Sofia University is one of the few academic institutions in the world that supports graduate study in this area, thus fulfilling part of its mission to remain at the forefront of clinical training and emerging research areas."

Sofia University (formerly Institute of Transpersonal Psychology) has introduced a course in psychedelic research to its rigorous clinical and non-clinical graduate psychology curriculum. The class covers clinical research on psychedelic drugs as adjuncts to psychotherapy for the treatment of addiction, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and existential distress at the end of life, as well as how to address psychedelic experiences that clients bring into psychotherapy.

Clinical facilities report that being unable to relate to client needs to integrate prior drug experiences is not fully responsive to the changing demographics of the clinical population. In prior decades, Sofia University and other institutions responded to the need to understand cross-cultural, sexual identity and gender issues. Now, the university is responding similarly to this issue.

The residential psychedelic research class will be taught by Sofia University co-founder, James Fadiman, and core faculty professor David Lukoff. Fadiman is the author of "The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic and Sacred Journeys," and is currently directing two national psychedelic research studies.

Fadiman commented, "Our students whose dissertations have dealt with psychedelic issues are doing psychedelic clinical studies at Yale and Johns Hopkins University. Sofia University is one of the few academic institutions in the world that supports graduate study in this area, thus fulfilling part of its mission to remain at the forefront of clinical training and emerging research areas."

The residential course has been well-received. When space has been available, students from other institutions and practicing clinicians have also been admitted into the course. Sofia University is currently researching the development of an online course for its global students and plans to offer the class through other institutions with similar needs.

About Sofia University

Founded in 1975, Sofia University (formerly the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology) is a private, non-sectarian university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. For over 35 years, within the context of scholarship and research, the school has offered transformative education for the whole person, probing the mind, body, spirit connection. As Sofia University, the school is broadening its mission, reaching into multiple disciplines and adding undergraduate study. For more information, visit http://www.sofia.edu.

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