EVENT DESCRIPTION
"This Public Program event is the first evening presentation of the inaugural year of the CIIS Certificate on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research, a program designed for those already trained as therapists, medical professionals, clergy, and chaplains. Robert Jesse (CSP, Johns Hopkins, Usona) will offer the evening's keynote introduction. It will be followed by discussion among a panel of esteemed counselors and clinicians. The panelists represent diverse views on traditional and contemporary uses of psychedelics, the various roles of psychedelic guides, and what constitutes "integration" of psychedelic experiences. They will describe their therapeutic approaches in jurisdictions where the use of a psychedelic is legal. What similarities and distinctions do they see among healing, the betterment of well people, and esoteric forms of spiritual exploration and development? When non-dual experiences occur in therapy, would people who lack a cartography (for example as imparted by a mystical wisdom tradition) be disadvantaged in their integration? If so, how can a suitable framework be developed? Looking ahead to expanded legal use, what practices do the panelists see as complementing psychedelic therapy, and why? After this, Robert and the panel will address questions from the audience.
Robert Jesse is convenor of the Council on Spiritual Practices (CSP). Through CSP, he was instrumental in forming the psilocybin research team at Johns Hopkins, he is a co-author of its first paper (2006), "Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance", and he is one of the team's co-investigators. Bob now serves on the board of Usona Institute and is an advisor to CIIS. In 2005, he led the writing of an amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court in a key religious liberty case that was decided 8-0, favoring the U.S. branch of the Brazilian church, the União do Vegetal. Prior to CSP, Bob worked as a consultant in information technology for AT&T Bell Labs and others, then in several capacities for Oracle Corporation, lastly as a vice president of business development. His university training is in computer science and electrical engineering."