Certificate
Programme Leader: David Luke, PhD
Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology
Study the transpersonal nature of the psychedelic experience, altered states of consciousness and exceptional experiences.
Start date: February 2023. Length of study: 12 months, 100% online. Tuition: £3,000
This programme does not promote or in any way involve the consumption of psychedelics.
Our one-year Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology Certificate Programme at Alef Trust provides a collaborative environment to study the transpersonal nature of the psychedelic experience, altered states of consciousness and exceptional experiences.
With a renaissance in psychedelic research suggesting that traditionally prohibited substances such as psilocybin and MDMA might have a valuable role to play in revolutionising psychiatry and in the treatment of mental health problems, this programme offers a roadmap through the complex psychological terrain of the psychedelic experience and other altered states of consciousness within the intellectual and therapeutic envelope of transpersonal psychology.
This programme of study will explore the transpersonal nature of the psychedelic experience and other altered states, drawing upon transpersonal psychology, parapsychology, cross-cultural psychiatry, neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, anthropology, ethnobotany, and the study of religions, among other disciplines.
It will cover the study of a range of transpersonal and exceptional experiences, such as mystical, shamanic and mediumistic experiences, inter-species communication, entity – e.g., divine beings – encounters, psi experiences, out-of-body and near-death experiences, insight and creativity, love, compassion, connectivity and empathy, and other experiences and concomitants of the psychedelic encounter.
In addition, you will learn of recent research developments in understanding the state induced by, and the potential applications of, psychedelics.
Taking a cross-disciplinary approach the programme will both encompass and challenge the prevailing ontology of materialistic-reductionism and draw upon multiple cross-cultural worldviews in the epistemology and interpretation of the psychedelic experience and other altered states.
This programme does not promote or in any way involve the consumption of psychedelics.
Students studying on the Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology certificate programme offered by Alef Trust CIC are required to abide by a set of responsibility statements that are included on the application form, to which they sign their agreement.
Alef Trust CIC disclaims liability for any eventualities that may occur following student behaviour that breaks the areas of responsibility.
In particular, within the context of activities undertaken as part of the programme, students must not engage in any illegal activity involving the use of substances that are controlled in the geographical region that they are in at the time.
Possession or supply of a controlled drug in the UK exemplifies such an illegal activity.
Alef Trust CIC accepts no liability for activities undertaken by students for personal exploration of altered states, when these are not sanctioned by the Programme Leader.
It is the responsibility of the student to pursue only those activities that adhere to local legal requirements, and to ensure their own safety and wellbeing at all times.
Programme overview
Explore the nature or altered states of consciousness induced by psychedelics and other techniques
Learn about the variety of exceptional human experiences induced by altered states, and what challenges and potential opportunities for growth these can provide for the individual, for society and our ecosystems
Discover the history and current uses of the study of altered states and psychedelics, the relevance of transpersonal psychology for personal growth, and the importance of multidisciplinary and transcultural perspectives in coming to understand the full spectrum of human experience
Investigate your own personal mythology, the realm of the unconscious, the cognitive processes of the psychedelic experience, shamanic worldviews, the healing potential of transcendence, the nature of mind and the limits of experience, among other things
Experience working with altered states as a means of personal growth and transformation, exploration, discovery, healing, connection and insight
Develop a deeper understanding of; the range of experiences of altered states, approaches to their study and management, and the knowledge and wisdom embedded within transpersonal, indigenous, clinical, therapeutic, academic and psychonautic perspectives on altered states and exceptional human experience.
Applications for the programme are welcome from those having an interest in psychedelic and other altered states therapy and research within the context of transpersonal psychology. Candidates will be required to be sufficiently fluent in use of English to be able to study at this level.
A specific background in psychology or allied subject is not essential, although academic orientation to the subject matter will be beneficial.
Those attracted to the programme may be therapists and other clinicians, psychologists and other researchers and academics with an interest in psychedelics.
