As a result of attending this session, participants should be able to:

• Describe or explain how an experienced or trained clinical team can use psychedelic medicine in the management of dying patients' terror and anxiety
• Create patient-centered criteria for including their dying patients in clinical trials of psychedelic medicine
• Discuss multiple (even contradictory) psychodynamic perspectives on the metapsychology of "mystico-spiritual" experiences of dying patients exposed to psychedelic medicine
• Explain how working comfortably in teams with professions with differing mindset can be of benefit to patients in end-of-life palliative care
• Discuss the place of music in the psychedelic-integrative process in end-of-life care
• Explain the concept of the Death Doula and their potential role in the clinical end-of-life team

Conference Schedule

Conference Faculty and Facilitators

Faculty

Thomas M Brod MD, DLFAPA (Coordinator) is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine and Senior Faculty at New Center for Psychoanalysis (Los Angeles). He coordinates the Manifest Mind series as well as co-coordinates NCP’s Film & Mind series.

Florian Birkmayer, MD is a holistic psychiatrist who has pioneered the clinical use of essential oils in ketamine and other psychedelic therapies. He is a co-founder of AromaGnosis with his wife and herbalist, aromatherapist, teacher and wounded healer Cathy Skipper, which combines Jungian depth psychology with aromatic shamanism for personal evolution. 

Houman Farzin, MD is a Holistic physician, artist, and health technology innovator. He is a palliative care physician at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal and a lecturer at McGill University medical school. He has a broad range of clinical skills and has spent many years working in remote communities across North America, including the Arctic Circle. He is trained in various psychedelic therapeutic modalities including MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine. He is the Montreal site physician for the Phase 3 clinical trial of the MDMA-assisted therapy study sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and on the training committee of TheraPsil, a non-profit organization dedicated to obtaining legal access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.

Pamela Kryskow, MD is a medical doctor widely recognised for her strong interest in psychedelic medicine, mental health and chronic pain. She is founding board members of the Canadian Psychedelic Association. She is part of an expert team working to give Canadians access to psilocybin at end of life. Dr Kryskow is actively involved in research related to psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, mental wellness and neurogenesis. Co-investigator on the largest microdosing study Microdose.me which is ongoing with 14 000+ enrolled participants. A Clinical Instructor at University of British Columbia and Adjunct Professor at Vancouver Island University. The medical lead on the Roots To Thrive Ketamine Assisted Therapy program that treats health care providers with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction. In real life she loves foraging in the forest, ocean kayaking, growing kale and daydreaming in the hammock. 

Mary Brierre Telliano, founder of the Anam Cara Academy, is an end of life doula. End of life doulas reprocess the death with the friends and family of the departed, holding space for their grieving and lovingly guiding them though the process. A doula does not judge feelings, responses or behaviors. A doula opens the doors for moments of understanding, appreciation, healing and even transformation.

Julane Andries, LMFT directs the Center for Transformational Psychotherapy in San Francisco. She is currently managing a 5-site study of psychedelics and palliative (end-of-life) care.

Leonard Bearne, PsyD is a psychoanalyst in Los Angeles. Since his first psychedelic experience, over 50 years ago, he has been involved in the study of these substances and their potential use in psychotherapy. One particular area of his interest has been their ability to alleviate the anticipatory fear that people facing life threatening illnesses experience. We all die, but not every death entails suffering.

Julie Michael McCaig, PhD is a training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of California (PCC). She co-founded the THRIVE Infant-Family Program 501c3 -Non- Profit. Thrive therapists observed infants and parents in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) to extend understanding of “perinatal states of mind”. In addition to her practice, training, and supervision, Dr. McCaig is currently studying experiences in Social Dreaming for a deeper understanding of our rhizome-like unconscious creativity.  

Phil Wolfson, MD has extensive post-graduate training in family systems theory and practice, group psychotherapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, CBT. He practiced MDMA (Ecstasy) psychotherapy in legal period and published on its use in psychotherapy. Founding Member of Heffter Research Institute. Principle Investigator—MAPS sponsored MDMA and Life Threatening Illness Study.

Gita Vaid, MD is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst practicing in New York City. Dr. Vaid completed her residency training at NYU Medical Center and psychoanalytic training at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Education affiliated with NYU. She has a rich research and biological background, completing a fellowship in clinical psychopharmacology and neurophysiology at New York Medical College and a research fellowship at NYU Medical Center. Dr. Vaid is currently on faculty and teaches at both IPE and the NYU Department of Psychiatry. She has a special interest in teaching interview technique, psychoanalytic theory and British object relations. Dr. Vaid’s current focus and interest is in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Dream Mullick is a writer, teacher, producer, death coach and dreamer whose work focuses on the evolution of consciousness and a return to love. She curates programs that combine the world-views of ceremony and science with sacred plant medicines and psychedelics, including the exploration of death as a pathway to liberation. In her practices Dream explores the profound transformative power of death, grief, joy and love. Her latest creation, Entheowheel, launched in collaboration with the Esalen Institute, focuses on the ceremony, science and somatics of sacred plants and psychedelics.

