Anad Thomas, MSN, CRNA, APRN
Training the Next Generation of Psychedelic Therapists and Researchers
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California Institute of Integral Studies is one of the best known organizations offering a certificate program to train future therapists working with psychedelics.
The New York Times
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is fast becoming a promising area of mental health and spiritual healing around the globe. As society begins to integrate psychedelics into health care and wellness communities, the need for educated and trained professionals is expanded. California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) has been a leader in the field of consciousness studies and psychology for more than 55 years. In 2015, our impact and prominence expanded when we created the first-ever university-affiliated Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research Certificate Program. Today, CIIS is one of the preeminent institutions focused on the safe, legal, scientifically-backed, spiritually focused, and culturally sensitive training of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
About the Certificate Program
Our program is 10-month long program includes 140-150 hours of professional instruction and preparation. Classes are held from September to April each year in one of three cohort formats: Hybrid in either San Francisco or Boston; or Online. Experts in the field of psychedelics serve as mentors, and in addition to individual sessions, mentor groups meet on a monthly basis throughout the program.
Submit the form above to request more information or to connect with an admissions advisor.
Why Choose CIIS
CIIS’ Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research Certificate Program combines intellectual and didactic learning, personal and experiential study, and applied practice for clinical, nonclinical, and religious professionals.
Preeminence and Prominence
Gold Standard of Training and Safety
CIIS was the first-ever university-affiliated Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research Certificate Program. Founder and Center Director, Dr. Janis Phelps, is a trailblazer in the field; her therapist competencies and guidelines for training serve as the international standard. Our facilitators and mentors, who come from diverse and esteemed backgrounds, are leading psychedelic experts and renowned researchers. To date, our program has trained more than 1,500 licensed or ordained care professionals to become psychedelic therapists and researchers.
Timely and Timeless Transformation
Integrating Science and the Sacred
Our roots lie in contemporary, global, and historical spiritual and wisdom traditions–with transformation at the center of wellness and growth. Our decades-long commitment is to science, legality, safety, and ethics; to a maturing psychedelic culture centered on integrity, trustworthiness, and transparency; and to the potentially transformative outcomes of the indications being studied.
Holistic and Human-Centered Healing
Over Five Decades of Whole-Person Care and Integration
While others accepted a purely traditional medical model of patient care, CIIS embraces holistic wellness and a whole-person approach to health and healing, including spiritual practices, somatic awareness, transpersonal psychology, Indigenous plant medicine, and mysticism and contemplation.
"CPTR changed my life and the trajectory of my career. It gave me access to the kind of people I needed to meet, and a thorough understanding of where I, as a person of color, can focus my work to have the biggest impact. That education will go far in assuring that psychedelics are used with equity reciprocation.”
Eligibility and Admissions Criteria
You can apply to CIIS’ Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research Certificate Program if you are:
- a licensed medical and mental health professional, ordained clergy and commissioned chaplain, or counseling attorney
- a professional with a bachelor's degree or advanced graduate degrees who, completed coursework and/or has work experience in various areas of mental health; wellness coaching; medical administration; law; philosophy, music and the arts; the sciences; guidance counseling; social work; etc.
We are committed to enrolling cohorts with diverse backgrounds and welcome applicants from historically underrepresented groups. Those professionals from outside the U.S. are also encouraged to apply. We seek to make this training accessible through offering Need-Based Scholarships.
State Restrictions: Residents from Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia (DC), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, or Wisconsin are unfortunately not eligible at this time.
Download the 2025-2026 Information Packet to Learn More About Eligibility