COURSES

Navigating Psychedelics: Jewish-Informed Perspectives on Psychedelics

9 Weeks - Live - Online

A groundbreaking course exploring the spiritual, therapeutic and cultural aspects of Jewish psychedelic experiences.

OVERVIEW

What is Navigating Psychedelics: Jewish-Informed Perspectives on Psychedelics

This new course offering by Psychedelics Today merges our best-selling Navigating Psychedelics education library with a brand new curriculum taught by an amazing teaching team of Jewish / Israeli experts.

Over the course of 9 weeks, our lead-instructor, David Drapkin, LCSW, will cover traditional subjects such as set & setting, harm reduction, space holding, and Integration, as well as specifically curated topics on the cultural, phenomenological, mystical, and spiritual aspects of Jewish psychedelic use.

Each week, a different guest instructor will join David to give a brief presentation and engage in open Q&A with students.

Classes are in English, and last for 90 minutes. Students are also welcome to stay in the Zoom for another 30 minutes each week to schmooze with other students in either an English or Ivrit breakout group!

We focus on Jewish and Israeli perspectives and experiences of psychedelics, but students do not need to be Jewish or Israeli to enroll in this course. If you are Jewish, you don't need to identify any particular way about what this actually means or doesn't mean to you. Any student with a respectful curiosity and an openness to learning is welcome to apply.

The course is open to both clinicians/wellness practitioners seeking advanced cultural competence as well as non-practitioners interested in the intersectionality of psychedelic consciousness/healing with Jewish traditions and contemporary experiential realities.

  • Where is my most sacred time and space?

  • How can I bring more harm reduction practices into my professional and personal life?

  • What does being Jewish mean to me, and how does this express itself during psychedelic journeys?

  • What relevance do ancestors and ancestral traditions have today?

  • How do I approach psychedelic integration such that growth and healing evolves organically? 

  • How to effectively and sensitively relate to your own and your clients' collective trauma and intergenerational trauma.

DIVE IN

What you will learn

DIVE IN

What makes this course special?

  • Being part of the first ever cohort of English-speaking students from around the world to learn about Jewish-informed perspectives on psychedelics 

  • Gain cultural competence for working with Jewish clients around their psychedelic use 

  • Stay in touch with fellow students during and after the course with membership to our private Circle community platform

  • Incorporating psychological, shamanic, phenomenological and philosophical approaches to understanding the intricate nuances of the psychedelic realm

  • Combining the latest science, research and best practices with real world techniques that connect you and your clients to authentic meaning making

Live Taught Course Outline:

  • Delve into the origins of the course and get to know your peers. This week provides an overview of the historical use and significance of psychedelics, from traditional and indigenous use to modern-day research and practices.

  • Explore the importance of mindset (set) and environment (setting) in the psychedelic experience. Drawing from Jewish traditions, we'll discuss the sanctity of time and space, and how these concepts can be applied to create a safe, authentic and spiritually enriching container for psychedelic journeys.

  • Safety first! This week focuses on the potential risks and harms of using psychedelics. Specifically, how we can use intention setting, preparation and accountability to align what we want and don't want, with what we need and already have within us.

  • Dive into the pioneering MDMA research being done by MAPS / MAPS PBC, and learn how these treatments may be effective for conditions such as PTSD. This week we also cover issues around ethics, social/cultural equity, and systems approaches to psychedelic healing.

  • How do psychedelics influence our perception of self, God, the universe? This week, we'll explore the phenomenological effects of psychedelics through a Jewish lens. Discussing mystical experiences, interpretations of Torah and tradition, and the potential for spiritual growth, meaning making and healing on the individual and collective level.

  • Drawing parallels between meditative practices and psychedelic experiences, this week delves into Jewish and non-Jewish traditions of applied spiritual practice. We'll explore how meditation can induce states of consciousness that mirror and complement those induced by psychedelics.