As well the interested lay public, such as:
- practitioners of mind exploring activities – meditators, psychonauts, neo-shamans, lucid dreamers, etc.
- those considering altered states practices for self-development or mental wellbeing
- budding psychedelic researchers, entrepreneurs and investors interested in the psychedelic renaissance
- as well the psychologically inclined and intellectually curious
This programme does not confer a qualification to work as a psychedelic psychotherapist, or as a therapist or counsellor, however it does provide a good grounding for those wishing to pursue such a career direction, and for clinicians, therapists and counsellors already working with altered states or seeking to do so.
The programme offers both a sound academic approach, rooted in transpersonal psychology, and practical reflexive supervised experience in the observation, study, research, exploration, care, or guidance of experiences in altered states.
We are currently witnessing a psychedelic research renaissance, as evidenced by the surge in academic publications of research papers on psychedelics, with dedicated centres for research opening up last year at Johns Hopkins University, USA, and at Imperial College London (where the Programme Leader is an Honorary Senior Lecturer), and at UC Berkeley, USA.
Furthermore, the announcement in 2018 that psilocybin and MDMA have been granted ‘breakthrough therapy’ status by the FDA in the US indicates that these substances are likely tobe licensed for medical use in the next 2-3 years, ushering in venture capital investment in psychedelic pharmacology and therapy to the tune of an estimated $2bn this year. The UK has seen its first psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy clinic appear this year, and in the US there are now already 200+ ketamine clinics for treating depression and addictions, which looked poised to adopt new psychedelic substances as they become licensed and legalised for medical use.
In addition, the considerable growth in ‘plant medicines’ recently has seen numbers of retreat centres internationally grow exponentially (e.g., there are 70 ayahuasca retreat centres in the Iquitos region of Peru alone listed on Trip Advisor). The explosion of interest in psychedelics, coupled with the coming use in psychotherapy will require thousands of therapists, psychologists and ‘sitters’ (guides), versed in the transpersonal realms that emerge during a psychedelic experience.
The Certificate in Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology is awarded by Alef Trust upon successful completion of the learning tasks – such as assignments and personal experiential work.
Programme tutor
David Luke, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Greenwich, Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College.
Pascal Michael BSc (Hons), MSc
BSc Hons (Aberdeen University) in Neuroscience and an MSc (University College London) in Clinical Mental Health Sciences.
Curriculum
In this module you will explore the transpersonal nature of the psychedelic experience, drawing upon transpersonal psychology, parapsychology, cross-cultural psychiatry, neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, anthropology, ethnobotany and the study of religions, among other disciplines. The module covers the applications and implications of transpersonal psychedelic experience, and the varieties of altered states of consciousness. You will also explore the history, culture and resources of the altered states community.
The first half of the module is co-taught with the 10-credit Psychedelics & Entheogens Open Learning course. Overall, the module involves engaging in eight live webinars and it is assessed with a group presentation and reflective account.
The first part of this module focuses on transpersonal psychology and altered states. In the second part, we will go deeper into the mystical experience, before branching out in the third part into other exceptional experiences in altered states and their challenges and potential for personal growth. The final part provides an opportunity to start researching and exploring transformative experience.
This module also involves engaging in eight live webinars and it is assessed with a 2500-word essay, peer-marking and a practice/experience module plan.
This is a practice-based/ experiential module, based on the reflexive engagement in some – ongoing or new – activity that includes the observation of, and/or communication with individuals – self or other – that are pursuing an activity that often reliably induces altered states of consciousness – mild or otherwise
And takes the form of an ethnographic or auto-ethnographic report, such as:
- using interviews
- observations
- journaling and commentary in relation published literature and research
The module could also be approached as a simple research project (e.g., case study, interviews, or survey) with participants engaged in an altered state of consciousness-inducing practice. Guidance, supervision, and, in some cases, introductions and directions towards appropriate organisations will be given by the course leader.
The module includes an introductory webinar, an initial and final forum, and ongoing online supervision of your project through emails and forum dialogue.
