Trauma-Informed Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies: From Terror to Transformation

September 28, 2025

Abstract
During the recent psychedelic Renaissance, research and scholars have demonstrated extensive evidence highlighting the potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy to address many of the negative mental health outcomes associated with standard mental health treatments. Despite this, there is limited research on the need for trauma-informed approaches in the treatment of PTSD, dissociative spectrum disorders and/or traumatic experiences from the psychedelic experience itself. Skillful attunement is needed to transform past traumatic experiences and prevent post psychedelic-stress disorder when in non-ordinary states of consciousness. 

This presentation will provide the missing link in the psychedelic-assisted therapy field in three ways. 1) to categorize the types of traumatizing experiences associated with psychedelic-assisted therapies, 2) to address the limitations of the inner healer intelligence and existential-phenological approaches in trauma, and 3) to recommended the integration and implementation of trauma-centered approaches in PAT. Here, I focus on mental health and bio-medical models of the West, not to supersede indigenous wisdom but rather to bridge a notable gap for those experiencing psychedelic-assisted therapies in Western cultures.

The presentation will walk participants through the steps of identifying common terrorizing experiences and trauma-informed and trauma-specific techniques recommendations for transformation in these unknown non-ordinary states of consciousness.  The presentation will extend what we expect from psychedelic-assisted therapy beyond psycho-spiritual transformation or biomedical symptom relief to transformation of trauma.  The presentation will present ways to identify the intensity, duration and lack of self regulation and, from there, how to move beyond inner healing intelligence to intervene to a new coherent self, independent of a traumatic past or psychedelic-experience.

Potential to Distress: No

Target Audience

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:

  • Identify different types of psychedelic medicines
  • Identify the importance of set and setting and inner healing intelligence and the need for mobility, co-regulation and desensitization and reprocessing beyond it
  • Discuss different psychedelic models and categories
  • Recognize the need for intervention when intensity, duration and nervous system dysregulation in individuals prevents trauma reprocessing, and move towards regulation, homeostasis and transformation
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
07/01/2025
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
Event starts: 
09/28/2025 - 6:30pm EDT
Event ends: 
09/28/2025 - 8:00pm EDT
Part of: 
Minding the Gaps: Listening for the Unspoken and Seeing the Unseen - Day Two
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Karen Sprinkel Ancelet, MFT, SEP
Karen Sprinkel Ancelet is a psychotherapist, consultant, teacher and author. Her unique East-West approach to healing trauma emerged over her seven years she lived in Asia. She has a very diverse background of experience, qualifications and certifications gained over her 30 years practicing psychotherapy. Her speciality is a combined trauma modality and certifications using EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems (IFS, L3) and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). She is also trained in many other techniques, including: Flash Technique, Havening, EFT, ACT, Somatic Narrative and Resiliency, Ego-State, AEDP, Deep Brain Reorienting, HeartMath and Vagas Toning; Psychedelic training through MAPS, Fluence and 3 Cups Psychedelic Advanced Training and CIIS, Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and Continuing Education provider. She is licensed to practice therapy in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Michigan.

Karen has worked as a clinician with private clients for 30 years, while also working in management in a variety of settings, including the following: as Director of Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement at East Bay Agency for Children, Manager of Clinical Administration at United Behavioral Health, and Director of Guidance and Counseling at Dulwich International College, Phuket, Thailand. Other direct clinical positions have included as a therapist at Clearwater Clinic and Assessment Services, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Director of Victim Services at Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims.

A significant part of Karen's life was her time living in Asia. She finished her masters degree researching the impact of trauma, and the different approaches to heal the trauma resulting from violent crimes in Tibet, SE Asia and the US. She studied Buddhism in Nepal and researched the impact of trauma on Tibetan refugees. Karen was so impacted by her research abroad that she resided in Asia for many years.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
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Early registration ends August 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM US Eastern Time. Prices will increase for emerging professional and professional/retired rates at that time by $50. 

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Cancellations must be received in writing via email or fax. A processing fee of $45 will be charged for cancellations received on or before Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM US Eastern Time. No refunds will be issued for no-shows. Refund requests will not be accepted after August 31, 2025. Not all requests will be granted. Substitutions for attendees are accepted until September 23, 2025.

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During this conference, conference organizers, presenters and staff will address any concerns that arise. Every effort will be made to address the concerns during the conference when possible. If these individuals are unable to address the participant’s concerns, the complaints and grievances shall be presented in writing to ISSTD Headquarters at [email protected]. These will be forwarded on for review by the Virtual and Regional Conference Committee.

Social Workers: Should social workers have a specific grievance, these grievances will be addressed by D. Michael Coy, LICSW. In situations where the social worker would have a conflict of interest, then, Christine Forner, MSW will review the grievance.

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