Lead Therapist
Are you an experienced, licensed therapist hoping to get involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy? MycoMeditations is now looking for potential lead therapists!
The last decade has seen a burgeoning of interest in psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy. MycoMeditations Psilocybin-Assisted Retreats, in operation since 2014, offers guests a gold standard of care. We are a non-shamanic retreat, applying many of the same protocols followed in clinical trials, modified for a group setting. Our therapists and facilitators are highly skilled, and many have worked with us for years.
Before applying to work as a therapist or facilitator at our retreat, we ask you to consider the following:
1) Can you draw on a number of therapeutic skill sets to support the guests?
The therapists at MycoMeditations possess a myriad of different skills. Some therapeutic modalities naturally translate better in the psychedelic space. In general, cognitive, and manual-based therapies are not a great fit. Ideally, a therapist working with us will have training in at least one of the following modalities: - Internal Family Systems - Mindfulness - Hypnosis - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Somatic Therapy - Existential/Gestalt Therapy - Depth Psychology
2) How much inner work have you done?
It is imperative that our retreat staff have explored their own psyches, through private work with psychedelic medicines, in traditional therapy, and through other means that invite introspection such as meditation, yoga, contemplative prayer, body work, journaling, artwork, etc. Therapists and facilitators must have an understanding of their own wounds, their triggers, and shadow material. We often become objects of the guests’ projections, which at times can be distressing. Do you understand transference and countertransference? Attachment theories? Do you have a regiment of personal care you follow?
3) Can you put aside doing, for being?
Our currency as psychedelic-assisted therapists is less about using words, then about using our presence—to convey a sense of safety, compassion, and trust. You will be asked to sit for long periods of time, both during a dosing session and in integration sessions. Can you maintain attention and stillness? Can you stave off boredom, remain attentive and vigilant, while conveying an attitude that “all is unfolding as it should?”
4) What is your spiritual intelligence?
Spiritual Intelligence goes beyond knowledge of conventional psychological development. In addition to self-awareness, it implies awareness of our relationship to the transcendent, to each other, to the earth and all beings. Therapists working with us are expected to have familiarity with mystical states of consciousness and to have existential meaning-making capacities.
5) Personal Integrity
Are you skilled at establishing and maintaining healthy personal boundaries with both group members and staff members? Do you follow a personal and professional code of ethics? Individuals under the influence of psilocybin are highly vulnerable and staff must remain vigilant in what they say and do in the dosing space, in integration, and in social settings with the guests.
6) Are you willing to become a beginner again?
Even therapists with decades of experience and certification in Psychedelic-Assisted-Therapy will be asked to observe during their first training period. We ask that you sit back in both the dosing space and in integration and notice what the seasoned staff members do, ask questions, and communicate your observations to the Retreat Leader. Once your skills have been assessed, you will be given further responsibilities.
7) Consider the living situation
You will be housed in a villa with other facilitators and will have a private bedroom (with AC), bathroom, and a shared living space with kitchen. You will have WIFI in the home, as well as hot water. Your meals during the retreat week are provided. Each villa will be in walking distance to the beach. Treasure Beach is a small fishing and farming village, with several restaurants, but few entertainment diversions.
8) Initial training and further opportunities with MycoMeditations
Under most circumstances, we require therapists and facilitators-in-training to go through sets of training retreats, each consisting of 3 consecutive retreats (5 weeks on the Island.) The first training (Facilitator in-Training I) is unpaid and the second is paid. All the costs of accommodations and flights are covered throughout. If all goes well during training, you will be invited to be a part of our team with higher pay and increasing opportunities for promotion within the company. Before applying, please consider whether these living situations will suit you and whether you can commit to working with MycoMeditations for at least 1-2 years following your training.
9) Working with psychedelics is a privilege and a responsibility
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is the hot new thing. Have you asked yourself why you are interested in doing this work? If it is to serve your ego, your resume, or to use our brand to boost your own brand, we won’t be a good fit. Our facilitators are here to serve the guests and to do the work of this powerful medicine.