The final assessment consists of a 4000-word report and short online video presentation report in which creative expression is very much encouraged (e.g., student produced film, music, poetry, art, etc).
The Certificate in Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology is awarded by Alef Trust upon successful completion of the learning tasks (such as assignments and personal experiential work).
Frequently asked questions
This one-year course is considered part time. It includes three modules, spanning four months each. The course offers an immersive and intensive learning journey that is designed to stretch you.
You can expect to spend approximately 10-12 hours per week studying learning resources, partaking in webinars, communicating in forums, preparing assignments, and engaging in peer dialogue, as well as supervision sessions.
The course structure should be manageable alongside your other responsibilities. We will provide you with comprehensive schedule information, so you can plan ahead.
Psychedelics – “mind/soul manifesting” – or entheogens – “creating the divine within” – are substances that stimulate profound qualitative changes to one’s state of consciousness.
These substances, in the form of flora, fungi, and occasionally fauna, have been used by humans for millennia in their magico-spiritual practices, often termed ‘shamanic’.
More recently these substances have been explored scientifically and medically for their potentially beneficial properties in the treatment of psychological and, increasingly, physical health problems, as well as in the catalysis of creative problem solving and spiritual insight, and for personal growth.
Core to the psychedelic and altered states journey is the enhanced occurrence of ‘exceptional human experiences’ – a range of psychic manifestations that have largely been ignored, pathologized or demonised within Western culture – but which can be a wellspring of personally transformative events that can lead to psychological, philosophical, moral, spiritual, ecological and inter-personal reorientation, insight, healing and growth, albeit dependent to a large extent upon of a culture and community of understanding, preparation, integration and acceptance.
In the current era of what has been called the psychedelic research renaissance, it is becoming increasingly important to explore, study and understand the transpersonal dimension of psychedelic experiences, and concomitantly other altered states of consciousness, as these have been shown to go hand in hand with these experience and they have important implications for the treatment of psychological conditions in clinical research.
Furthermore, much can be learned about the nature of consciousness and its underlying neurobiology from examining the transpersonal nature of psychedelic experiences and other altered states and this research is at the cutting edge of consciousness research.
It is a strong assertion that students do not participate in any illegal activity – e.g., some psychedelics are controlled substances in some countries – nor endanger themselves mentally or physically beyond their normal activities, experience or ability, and that they take responsibility for themselves, nor put anyone else at risk.
Any proposal for reflexive study that is considered a risk in this regard, beyond that individual’s current experience and activity will be rejected.
All research-based projects must be ethically sound to be accepted
Observation can either be one’s personal activity – example pursuits above – or the research – e.g., ethnography, online survey, case report – of others’ experience.
Examples of observation and research of others’ activities could include reflexive reports of working with people having psychedelic experiences.
Such as a therapist, a retreat experience ‘sitter’/facilitator, or as a festival drug welfare volunteer.
Ethnographic research, such as interviews, live observation – with trance mediums, neo-shamanic practitioners, meditators, yoga practitioners, etc.
Or anonymous online surveys exploring telepathic experiences among MDMA users.
Student stories
“Thanks for the tutoring and insightful webinars – this was by far my favourite module in the Masters so far. “
“The recent module on psychedelics and endtheogens lead by David as part of my student curriculum at Alef Trust gave me incredible insights into my own journey with altered states of consciousness. It made me understand the spiritual aspects of using psychedelics as a way of mystical experience that can bring about personal spiritual evolution. I was inspired to consciously explore my relationship to ayahuasca and I am thankful that I finally followed the calling. Looking forward to more extended modules”
“With his first-hand experience around psychedelic research, trials and therapies – David Luke is the true expert on the subject of Psychedelics and Entheogens. His engagement and full participation in conversations and forums is mind-stimulating; at the webinars, he brings endless insight and the latest news on the subject. It became evident to me that taking this course was a winner, although ‘the experience’ was far too short for a thriving matter of psychedelics.”