  • Learn the importance of being a supportive presence during your own and other's psychedelic journeys. Drawing on personal experience and inner wisdom as a source of compassion, love, trust and forgiveness, we learn tools for tuning into our body, heart and soul for healing.

  • Post-psychedelic integration is essential for personal growth, but also for anchoring psychedelic experiences within one's daily life reality. This week, we cover practices and techniques that illuminate our shadow and integrate our multiplicity of personal selves with our intergenerational/familial inheritance.

  • In this concluding week, students will present personal projects that encapsulate their learnings and reflections from the course. this is an opportunity for students to integrate their knowledge, share insights, and showcase their integration project with their peers.

INCLUDED STUDY

This course includes our flagship course library from Navigating Psychedelics for Clinicians and Wellness Practitioners.

A course specially designed for health and wellness practitioners who want to learn more about psychedelic medicine, wish to integrate psychedelics into their existing practice, and those beginning a new career in the emerging field of psychedelics.

At Psychedelics Today, we have tapped our extensive professional psychedelic network to address the complexities around psychedelic therapy. This course serves to enhance prior knowledge of psychedelics or serve as an introduction to this emerging field of healthcare.

Learn More About The Course Here

What is the time commitment for the live edition?

Space is limited!

We have kept groups small and intimate to ensure that all students can contribute to the live group discussions.

Nine consecutive weeks involve interactive, 1.5-hour sessions over Zoom that will educate and guide healthcare professionals on psychedelic medicine. A final project will conclude the course in Week 9.

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Upon finishing the course, participants will receive a Navigating Psychedelics certificate of course completion. (Note this course is for educational purposes. Psychedelics Today does not train therapists to facilitate psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.)

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Meet Your Lead Facilitator

  • David Drapkin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Psychotherapist, based in New Jersey. At the age of 21 David’s near death electrocution experience resulted in a profound change in life direction, away from his BA in Economics and career dreams to be a stock broker to many years spent backpacking, spiritual seeking and disappearing into nature and solitude. Since then, David has received two MA degrees in Social Work and accumulated over 15 yrs in front-line clinical, supervisory, managerial and directorship healthcare roles. David has worked for three separate hospital based behavioral health departments, and was previously also the clinical director of an outpatient addiction clinic. David is a psychodynamic psychotherapist with psychoanalytic training from the William Alanson White Institute of NYC. His private practice has been open since 2017.David's encounters with non-ordinary states of consciousness go back to his teenage years. From raves and wilderness psilocybin journeys to solo fasting meditation retreats in India, Israel and New Zealand. David is particularly interested in the intersections between transpersonal states of consciousness and Kabbalah. In 2021 David joined Psychedelics Today, and is currently the Director of Education & Training.

Weekly Guest Presenters

*subject to change

  • Tal is a somatic trauma therapist and lead educator at the Inner Trek training program. She also operates as a clinical consultant for Omnia Group Ashland, a psilocybin service center in Oregon, and provides KAP sessions for people with C-PTSD. Tal graduated from the California Institute of Integral Studies Program in Psychedelic Assisted Therapies and Research in 2021. She is trained in MDMA Assisted Therapy by MAPS parts A-D, and in ongoing Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with training and supervision with Polaris Insight Center. She specializes in integration of non ordinary states of consciousness and provides ketamine assisted psychotherapy in Ashland Oregon. Tal grew up in a Jewish Orthodox family in Israel, and self identifies as being a psychonaut specializing in somatic embodiment, mindfulness, and celebrating mystery.

  • Michael Fine is a space holder and teacher specializing in the interplay between psychedelics, religion, and spirituality. Michael is based in Tel Aviv, from where he teaches meditation and facilitates integration groups. He offer talks and workshops about various psychedelic subjects, especially around harm reduction, spirituality and integration. Michael is currently studying for a Masters degree at Tel Aviv University in Philosophy & Religious Studies.

