Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy Education at GSPP: Assessing PsyD Student and Alumni Interest, Attitudes, and Perceived Training Needs

Abstract

Interest in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is expanding rapidly within research, policy reform, and clinical application. Despite this rapid growth, formal training in PAP within accredited doctoral psychology programs is limited to nonexistent. This doctoral project aimed to assess interest in and attitudes toward PAP-related education among current students and alumni of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology’s PsyD program at the University of Denver. An exploratory survey was created to assess interest, likelihood of engagement, perceived benefits and concerns regarding coursework or training opportunities. Findings revealed substantial interest in greater exposure to PAP-related education, in addition to thoughtful concerns. Results highlighted a perceived gap between the expansion of psychedelic medicine and the current level of formal training available within GSPP. Although this project does not advocate specific or immediate curricular changes, it provides program-specific data to inform internal discussions on potential future training directions. These findings may contribute to broader conversations about graduate-level competency development in PAP.