SSDP Psychedelic Pipeline logo

SSDP PSYCHEDELIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE

Students for Sensible Drug Policy has partnered with key stakeholders to develop the Psychedelic Pipeline as a global network to connect SSDP members and alumni who are interested in working with psychedelic medicines to quality training, scholarship funds, and career development opportunities, with a deliberate focus on providing access to people of color.

SSDP’s Psychedelic Career Development Pipeline is the first formal pathway for young people interested in working in the psychedelic field to become connected. The pipeline provides resources for members interested in all aspects of the field, to include professional skill sets beyond therapy and research that are necessary for the field to develop and thrive. A generous grant from the Threshold Foundation initially partially funded the mentorship component of this project.

Due to the illegal status of psychedelics, the public lacks knowledge about how to use these promising substances safely or therapeutically. Until SSDP and our allies end prohibition and lead large-scale public health campaigns, reducing the risk and maximizing the benefit of psychedelic drug use necessitates a peer-based, underground delivery model to both inform and support people who choose to use psychedelics. While programs such as our proprietary Just Say Know peer drug education program can deliver information, integration support services are already lacking and most experts predict the demand for therapists will far outpace supply when drugs such as MDMA and psilocybin become legal for therapeutic purposes.

GETTING INVOLVED

If you are an SSDP member, live in the United States, and are interested in getting involved in the Psychedelic Pipeline, please complete this form so we can continue to meet the needs of SSDPers as we develop the program. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Psychedelic Pipeline Program Director, Gina Giorgio at gina@ssdp.org.

Smiling faces of SSDP members at Psychedelic Science conference. Holding a sign that says MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), flanked by SSDP banners with slogans.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Psychedelic-assisted therapy and psychedelic research are the two most established career paths related to psychedelic science; however, they are far from the only relevant skill sets. If MDMA and psilocybin become legal for therapeutic purposes as many are forecasting, and if interest in psychedelic-related work continues to grow, professionals from diverse disciplines will be needed to support the expanding infrastructure.

Categories of mentorship outside of research and therapy include policy, communications, harm reduction, technical systems, program development, and event planning. This list is not exhaustive, and SSDP encourages anyone to apply who has a skill set—or intends to develop a skill set—they see as beneficial to furthering psychedelic medicine.

Why apply to be a mentor?

Mentors will benefit from the program by getting connected to hard-working, passionate, and intelligent young people from all over the globe who are eager to learn from them. Research shows that mentoring is positively associated with job satisfaction, job performance and career success for mentors¹. Your mentee could become someone who collaborates with you on a research project, helps you with your website, or can serve as an intern, research assistant, or employee in the future. By participating in the mentorship program, you will help pave the way for the future of this growing field. As SSDP is growing internationally, we encourage mentors from around the world to apply.

Why apply to be a mentee?

Mentees will benefit from the program by getting connected to professionals in the field from all over the globe who are doing research, preparing to become psychedelic-assisted therapists, running integration groups, doing advocacy and policy work, and much more. Additionally, becoming a mentee may lead to collaboration on research projects, internships, and future employment.

Please note mentee applications will be limited to SSDP members and alumni living in the United States. If you wish to become an SSDP member, ambassador, or to start a local chapter, please read this for more information. Mentees from chapters outside the US are encouraged to apply, but do make sure you contact Gina Giorgio at gina@ssdp.org to establish proof of your membership.

Diversity and Inclusion

One area of pressing concern in psychedelic science is that of diversity. As the field now stands, people of color are not adequately represented in training, conferences, and studies. We are concerned that there won’t be enough therapists of color who can work to heal the trauma of racism that people of color face on a daily basis, much of which is interconnected with the War on Drugs. The pipeline provides a strong opportunity to shift this narrative, and SSDP strongly encourages people of color and all individuals of marginalized communities to engage and help build a diverse future of equal access and opportunity.

How to Apply

Those interested in becoming a mentor should fill out this form. Those interested in becoming a mentee should fill out this form.

Scholarship

If fully funded, the pipeline will also include a scholarship program that will provide opportunities for SSDP members and alumni to obtain funding that can be used to assist with costs of training, attending conferences, and other related career development expenses our members may face as they complete their training to become psychedelic-assisted therapists and researchers. This scholarship component of the pipeline will focus primarily on providing access to people of color, people from marginalized communities, and people directly impacted or harmed by the War on Drugs.

Training

The final phase and long-term goal of the pipeline will be to work with existing clinics, research teams, and training programs to develop a formal training consortium that will create robust and comprehensive training opportunities for our members and alumni to meet training requirements such as clinical hours for the completion of a degree or other related training and academic program.

Partners

SSDP is grateful to all of our partners who believe in the work of the Psychedelic Pipeline!

CASPR: Canvass of Academic Support for Psychedelic Research

CASPR is a grassroots collection of students and faculty members from the MAPS Graduate Student listserv who are working to create a project to benefit students and faculty pursuing psychedelic studies and scholarship

Psychedelic Support Logo

Psychedelic.Support brings together a Network of therapists, counselors, holistic doctors, and medical doctors to offer services (online and in-person) for psychedelic/plant medicine integration, transformational preparation, psychological and physical health, and personal growth. Visit psychedelic.support to search and view provider profiles, find community integration groups, enroll in educational courses, and access free resources from the collective knowledge of the Psychedelic.Support Network and Community.    

Psychedelic.Support Educational Courses https://psychedelic.support/education/

Taught by leading psychedelic researchers and medical professionals, these comprehensive self-paced courses will advance your knowledge on the science and therapeutic approaches of Psilocybin and MDMA. Earn continuing education credits (CE/CME) and an official Psychedelic.Support Certificate. Try our FREE introductory course Exploring Psychedelics.

Special 15% discount on all courses for SSDP members! Use code SSDP15 at checkout!

MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) catalyzes healing and well-being through psychedelic drug development, therapist training programs, and sales of prescription psychedelics prioritizing public benefit above profit. Founded in 2014, MAPS PBC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

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