In the evolving field of psychedelic-assisted therapy, practitioners are increasingly seeking innovative methods to support deep transformation and lasting change. This experiential workshop, led by two clinical psychologists with extensive expertise in psychedelic therapy, explores the dynamic interplay between somatic awareness and metaphorical language as powerful tools for therapeutic insight and integration.

Metaphors offer a bridge between the ineffable nature of psychedelic experiences and conscious understanding, capturing emotions and insights that often defy verbal articulation. Meanwhile, the body holds its own intelligence — an often untapped resource that can be accessed more readily in altered states of consciousness. When these two dimensions are brought together, therapists can foster a more embodied and holistic healing process.

🧭 What to Expect:

• The neuroscience behind metaphor and its role in emotional processing and memory reconsolidation

• Techniques for eliciting and working with client-generated metaphors, particularly those arising in psychedelic contexts

• Guided somatic practices that support bodily awareness, emotional regulation, and resourcing

• Methods for blending metaphorical exploration with somatic interventions in clinical practice

Through experiential exercises, clinical demonstrations, and collaborative discussion, participants will learn how to help clients more fully embody insights and navigate challenging material with increased clarity and resilience.

🌟 Key Takeaways:

• A deeper understanding of how metaphor and somatic experience support therapeutic change

• Practical tools for integrating these methods into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy

• Strategies to enhance client communication, emotional processing, and integration outcomes

👥 Who Is This For?

• This workshop is designed for mental health professionals, researchers, and graduate-level students interested in expanding their therapeutic toolkit and engaging with cutting-edge practices in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

• Investment: $400 or pay $899 for both workshops as a package

👥 Meet Your Facilitators

Dr Esme Dark: Clinical Psychologist | Psychedelic Assisted Therapist | Researcher | Podcaster

• Esme is a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals navigating psychological distress. She was a lead therapist at one of Melbourne’s first private psychedelic clinics and contributes to the Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab at Monash University as a trial therapist.

  Her research background includes work on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in first responders. She provides training and consultation for psychedelic research trials and therapists internationally.

  Esme is the founder of a Melbourne-based psychology practice offering individual therapy, clinical supervision, and group programs. Her approach integrates Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy. She also hosts Beyond the Trip: A Psychedelic Therapy Podcast.

  Campbell Townsend: Clinical Psychologist | Psychedelic Assisted Therapist | Couple Therapist | Supervisor

  
  Campbell is a Clinical Psychologist and Senior Research Consultant at Monash University’s Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab. He worked as a trial therapist on the Psilocybin for GAD study and is trained in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy through MAPS.

  Campbell currently practices at one of Australia’s first private psychedelic-assisted therapy clinics and co-directs a thriving private practice in the Central Victorian Goldfields. He is a board-approved Clinical Supervisor, a Certified Gottman Therapist, and a trainer in the Gottman Method — known for his work with couples through immersive ‘Marathon Therapy’ sessions.

  Outside the therapy room, you’ll find him tending to his bees, gardening, or cycling the world with his young family.