  • Madison Margolin is a journalist covering psychedelics, cannabis, spirituality, and Jewish life. She is also the author of a forthcoming book with Hay House Publishing about the intersection of Judaism and psychedelics, from the perspective of growing up in both the Ram Dass community and the cannabis legalization movement. Co-founder of DoubleBlind Magazine, she has written for publications like Rolling Stone, Playboy, VICE, and several other outlets. She currently works as project manager of Lucid News' latest endeavor, Psychedelic U, and a contributing editor to Jewish publishing studio Ayin Press, where she develops psychedelic-related content. Also a co-founder of the Jewish Psychedelic Summit and host of the Be Here Now Network's Set & Setting podcast, Madison has traveled everywhere from pot farms in the Emerald Triangle to the shores of the Ganges River, and around Israel-Palestine, exploring the role of plant medicine in religion, mental health, and conflict resolution. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

    Kyle earned his M.S. in clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in somatic psychology from Prescott College. Kyle’s clinical background in mental health consists of working with at-risk teenagers in crisis and with individuals experiencing an early episode of psychosis and providing counseling to undergraduate/graduate students in a university setting. Kyle also has experience offering psychotherapy services specializing in psychedelic integration, spiritual emergence, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

  • Zac is a rabbi, community leader, and aspiring psychedelic-assisted chaplain based in Berkeley, CA. He holds an MA in Biblical literature and languages from UC Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union and received rabbinic ordination from the head of the Jerusalem Rabbinical Court in 2012. As the founder and CEO of Shefa, Zac is pioneering a movement to integrate safe and supported psychedelic use into the Jewish spiritual tradition, advocate for individuals and communities to heal individual and inherited trauma and inspire a Jewish religious and creative renaissance in the 21st century.

  • Dr. Ido Cohen, Psy.D – serves individuals, couples and groups in San Francisco. He received his Psy.D from the California Institute of integral studies and trained at the Jung Institute In San Francisco. He works with a diverse range of challenges childhood trauma, inner critic, relational issues, lack of fulfillment, psychospiritual growth as well as psychedelic integration and preparation sessions with individuals and groups. His doctoral study researched the integration process of Ayahuasca ceremonies, while applying Jungian psychology to better understand how to support individuals in their process of change and transformation. He is the founder of “The Integration Circle” and facilitates workshops on the different dimensions of integration and the intersection of mental health, spiritual health and the entheogenic experience. Ido believes that the intersection of our psychological, emotional, somatic and spiritual dimensions can develop our relationships with our inner and outer worlds and create the changes we want to see in our life. Ido is passionate in supporting individuals to create long term, sustainable change leading to vibrant, authentic, expressive and love filled lives.

  • Shaun is a harm reductionist with a Masters in Counselling Psychology. Shaun was one of the founders of Anashim Tovim, Israel's first professional psychedelic harm reduction organization. He later opened and operated for five years "Our Place in India", an information and counselling center for backpackers in India based on harm reduction principles. After returning to Israel, Shaun began studying psychedelic therapy - first with cannabis and later with ketamine - and is one of the founders of ACPT (Access Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Treatments in Israel) - a registered non-profit that provides referrals to safe and legal therapy options and is committed to increasing the pool of therapists by bringing recognized and quality trainings to the Israeli public. He was also a member of the inter-ministerial committee for the Knesset (Israeli parliament) Drug Committee, looking into nature parties and psychedelic use. He also provides harm reduction counselling and integration therapy via Zoom and at his converted bomb shelter on the kibbutz where he lives.

