TheraPsil · Fundamentals of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy · Experiential Cohort
Train with psilocybin.
Victoria, BC · January 2027.
TheraPsil's Fundamentals program, with an optional in-person psilocybin experience available through independent participation in the PsilWell clinical trial at SABI Mind, Victoria, BC. To our knowledge, the only training program in the world that formally recognizes participation in a Health Canada-authorized psilocybin trial as an experiential training component. Open to US practitioners.
The training the field has been waiting for.
Guiding someone through a psilocybin experience is unlike any other clinical skill. Practitioners completing this training have long known that experiencing the medicine themselves would make them more attuned, more effective, and better equipped to support their clients. This cohort makes that possible — through independent participation in the PsilWell clinical trial, administered by HippoScience and authorized by Health Canada at SABI Mind in Victoria, BC.
Two programs. One cohort.
TheraPsil's Fundamentals program and the PsilWell clinical trial are separate programs operated by separate organizations. They share a timeline and a cohort, but enrollment, eligibility, and fees are entirely independent of each other.
The didactic training is delivered by TheraPsil. It covers clinical protocol, neuropharmacology, ethics, preparation and integration theory, breathwork, somatic practice, and equity frameworks. Delivered across two online weekends in January 2027.
You enroll in TheraPsil's training independently. Your eligibility for the training is assessed by TheraPsil. The training fee ($3,800 CAD) is paid to TheraPsil.
The experiential component is delivered through the PsilWell clinical trial (CINC-001), administered by HippoScience and authorized by Health Canada. It consists of three preparatory sessions, a supervised psilocybin dosing session, and three integration sessions at SABI Mind in Victoria, BC.
You enroll in the PsilWell trial independently. Your eligibility is assessed by HippoScience through a separate screening process. The trial participation fee ($4,500 CAD) is paid to HippoScience. TheraPsil formally recognizes successful trial participation as fulfilling the experiential component of the Fundamentals certification.
Online training. Then Victoria.
The Fundamentals training happens online, the same format TheraPsil practitioners across North America complete. For those who are eligible and choose to participate, the PsilWell clinical trial provides the experiential component — a separate enrollment process administered by HippoScience at SABI Mind in Victoria.
TheraPsil · Fundamentals Training
Online Training
Two intensive online weekends with your cohort. Live Zoom sessions with your TheraPsil faculty. You arrive in Victoria knowing the theory.
- Jan 8–10, 2027 · Didactic Weekend 1 (online)
- Jan 22–24, 2027 · Didactic Weekend 2 (online)
- TheraPsil clinical protocol, ethics and patient assessment
- Neuropharmacology, medication interactions and risk
- Preparation, dosing support and integration theory
- Breathwork and somatic practice throughout
- End-of-life, trauma-informed and equity frameworks
HippoScience · PsilWell Clinical Trial
Supervised Psilocybin Experience at SABI Mind
One trip to Victoria. Eligible applicants who independently enroll in the PsilWell clinical trial (administered by HippoScience and authorized by Health Canada) receive psilocybin in a fully supervised, medically sanctioned setting at SABI Mind. TheraPsil formally recognizes this trial participation as fulfilling the experiential component of the Fundamentals program. Clinical trial enrollment is separate from TheraPsil training enrollment and is subject to independent medical screening, and to a separate trial participation fee paid to HippoScience.
- Jan 29–30, 2027 · SABI Mind, 847 Fisgard St, Victoria BC
- Preparatory group sessions with your cohort and clinical team
- Supervised psilocybin dosing session (30mg) — administered under PsilWell/CINC-001 by HippoScience; separate trial enrollment and fee required
- Integration sessions post-dosing
- Physician, therapists and trained co-sitters on-site throughout — provided by HippoScience's PsilWell trial team
- Max 12 TheraPsil training participants · The psilocybin dose itself is provided at no charge under the PsilWell protocol; the $4,500 CAD trial fee covers clinical delivery, staffing and facility costs
What signing up looks like
Because the experiential component runs through a clinical trial, there is a screening step before you travel to Victoria. Enrollment and payment follow once you are medically cleared.
TheraPsilApply for training
Submit TheraPsil's training application. This is your application for the Fundamentals program only. Rolling admissions; training cohort capped at 12.
PsilWellSelf-screening questionnaire
Complete the PsilWell clinical trial pre-screening questionnaire online (~15 min). This is a HippoScience process, separate from TheraPsil admissions. Completing it does not constitute enrollment in either program.