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If, after reading these guidelines and our considerations, you believe you would be a good fit with MycoMeditations, we welcome you to apply below. If we think there is a great fit, we will be in touch to discuss all the finer details!
https://mycomeditations.secure.retreat.guru/.../therapis.../
If you know of somebody who might also fit what we are looking for, please share this with them! We only ask that you first make sure they fit the criteria we have listed above.
CONTRACTOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead Therapist
Reports To: The Lead Therapist will report to the Retreat Leader.
Job Overview: The Lead Therapist provides emotional and therapeutic support to guests during sessions, integration, and general interactions.
Responsibilities and Duties:
While other team members may also be Therapists, there is only one Lead Therapist per retreat. Lead Therapist assignments are made on a retreat-by-retreat basis. The Lead Therapist must hold a valid and active license in Counseling, Psychotherapy, Clinical Social Work or similar designation.
Administrative:
Licensed Therapists who work as a Lead Therapist are responsible for rotations in screening incoming applicants for suitability in attending retreat in accordance with existing policies and procedures. This will include a review of applications submitted, follow up phone calls to obtain any clarifications, zoom conferences with guest and review of medications and medical history.
Coordinate retreat activities in accordance with scheduled itinerary and work closely with the Operations Team.
During Retreat:
Before Sessions
· Greet all guests upon arrival
· Lead guided meditation prior to dosing session
During Sessions
· Ensure needs of the guests and Retreat Leader are met
· Provide support to guests during dosing, with specific emphasis on the most difficult cases
· Communicate with the Retreat Leader to ensure guest safety and to provide necessary information. The Retreat Leader is mobile, traversing the dosing space and observing each guest’s status. The Therapist will communicate updates to the Retreat Leader as he/she enters the Therapist’s area.
· If a guest is having a challenging experience, it is the responsibility of the Therapist to assist. If the Therapist encounters situations that are beyond their expertise, they are to reach out to the Retreat Leader, without leaving the guest unattended.
If the Therapist hears something from a guest that the Retreat Leader should know, they should communicate the information. This would include anything that indicates a guest is experiencing a challenging situation and requires additional support.
As with every team member, the Therapist is expected to be attentive and present during the entire session. The Therapist should not use their cell phones during the session or appear bored or restless. The role of the Therapist is to remain a calm, grounded presence for the guests.
Continually scan the environment to determine if any of the above responsibilities need to be completed.
During Integration Sessions
· Lead group integration sessions; take and type up therapy notes or assign to another therapist or senior facilitator (with the approval of the Retreat Leader).
· Maintain attentive presence in the integration
· Support the discussions by adding relevant insights
· Attempt to bring the guest deeper into their reflection
· Introduce helpful frameworks of knowledge as applicable
During All Other Times
· Attend breakfast and dinner at the scheduled time
· Maintain friendly communication with guests in their downtime and during breakfast/dinner
· Practice active listening with guests at all times
· Be available to all guests for individual therapy sessions and support throughout the week
During downtime outside of the sessions, the goal for the Therapist is to be present with the guests and to help create a friendly, nurturing environment. It is essential for the Therapist to make an effort to communicate with all guests throughout the retreat week and to cultivate a supportive and therapeutic relationship.
Post Retreat
· The Lead Therapist will conduct follow-up group integration calls via Zoom. The first session shall be scheduled 2 weeks post-retreat, and the second session 6 weeks post-retreat. Each session shall last approximately 2 hours for up to 8 guests; 3 hours if more than 8 guests.
Qualifications:
· Master of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, or similar field.
· Active License in Counseling, Social Work, Psychotherapy or similar designation.
· Post-graduate training on one of the following: Internal Family Systems, Somatic Therapy, Transpersonal Psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
· Training in psychedelic-assisted therapy through Fluence, MAPS, CIIS, IPI, etc.
· At least fifteen years experience working with individuals and groups
· Ability to build rapport quickly while maintaining healthy boundaries with guests
· Strong interpersonal skills
· Empathetic presence
· Ability to take control in a crisis situation
· Detail oriented
· Strong ability to manage time and prioritize tasks
· Ability to work within a team environment
· Personal experience in the trip space with psilocybin and/or other hallucinogens, enabling understanding of guest experiences
You may complete our Therapist & Facilitator application here: https://mycomeditations.secure.retreat.guru/.../therapis.../