as a Gateway to the New Science

  • The History of Ketamine & Contemporary Applications
  • A Brief Review of the Psychopharmacology of Ketamine
  • The unusual combination of Ketamine and Psychotherapy
  • Off Label Medical and Psychological Applications
  • The Hard Evidence for KET Protocols
  • How Ketamine Enhanced Therapy is Poised to Become a Breakthrough Protocol for Depression and Other Mental Illnesses
  • Assessment and Treatment Issues in the new ‘MedicoTherapy’

12:00 - 12:15 PM Q and A

12:15- 1:30 PM Lunch Break

1:30 - 2:45 PM
TOPIC – The Neuroscience and Functional Outcomes of Psychoactive Compounds

  • A Brief History of Psychedelic Research & Contemporary Adaptations
  • Ketamine and Temporary “Psycholytic” Effects
  • The Essential Role of Psychological Best Practices
  • Diagnosis and Measurement of Change
  • Screening for Eligibility and Indication
  • The Risks of KET
  • The Four Essential Steps in a Basic KET Protocol

2:45 – 3:00 PM Q & A

3:00 - 3:15 PM Break

3:15- 4:30 PM
TOPIC – Psychology’s Role in the New Paradigm

  • Therapist Qualities and Personal Experience
  • Training and Credentialing Issues
  • Emergence and Regulation of a Hybrid Profession
  • The Commercialization of Health Care
  • Teaching and Learning a New Way of Seeing Things
  • Integrating Archetypal and Psychological Perspectives
  • Measuring and Medicalizing the Ineffable

4:30 – 5:00 PM Q & A

 

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Dr. Dawn DeCunha is a clinical psychologist with more than two decades of experience in trauma informed assessment and treatment with vulnerable populations. In the past, she has used a variety of tools including CBT, DCBT, EMDR, Mindfulness and Hypnosis to name a few. More recently, she is a graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies post graduate program in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy and Research.

She is also a fully trained Compass Pathways therapist in Psilocybin Assisted Therapy and has recently completed her role as Lead Therapist for Phase II clinical trials at CAMH. She has a focus on Integration Therapy, Research and Education. She works in a Trauma Informed way and has an interest in Intergenerational Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Post-Traumatic Growth and Spirituality.