Group Facilitators

Eva Altobelli, MD started her career  working as a filmmaker in New York City while exploring mindfulness, yoga, neuroscience and expanded states of consciousness. Returning to school after a decade in the arts, Dr. Altobelli completed a Psychiatric residency and Fellowship in Addiction and is trained in Psychedelic Treatment by California Institue of Integral Studies and MAPS. Her career evolved working in detox, rehabs and private practice as well as consulting in recovery, psychedelics, addiction and alternative healing arts. During her career Dr. Altobelli came to see psychopharmacology as palliative and has evolved a holistic practice integrating mind, body and spirit into the healing process. She holds a Certificate in Psychedelic Treatment and Research from California Institute of Integral  Studies and certified by MAPS to treat PTSD with MDMA.  With a unique background in addiction, psychiatry, trauma and the arts, she specializes in creative ways to help clients find their way to recovery and wholeness.

Ray Bakaitis, PhD is a clinical psychologist in independent practice in Los Angeles. He is the President of the A. K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems (AKRI); a Past-President of Grex, the West Coast Affiliate of AKRI; and a Past-President of the Los Angeles Country Psychological Association (LACPA). He is interested in psychedelics not only as a therapeutic tool but for their contribution toward non-binary thinking that supports transformational social change.  

David Laramie, PhD is a health psychologist in private practice in Los Angeles. He strongly believes in systemic and integrative approaches to healing and wellness and draws on psychoanalytic, emotion focused, and somatic approaches in his psychotherapeutic work. In both his personal life and professional work, he finds considerable value in mind-body practices such as breath and energy work, biofeedback, meditation, and non-ordinary states of consciousness. A long time board member and past-president of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, he currently oversees its Continuing Education programming.  

John Lundgren, MD is a Training and Supervising Analyst and former President of the Psychoanalytic Center of California. He is on the faculty of UCLA Department of Psychiatry where he co-chaired the development of a leadership group relations training program for psychiatry residents and psychology interns. As a member of the A.K. Rice Institute and GREX, its local affiliate, he has served as a conference director and staff consultant to Group Relations conferences. 

Joshua Pretsky, MD is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine where he is the founding director of the Concentration in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and past-president of the Psychiatry Clinical Faculty Association. A senior faculty member at the New Center for Psychoanalysis, Pretsky is an active member of the research committee (past chair) and instructor on empirical research in psychotherapy. On the national level, Pretsky founded and co-directs the Training Advancement Initiative of the American Psychiatric Association Psychotherapy Caucus. In his full time private practice of psychiatry and psychotherapy in Los Angeles, he with a focuses on accelerated experiential psychodynamic psychotherapy and integrative psychiatry, and routinely incorporates somatic experiencing, energy work and ketamine into treatments. Married with three daughters, Pretsky enjoy playing the tImbales with his salsa band and dancing 5 Rhythms. "As a dedicated burner I have journeyed to the playa four times where I have led workshops on authentic experiencing at Anahasana Village."

This conference is scheduled to be held in person, with indoor and outdoor sessions, and is therefore subject to the concurrent city, county, and state regulations with regard to Covid-19. NCP's policy includes proof of vaccination, mask-use, and health check upon entry. If NCP must cancel this program, full refunds will be issued.

Target audience: Mental health professionals, intermediate level and above

11.75 CE/CME Credits

Please complete all registration pages until you come to the final "Receipt" page. Your registration is not complete and your place is not reserved until you receive the Receipt.

For those registering as Waitlist: the $100 deposit will be refunded if we are not able to add you to the conference. If you are added, you will be invited to re-register and pay the balance.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT 

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s)* to disclose with ineligible companies* whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

*Financial relationships are relevant if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company.

-Updated July 2021-

PHYSICIANS: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and The New Center for Psychoanalysis. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.” 

The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 11.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PSYCHOLOGISTS: The New Center for Psychoanalysis is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  The New Center for Psychoanalysis maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologist must report CE credits directly to MCEP using this document to verify attendance. Please note that a Psychologist must attend the CE program in its entirety in order to receive credit.  

SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE and FAMILY THERAPISTS (LCSW, LMFT, ASW, IMF, LEP, LPCC, PCCI): The New Center for Psychoanalysis is a continuing education provider that has been approved by the American Psychological Association, a California Board of Behavioral Sciences recognized approval agency