March 10th, 2025, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (1.5 CE credits – free for members with CE credit; $30 for non-members requesting CE credit). In Person meeting with Zoom option (see below on how to request Zoom link). Meeting Address: 1050 W. 42nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208.
Title: Surfing the Oceanic Feeling: Exploring Psychoanalytic Applications in Psychedelic Therapy
Presenter: Leah Whitmire, MA, MT-BC, LMHC
Description
This presentation will explore psychoanalytic applications utilized in psychedelic therapy. Concepts including aesthetic and transformational moments, ego dissolution, and implicit relational knowing will be discussed as they relate to the therapeutic processes in psychedelic therapy.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to identify at least two psychoanalytic concepts with application psychedelic therapy.
Participants will be able to describe the current state of psychedelic therapy research and practice.
Participants will be able to discuss at least two potential ethical challenges around training and facilitation of psychedelic therapy.
Sources
Letheby, C., & Gerrans, P. (2017). Self unbound: Ego dissolution in psychedelic experience. Neuroscience of Consciousness, 2017(1), nix016.
Watts, R., Day, C., Krzanowski, J., Nutt, D., & Carhart-Harris, R. (2017). Patients’ accounts of increased “connectedness” and “acceptance” after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 57(5), 520–564.
Leuner, H. (1981). Hallucinogens as an aid in psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy. In S. Grof (Ed.), Hallucinogens: Past, present, and future (pp. 85–102). Oxford University Press.
Freud, S. (1930). Civilization and its discontents. Hogarth Press.
Blum, H. (2012). How to surf the oceanic feeling: Oneness, identification, and the power of unconscious longing. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 81(1), 91–123.
Passie, T., Guss, J., Krähenmann, R., & Holze, F. (2021). Lower-dose psycholytic therapy: A neglected approach to psychedelic therapy. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 727572.
Fischman, L. (2020). My bad, you got this: Witnessing, the therapist’s attitude, and the synergy between psychedelics and the client’s inner healing intelligence. MAPS Bulletin, 30(1), 10–15.
About the Presenter
Leah Whitmire is a board-certified music therapist and licensed clinical mental health counselor in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the founder of Integrative Music Psychotherapy, where she provides music psychotherapy and counseling services for adults, as well as music therapy research sessions and arts-based trauma resilience groups in the community. Leah continues her training in non ordinary states of consciousness work through Guided Imagery and Music as well as psychedelic therapy and looks forwards to bringing these services into the community. Leah enjoys fellowship and study in the Indianapolis psychoanalytic community, and she currently serves as secretary of ISPT.
Fees, Policies and Participants
Members attend free of charge. Non-member rate is $30. Participants by Zoom must RSVP by the end of day Sunday, March 9th, 2025, to receive the Zoom link, which will be sent by 5 pm of the day of the presentation. RSVP to isptdues(at)gmail.com to receive the Zoom link. Note: Members receive the Zoom link for free. Non-members are welcome. Non-members who wish to receive CE Credit should pay the non-member rate of $ 30 below before the presentation. Alternatively, non-members are encouraged to become members at the $ 45 annual member rate ($ 25 student rate) to receive free CEs for a year.
It is the policy of the Society to encourage multidisciplinary learning. This seminar is appropriate for the intermediate level of knowledge in the area of psychoanalysis. Enrollment is intended for psychologists and other mental health practitioners, graduate students and all who are interested in psychoanalysis.
Continuing Education
This program is offered for 1.5 continuing education credits. The entire meeting must be attended in order for attendees to receive certificates. Upon completion of an evaluation form, a certificate will be provided. This serves as documentation of attendance for all participants. Psychologists will have their participation registered through Division 39.
Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Division 39 is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. Division 39 is also committed to APA Ethical Guidelines. Participants are asked to be aware of need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them.