Psychedelic-assisted therapy

Dr. Hurst is not currently accepting new therapy clients and does not keep a waitlist. When that changes, the news will be posted right here. This page shares her training and approach in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

What psychedelic-assisted therapy is

Psychedelic-assisted therapy pairs psychotherapy with carefully guided sessions using a psychedelic medicine, in places where that medicine is legal and medically supervised. The therapy is the main event. The medicine can help people reach difficult emotions, memories, and beliefs with more openness, and the therapist helps them make sense of what comes up.

Specific training with specific organizations

• Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider (PATP) training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI), preparing clinicians for the three stages of this work: preparation, the medicine session, and integration.
• A 6-day in-person psilocybin facilitator training in Oregon, offered by Canopy Collective and added on to her IPI program, which earned her an additional certificate in psilocybin facilitation.
• Nine months of weekly, 90-minute consultation with Canopy Collective in 2026, and ongoing monthly consultation in 2027 and beyond.
• Currently taking courses in the End of Life Psychedelic Care (EOLPC) program, preparing to support people facing serious illness and the end of life.

This work sits alongside her EMDR Level 1 training, Internal Family Systems basics, and her work as an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor and AAMFT Clinical Fellow.

What the IPI PATP program requires

• An advanced degree in medicine or mental health, plus a solid foundation of mental health experience.
• About 250 hours of training over one year: prerequisite modules, two virtual intensives, weekly lectures, large-group seminars, and small home-group calls.
• Twice-monthly small-group mentorship with faculty, including case review.
• A 3-day in-person practicum in Boulder, Colorado, practicing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, required to sit for the certification exam.
• Ethics woven through the curriculum, and demonstrated core competencies.

No national board certification exists yet for psychedelic-assisted therapy, so this is a program credential. See the IPI program page.

Licensing requirements in Oregon

Oregon has a licensed psilocybin services program. To become a licensed facilitator, a person must:

• Be at least 21, with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Complete an Oregon-approved facilitator training program that includes core training, a practicum, and a comprehensive exam.
• Pass the state exam with a score of 75% or higher, and a criminal background check.
• Submit a social equity plan, pay licensing fees, and complete 4 hours of continuing education each year.

Details: Oregon facilitator license fact sheet.

Licensing requirements in Colorado

Colorado voters passed Prop 122 (the Natural Medicine Health Act) in 2022, and state facilitator licensing opened in December 2024. There are two main tracks:

• Clinical facilitators are licensed medical or mental health providers who add psychedelic-assisted therapy to their care.
• Facilitators without a clinical background must screen participants first, and refer anyone who needs a higher level of care to a clinical facilitator.
• Both tracks complete a state-approved training program (150 hours when the program launched). Clinical facilitators also log supervised practice and consultation hours.
• Sessions happen at licensed healing centers, and the rules are still being updated.

Details: Colorado Natural Medicine program.

What about ketamine?

Ketamine is different. It is a legal medicine in the United States that licensed medical prescribers can use, and esketamine (Spravato) is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy adds therapy for preparation and integration around those medical sessions.

Studies worth reading

• Psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder (JAMA Psychiatry)
• Psilocybin versus escitalopram for depression (NEJM)
• Single-dose psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (NEJM)
• Ketamine versus ECT for treatment-resistant depression (NEJM)

Important to know

This page is educational. It is not medical advice or an offer of treatment. Psychedelic medicines are not right for everyone and carry real risks, so medical screening is part of responsible care. Laws vary by state and by substance, and rules change often. Questions are welcome at cami@camihurst.com.