EMPATHS: Realms of Preparation and Integration a workshop with Dr Alana Roy and Melissa Warner

A course for clinicians and community members.

The EMPATHS model, designed by Dr Lani Roy and Melissa Warner as part of CPACT (Certificate of Psychedelic and Contemplative Therapies), represents a framework that synergies the ancient wisdom of contemplative practices with the modern, evidence-based realm of clinical psychedelic therapy.

The comprehensive EMPATHS model, with its components will be revealed. Join us for a work shop to explore some of the features of EMPATHS model across the somatic, relational, transpersonal, and metacognitive domains of preparation and integration; bridging psychedelic therapy and contemplative wisdom

When: August 26th of August, 2nd, 9th and 16th of September 7pm-830pm

Where: ZOOM

Online: $300

Concession $200 please email alana@thesignsoflife.com.au and submit concession card information.

NDIS funding accepted.

This program provides one with a road map to navigate psychedelic landscapes- shifting altered states, into altered traits and embodied wisdom.

This workshop provides a comprehensive skillset to better support a spectrum of psychedelic experiences. We will explore options for preparation, considerations for the journey and pathways for integrating psychedelic states. Psychedelics with supportive set, setting and skills can facilitate transformative experiences, yet not every journey is transformative and unique challenges can arise. While we can’t ever predict the outcome, throughout the day will explore appropriate tools, skills and strategies to reduce adverse experience and scaffold transformative altered state experience. We will unpack knowledge and frameworks supported by practical examples and guided reflections. This will incorporate elements from wisdom practices, neuroscience, modern therapeutic modalities as well as nature based perspectives.

The course will cover the following topics held within the EMPATHS framework:

Cognitive:

Introduction to psychedelics perspectives
Introduction to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
Psychedelic pharmacology
Psychedelic neuroscience: predictive processing to insight
Metacognitive skills
Harm minimisation and risk mitigation
Psychological support - establishing a safe psychedelic ecosystem

Relational:

Internal family systems/parts intentions setting meditation
Expectations vs intentions
Multiplicity and attachment informed psychedelic reparenting
Nature based therapies, alters and weaving IFS with the symbolic realm
Creation of rituals

Embodied:

Exploring peak experience themes through integration
Realms of integration - creative arts and nature based therapies
Integration strategies, tools and activities
Play, creativity and potentiality
Self-care practices
Future self meditation
art therapy process
movement meditation.

Participants will be provided with:

Future self meditation

Intention setting

IFS informed meditation

Self care resource pack

Intention and preparation worksheet to scaffold your experience

More about the presenters:

Dr. Alana Roy

FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, PSYCHOLOGIST, SOCIAL WORKER, ADVOCATE

Dr Alana (Lani) Roy, Founder of The Signs of Life Psychology, is a psychologist, social worker, and therapist with extensive experience in mental health, suicide prevention, trauma, sexual abuse, family violence, and the disability sector. Lani and Melissa have developed EMPATHS Integrative Somatic approach to therapy which incorporates metacognitive and transpersonal domains which they are teaching via the BIYOME Certificate of Psychedelic and Contemplative Practices (CPACT course) She is a Founding Board Member of AMAPP The Australian Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Practitioners. Lani provides Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) for clients accessing ketamine treatment in Australia and is actively engaged in research trials focusing on novel molecules. She is currently researching Australian community Ayahuasca and has a passion for co-production, co-design and harm reduction with people who have lived experience. Lani specialises in complex trauma, disabilities, and dual diagnosis, providing therapy in Auslan sign language for the Deaf community. She provides a range of psychedelic education programs in the community and with The Biomedical Institute of Yoga and Meditation; she is passionate about integrating science and the sacred. She is a board-approved psychology supervisor. Lani coordinates the psychedelic and plant medicine Mental Health Professional Network (MHPN), is an advisor for Cyberdelics Virtual Reality technologies, and Chapter Lead for Psychedelic Medicine America. Furthermore, she has completed an Advanced Diploma in Nature Based Therapies and is committed to expanding PAT outside clinical rooms into more nature-based settings.Lani provides a range of educational and group-based psychedelic programs. She is a board-approved psychology supervisor and provides psychology, social work, and biomedical student placements and supervision across Deakin, Monash, Victoria University, Psychedelic Research in Science and Medicine (PRISM), Entheogenesis Australia (EGA) and the Mental Health Foundation.

For more information about her personal journey towards healing and psychedelics please click here.

Melissa Warner
B.Science (Neuroscience), Grad Dip (Psych)

Melissa Warner is the Secretary of Psychedelic Research in Science and Medicine (PRISM), a pioneering Australian research charity where she helps advance research and science communication on psychedelics. She is also a neuroscience and psychology Research Fellow at Swinburne University, where she collaborates on psilocybin, 5-MeO-DMT, and virtual reality (VR) research. Melissa is a co-director of the Cyberdelic Society and Cyberdelic Labs, an extended-reality platform where she is an experience designer for virtual meditation adventures designed to train metacognition, mindset and mindfulness. She is designing research to explore the benefits of VR meditation before and after psychedelic-assisted therapy. Melissa also supports individuals as a meditation teacher at Signs of Life Psychology sharing her practice of meditation and coaching of 6+ years. In 2016, Melissa was a co-founder of The Australian Psychedelic Society, a grass-roots cultural hub. As a scientist, educator, futurist, and artist Melissa seeks to nurture the capacities of creativity, relationality and potentiality in herself and her community.

SOL Harm Reduction Stance

SOL acknowledges that psychedelics are currently illegal in Australia. SOL advocates for decriminalisation and provides nuanced harm reduction services. SOL does not endorse or encourage illegal use of psychedelics.
SOL acknowledges freedom of consciousness and the many ways people may choose to take psychedelics (clinical, ceremonial, solo and guided processes).
Please be aware of the legal context that impacts your personal situation and the potential benefits and risks to self and others.
SOL acknowledges that many of these medicines have been woven into indigenous communities for thousands of years.
SOL has so much to learn about ayni/reciprocity, sustainability and shamanistic models of health care. Due to the psychedelic renaissance we are seeing both a rapid growth of scientific trials and changes in policies and laws around the world.
SOL consults across this global community and information provided in SOL programs does need to be considered alongside your current legal context.