
Bridging Hypnosis with Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: Preparation and Integration Strategies
Presented by Ciara Christensen, PhD
Friday, October 10, 2025
9am-10:30am PT / 11am-12:30pm CT / 12pm-1:30pm ET
Event held online via Zoom, link to access provided upon registration.
This webinar explores the intersections between hypnosis and psychedelic experiences, combining historical research with contemporary insights. Participants will learn how hypnosis can serve as a useful tool during the preparation and integration phases of a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), enhancing the therapeutic potential of such experiences. We will begin by exploring the shared characteristics of hypnosis and psychedelics, emphasizing their historical use and the growing interest in their combined therapeutic applications.
Drawing from both personal and professional experiences, Dr. Christensen will illustrate how hypnosis can help prepare individuals for increased openness that complements psychedelic experiences. We will also explore how hypnosis can be applied post-journey to integrate insights and solidify personal growth.
Zoom link will be available on course page in “My Courses” upon event registration.
This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 1.5 CEs for Psychologists, 1.5 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, or 1.5 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs.
This webinar explores the intersections between hypnosis and psychedelic experiences, combining historical research with contemporary insights. Participants will learn how hypnosis can serve as a useful tool during the preparation and integration phases of a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), enhancing the therapeutic potential of such experiences. We will begin by exploring the shared characteristics of hypnosis and psychedelics, emphasizing their historical use and the growing interest in their combined therapeutic applications.
Drawing from both personal and professional experiences, Dr. Christensen will illustrate how hypnosis can help prepare individuals for increased openness that complements psychedelic experiences. We will also explore how hypnosis can be applied post-journey to integrate insights and solidify personal growth.
After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:
- State two shared features of hypnosis and ketamine/psilocybin.
- State one difference between a ‘psycholytic dose’ vs a ‘heroic or psychedelic’ dose.
- State one hypnosis technique they can utilize during the preparation phase of PAP to enhance openness and readiness.
- State one hypnosis technique they can utilize for the integration/post-journey phase to help clients process insights and solidify personal growth.
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.3: Program content focuses on topics related to psychological practice, education, or research other than application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that are supported by contemporary scholarship grounded in established research procedures.
This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 1: Program is relevant to psychological practice, education, and/or science.
General Admission: $65.00
SCEH Members: $55.00
Students: $15.00*
(Please email [email protected] for coupon code)
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.
Ciara Christensen, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Northwest Return to Work (NWRTW) Multidisciplinary Health and Rehabilitation Programs, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ciara Christensen, PhD, earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Washington State University in 2012. She is licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in Idaho, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Washington and has extensive experience in both hospital and private practice settings. Dr. Christensen is the former President of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH) and President-Elect of the American Psychological Association’s Division 30, Society of Psychological Hypnosis. Dr. Christensen is widely recognized for her contributions to hypnosis research and practice, having published in peer-reviewed journals and conducted workshops both nationally and internationally. She has also completed training in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (including the first step of the MAPS MDMA training), advanced training with the Experiential Training Institute in the Netherlands with emphasis on psilocybin and ketamine, as well as certification in breathwork (similar to Stan Grof’s Holotropic Breathwork).
Aixalá, M.B. (2022). Psychedelic Integration: Psychotherapy for Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness. Synergetic Press.
Bathje, G. J., Majeski, E., & Kudowor, M. (2022). Psychedelic integration: An analysis of the concept and its practice. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 824077. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.824077
Cardeña, E., & Terhune, D. B. (2014). Hypnotizability, personality traits, and the propensity to experience alterations of consciousness. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(3), 292–307. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000026
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Haijen, E., Erritzoe, D., Watts, R., Branchi, I., & Kaelen, M. (2018). Psychedelics and the essential importance of context. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 32(7), 725–731. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881118754710
Levine J. and Ludwig A.M. (1965). Alterations in consciousness produced by combinations of LSD, hypnosis and psychotherapy. Psychopharmacologia 7: 123–137
Levine J. and Ludwig A.M. (1966). The hypnodelic treatment technique. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 14: 207–213
Lemercier, C. and Terhune, D. B. (2018). Psychedelics and hypnosis: Commonalities and therapeutic implications. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 32(7), pp. 732-740. ISSN 0269-8811
Lynn, S. J., & Evans, J. (2017). Hypnotic suggestion produces mystical-type experiences in the laboratory: A demonstration proof. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 4(1), 23–37. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000105
Millière R., Carhart-Harris, R.L., Roseman, L., Trautwein, F-M, and Berkovich-Ohana, A. (2018). Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness. Front. Psychol. 9:1475. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01475
Pollan, M. (2018). How to change your mind: What the new science of psychedelics teaches us about consciousness, dying, addiction, depression, and transcendence. Penguin Books.
Strasburg, S. (2023). The Theradelic Approach: Psychedelic Therapy: Perspective, Preparation, and Practice. Strasburg.
Target Audience: Hypnosis practitioners, mental health providers, healthcare providers, researchers, teachers, students.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.5 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.5 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.5 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.