  • Natalie Lyla Ginsberg (MSW) is the Global Impact Officer at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, (MAPS), and the co-founder of the Jewish Psychedelic Summit. Natalie joined MAPS in 2014, founding the Policy & Advocacy department, and serving as its director for 5 years. At MAPS, Natalie initiated and co-developed MAPS’ Health Equity program, including MAPS' first MDMA Therapy Training for Communities of Color, and co-authored the first study interviewing Palestinians and Israelis who have shared ayahuasca ceremonies. Before joining MAPS, Natalie worked as a Policy Fellow at the Drug Policy Alliance, where she helped legalize medical cannabis in her home state of New York, and worked to end race-based marijuana arrests. Natalie was born and raised in New York City and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. She received her B.A. in history from Yale College, and her master’s of social work (M.S.W.) from Columbia University.

BONUS EXTRAS

Bonus: Trip Journal

Are you planning a journey in the near future or working with clients who may be planning a trip? This journal is something you don't want to forget!

This journal will also help you or your clients best prepare for their experience and aids as a wonderful tool for self-exploration.

The Navigating Psychedelics Trip Journal is the ultimate book to help one prepare, track, and begin to work with their psychedelic experiences.

In this 68 page book, you will find preparation tips and advice, journal prompts, a psychedelic trip checklist, a trip report section, and more.

BONUS EXTRAS

Bonus: Integration Workbook

Have you had a psychedelic experience and are unsure how to work with the experience?

Psychedelic experiences can be difficult, confusing, blissful, and life-changing, but knowing what to do next can be overwhelming. That is why we have designed the Navigating Psychedelics Integration Workbook to help you with your process.

This workbook can also be used with your clients as a starting point for their integration process.

We have received amazing feedback from therapists and coaches who have been using these books with clients and absolutely LOVE them!

This workbook consists of different activities such as meditation prompts, journaling exercises, and goal planning.

COMMUNITY

Student Financial Assistance

We do offer a small amount of scholarships per course. Please fill out this application to apply for a scholarship.

 FAQs

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

  • Course is currently closed for enrollment

  • How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own. You will receive access to the course replays and other materials that were presented during class.

  • This course will be interactive and requires participation. If you are not able to join the live calls, we recommend waiting to join the course when you are able to join live. We may have a self-study course in the future.

  • Life happens, we understand. If you happen to miss a class because of a life event, you will receive access to the course replays.

  • No, this course does not teach or certify anyone to work with psychedelics. This course is for educational purposes only. During the course, you will explore the concepts of psychedelic integration and how to work with previous psychedelic experiences

  • Yes, you can choose a payment plan at checkout via Affirm or Afterpay. If you live in a country where these options are not available, please email us info@psychedelicstoday.com

  • The course is $750 USD plus tax. If you purchase before October 13th, you will receive $200 off ($550 USD).

  • Yes, you will receive $200 off if you enroll before October 13th

  • We have very limited scholarships for this class.

    If you are seeking a scholarship for this class, please take a moment to fill out this application.

PRICING

This course is currently closed for enrollment.

Sign up below to be notified of when it opens next.

Disclaimer

  • Disclaimer

    This course in no way promotes, condones, or facilitates illegal activity. This course is strictly for educational purposes only. Please be aware that most psychedelic substances are illegal in many countries. By enrolling into this program, you are agreeing that Psychedelics Today takes no responsibilities for your actions.

    This course does not provide credentials or training for therapists, coaches, and clinicians to provide psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy services. Largely these services are illegal.

    Informed Consent

    Please be aware that this course is for educational purposes only. This is not a substitute for traditional psychotherapy or medicine. This course is designed to provide education from our personal and professional experiences. If you are experiencing significant issues, please seek medical attention.

    Limitations of course

    The exercises in this course are oriented towards personal and spiritual development. The techniques or modalities are in no way a replacement for traditional therapy. Much of the information in this course could be applied to your on-going therapy, if you are currently utilizing mental health services.

    We believe that providing education, peer-support, and harm reduction is important for this field.

    Again, this course also does not train/certify therapists, clinicians, or coaches to provide/facilitate illegal activities.

    By enrolling in this course, you are agreeing that you understand the purpose and limitations of this course.

    Looking forward to taking this journey with you!