TheraPsilZoom eligibility assessment
A Zoom meeting with TheraPsil to review your training eligibility. TheraPsil and PsilWell eligibility are independent — you may be accepted for one and not the other.
PsilWellOnsite screening in Victoria
A half-day visit to SABI Mind for formal medical assessment by the HippoScience clinical team. This is a condition of PsilWell trial enrollment, not of TheraPsil training enrollment.
TheraPsilEnroll · $3,800 CAD due
Once accepted into TheraPsil's training program, you formally enroll and pay the training fee. PsilWell trial participation fees ($4,500 CAD) are invoiced separately by HippoScience.
TheraPsilJan 8–10 & 22–24 — Online training
Two live online didactic training weekends with your cohort and TheraPsil faculty via Zoom.
PsilWellJan 29–30 — Victoria
Eligible trial participants arrive at SABI Mind. Supervised psilocybin dosing session (30mg) and integration. Prep and integration sessions run alongside the training period. Physician, therapists, and co-sitters present throughout.
TheraPsilGraduate
Complete remaining curriculum elements and your Learning Journal. Receive your TheraPsil certificate of completion.
Who can apply
TheraPsil welcomes applications from licensed and credentialed practitioners across mental health, medicine, and allied health. US-based practitioners are especially encouraged. You do not need a Canadian license, and no special visa is required to participate in a Canadian clinical trial.
TheraPsil formally recognizes PsilWell clinical trial participation as fulfilling the experiential component of the Fundamentals certification. The two programs have independent eligibility criteria — you may enroll in either without the other.
Mental Health Professionals
- Psychologists (MA, PhD, PsyD)
- Counsellors and psychotherapists (RCC, RP, LPC)
- Clinical social workers (MSW, RSW, LCSW)
- Marriage and family therapists (MFT)
- Registered psychiatric nurses (RPN)
Medical Professionals
- Physicians and psychiatrists (MD, DO)
- Nurses and nurse practitioners (RN, NP)
- Naturopathic doctors (ND)
- Osteopathic and chiropractic practitioners (DO, DC, DOMP)
- Paramedics and first responders
Spiritual & End-of-Life Care
- Recognized pastoral or spiritual counsellors
- Death doulas with recognized credentials
- Chaplains and contemplative care providers
- Palliative and hospice professionals
Clinical screening criteria
- Ages 18–65 · Fluent English
- No current antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, bupropion, mirtazapine, trazodone) or MAOIs
- No psychedelic or cannabis use in past 2 months
- No history of schizophrenia, psychosis, or bipolar disorder
- Not pregnant or breastfeeding · not in another clinical trial
- Those who do not pass screening can still complete the online training and graduate
Questions about eligibility? Contact us.
Who is training you
This cohort is led by Dave Phillips and Carla Pauls. TheraPsil's broader faculty includes specialists in palliative care, neuropharmacology, Indigenous healing frameworks, ethics, and integration who contribute across the full curriculum.
Lead Faculty
Dave Phillips
Dave holds two graduate degrees in counselling psychology and brings over 30 years of mental health experience to TheraPsil's training faculty. As lead instructor for the Fundamentals program, he has guided more practitioners through psilocybin-assisted therapy training than anyone else in Canada.
Faculty
Carla Pauls
Carla is a psychotherapist based in Winnipeg specializing in grief, trauma, and addiction, currently pursuing her doctorate in counselling. Trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy through both ATMA and TheraPsil, she brings both clinical depth and lived experience with psychedelics to her facilitation.
January 2027 cohort · Max 12 participants
Clinical trial enrollment closes when capacity is reached. If you have been waiting for the moment when experiential training was genuinely possible, this is it.
Pricing · Two separate fees
Both parts of this program have a cost. Training is paid to TheraPsil; if you choose to also do the experiential component, the PsilWell trial participation fee is paid separately, by you, to HippoScience. Trial status doesn't mean the trip is free — see the FAQ below for exactly what that fee covers.
TheraPsil's training fee and the PsilWell trial participation fee are separate financial transactions with separate organizations. If you are not eligible for the trial, you pay only for the training.
