This program is approved for 1.5 continuing education contact hours. Rhode Island Association for Psychoanalytic Psychologies (RIAPP) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. RIAPP maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
This program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers for 1.5 continuing education contact hours (0.5 CE in cross-cultural practice).
Please join us 6:30 - 7:30 (prior to the event) for food and drinks to welcome in the season!
Interest in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) has grown significantly in recent years. Drs. Cirillo and Rojas will introduce participants to mental health treatment using psychedelic-assisted therapy, providing an overview of the field and examining potential benefits for mental health and psychological well-being. Participants will learn how psychedelics are being used in conjunction with psychotherapy to promote healing, insight, and emotional integration.
The presentation will explore ways in which psychedelic-assisted therapies may enhance psychoanalytic approaches, including the softening of ego boundaries and a quieting of habitual thought patterns. The speakers will discuss differences between psycholytic and psychedelic dosing approaches and will compare Western, medically based models with Indigenous ceremonial uses of psychedelics and psychoactive plant medicines.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:
Identify at least three differences between Western psychedelic-assisted treatment models and Indigenous ceremonial uses of plant medicines.
Describe psychological conditions for which psychedelic-assisted treatments have demonstrated potential benefit in peer-reviewed research.
Discuss how psychedelic assisted therapy may facilitate access to unconscious materials or primary processes, the loosening of rigid psychological defenses, and the facilitation of emotional processing.
Michael Cirillo, Ph.D., ABPP-CN is a clinical neuropsychologist with over 25 years of experience in private practice. He has a longstanding interest in the therapeutic and transformative potential of psychedelics for healing and personal growth. He is deeply passionate about plant-based psychedelic medicines within Indigenous cultures, where they hold a central role in life transitions, spiritual development, and personal guidance. Dr. Cirillo maintains a regular meditation practice and holds a strong belief in the human capacity to move beyond limiting thought patterns, fostering greater growth, fulfillment, and well-being.
Bertha-Elena Rojas, Psy.D., M.Ed. is a clinical neuropsychologist and educator with a deep commitment to advancing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as a pathway for emotional healing, meaningful interpersonal connection, and a renewed relationship with the natural world. Her work is informed by a strong interest in supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with histories of trauma, including intergenerational and generational trauma. She has developed equity-focused frameworks grounded in cultural literacy and cultural humility, which guide her clinical practice, teaching, and advocacy.
References
Yao Y, Guo D, Lu TS, Liu FL, Huang SH, Diao MQ, Li SX, Zhang XJ, Kosten TR, Shi J, Bao YP, Lu L, Han Y. Efficacy and safety of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2024 May;335:115886. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115886. Epub 2024 Mar 28. PMID: 38574699.
Cirillo, M. A. (2025). Current U.S. Approaches to Studying Psychedelic Medicines Compared to Psychedelics Use Among Indigenous Groups: What Are We Missing? Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678251321040
Albert AE, Back AL. Psychoanalytically informed MDMA-assisted therapy for pathological narcissism: a novel theoretical approach. Front Psychiatry. 2025 Apr 2;16:1529427. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1529427. PMID: 40256160; PMCID: PMC12006724.
Passie T, Guss J, Krähenmann R. Lower-dose psycholytic therapy - A neglected approach. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 2;13:1020505. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1020505. PMID: 36532196; PMCID: PMC9755513.
Walsh Z, Mollaahmetoglu OM, Rootman J, Golsof S, Keeler J, Marsh B, Nutt DJ, Morgan CJA. Ketamine for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review. BJPsych Open. 2021 Dec 23;8(1):e19. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2021.1061. Erratum in: BJPsych Open. 2022 Jan 18;8(1):e29. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2022.5. PMID: 35048815; PMCID: PMC8715255.
Labate, B. C., & Cavnar, C. (2021). Psychedelic Justice. Santa Fe, NM: Synergetic Press.