eiseEducation

This two-part webinar series delves into the intersection of altered states of consciousness and psychotherapy.

First part explores the history of psychedelic science, tracing the journey from William James' self-experiments to 1960s research, and up to modern studies on the brain's response to psychedelic states. Is the therapeutic effect of psychedelics purely due to their pharmacological properties, or is there a deeper, more complex interaction with psychotherapy itself? This session will examine how psychedelics might enhance therapeutic change through mechanisms like neuronal plasticity and a heightened awareness of internal processes such as dissociation or traumatic memory.

In the second part the focus shifts to the French Surrealist movement, which sought to access the unconscious through pure psychic automatism, a concept influenced by Freud and Janet. With a critical perspective, this session will explore the role of naturally occurring altered states in therapy, alongside alternative theories on the transformative power of changing states of consciousness in the therapeutic process.