Full program total
$8,300 CAD
- TheraPsil Fundamentals training · two online weekends (Jan 8–10 and 22–24, 2027)
- Jan 29–30 in-person PsilWell trial intensive at SABI Mind, Victoria BC (separate HippoScience enrollment and fee)
- Supervised psilocybin session (30mg) administered by HippoScience under PsilWell/CINC-001 — recognized as the experiential training component
- All medical assessments and clinical staffing provided by HippoScience's PsilWell trial team at SABI Mind
- The psilocybin dose itself is provided at no charge under the PsilWell protocol; the $4,500 CAD fee covers clinical delivery, not the medicine
- TheraPsil certificate of completion
Want the online training without the experiential component? That is available for $3,800 CAD. View our standard Fundamentals program.
Common questions
I'm a US therapist. Can I participate in this?
Yes. The PsilWell trial is authorized by Health Canada and operates entirely within Canada. You travel to Victoria as a trial participant, receiving psilocybin inside a legally sanctioned clinical setting. You are not transporting or possessing it. The PsilWell trial is administered by HippoScience (16506607 Canada Inc.), a Canadian organization, under Health Canada authorization. TheraPsil and HippoScience are separate organizations; participation in the trial and enrollment in TheraPsil training are independent processes. No special visa is required beyond a valid passport. To our knowledge, no US licensing body prohibits personal participation in a foreign clinical trial, but we recommend checking with your board if you have specific concerns.
Wait, do I pay to join the PsilWell trial?
Yes. Even though it is a clinical trial, participants cover a $4,500 CAD trial participation fee, paid directly to HippoScience, separate from TheraPsil's $3,800 CAD training fee. That fee covers the clinical infrastructure needed to safely run the experiential component: the physician, therapists, co-sitters, facility, and Health Canada-authorized protocol at SABI Mind. The psilocybin itself is provided at no charge under the PsilWell protocol; the fee is for the clinical delivery around it, not the medicine. Trial screening happens before any payment is due, so you'll know your eligibility before committing funds. If the trial fee or eligibility criteria don't work for you, you can still complete TheraPsil's full Fundamentals training and graduate. Contact us if you'd like to talk through other ways to build experiential grounding.
Can I participate in the PsilWell trial without taking TheraPsil's training?
The PsilWell clinical trial is a separate program operated by HippoScience. TheraPsil and HippoScience have an agreement by which TheraPsil recognizes trial participation as the experiential component of its certification — but the two programs are independently administered. Contact HippoScience directly at PsilWell@HippoLifeScience.com for information about trial participation outside of TheraPsil's cohort.
Can I take TheraPsil's training without participating in the trial?
Yes. TheraPsil's Fundamentals training is a complete program in its own right. If you do not pass PsilWell clinical screening, or prefer not to enroll in the trial, you complete the full online training and receive your TheraPsil certificate of completion. The experiential component is recognized by TheraPsil when completed — it is not a requirement for the certificate. TheraPsil and HippoScience are separate organizations, and enrollment in each program is independent, subject to separate eligibility criteria, and involves separate fees.
I take an antidepressant. Does that rule me out?
For the experiential component, yes. The PsilWell trial excludes participants currently taking SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and atypical antidepressants including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), and trazodone. This is a safety requirement, not a reflection of your suitability as a practitioner. If you remain on these medications, you can still complete the full online Fundamentals training and receive your TheraPsil certificate.
I used cannabis recently. Am I out?
The trial requires a two-month washout period for cannabis, psychedelics, and other listed substances before the onsite screening visit. If you are currently using cannabis, plan to abstain for two months before applying.
Is this really the only training like this in the world?
Yes, to our knowledge. Experiential ketamine training exists in other programs. Psilocybin regulations are developing in Oregon and Colorado. But no program anywhere currently allows international practitioners to legally receive psilocybin as a structured part of their professional training. The combination of Health Canada authorization, clinical trial infrastructure, integrated curriculum, and access to international participants does not exist anywhere else.
What if I don't pass clinical screening?
Screening happens before you pay. You will know whether you are cleared for the experiential component before tuition is due. If you do not pass, you can still complete the full online Fundamentals training and graduate. Contact us with any questions before applying.
Is this the same as TheraPsil's standard Fundamentals program?
Yes. This is TheraPsil's Fundamentals curriculum, the same program that has trained 800+ practitioners across Canada. The difference is the addition of the experiential component: a supervised, Health Canada-authorized psilocybin session at SABI Mind as part of the PsilWell clinical trial, integrated into the cost of training.
Ready to train where the work actually happens?
Applications for the January 2027 Victoria cohort are open now. Maximum 12 participants. Spots are limited by clinical trial capacity.
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