4.5 Hours / 4.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Clinical Mastery - Advanced Applications and Specialization is is partnership with Joyous. 

Elevate your practice with advanced clinical strategies tailored to specific presentations and therapeutic modalities. This section provides detailed treatment planning protocols and explores best-matched approaches, including trauma-informed care, and mindfulness-based interventions. You'll gain confidence managing challenging in-session experiences and working with high-acuity cases, including suicidal ideation. Critical attention is given to therapist self-care and sustainability in this powerful but demanding work. Through principles and example, you'll develop the nuanced decision-making skills necessary to feel masterful.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe how to develop an individualized treatment plan for psycholytic ketamine therapy based on client needs and safety factors
  • 2 Describe the JOYOUS protocol and how it structures safe, client-led psycholytic ketamine sessions
  • 3 Describe trauma-informed approaches for supporting clients during psycholytic ketamine therapy
  • 4 Describe how mindfulness practices enhance therapeutic awareness and emotional regulation during KAP
  • 5 Describe how EMDR and ketamine work together to support memory reconsolidation and trauma processing
  • 6 Describe the assessment and safety considerations required when working with suicidality in ketamine therapy.
  • 7 Describe strategies for navigating medical, psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral challenges during ketamine sessions
  • 8 Describe why therapist self-care is essential for ethical ketamine-assisted therapy and how to maintain regulation throughout the work

  • Intended Audience

    Licensed mental health professionals actively delivering or preparing to deliver psycholytic ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, including treatment planning, session protocols (such as the use of grounding techniques and boundaried physical touch), trauma-focused approaches, working with suicidality, managing challenging in-session experiences, and therapist self-care.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Licensed Clinical Psychologists (PhD/PsyD)
    • Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
    • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs)
    • Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)
    • Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs)
    • Trauma specialists (EMDR-certified clinicians, Somatic Experiencing practitioners, IFS-trained therapists)
    • Clinicians working with high-acuity populations (PTSD, suicidality, treatment-resistant depression)

  • Experience Level

    Participants should be independently licensed with a strong clinical foundation in psychotherapy, suicide risk assessment, and trauma-informed care. Familiarity with the content of Parts 1 and 2 (or equivalent knowledge of ketamine pharmacology and psycholytic therapy fundamentals) is expected.

    • Intermediate: Therapists with some psycholytic ketamine session experience seeking practical guidance on treatment planning, protocols, and how to handle common challenges (emotional overwhelm, dissociation, ruptures, boundary issues).

    • Advanced: Seasoned KAP or psycholytic clinicians refining their approach to complex presentations, including trauma reprocessing, suicidality during medicine sessions, and sustainable self-care practices for high-intensity clinical work.

  • Practice Setting

    Outpatient psychotherapy practices where clinicians actively deliver psycholytic ketamine-assisted therapy, particularly in collaborative care arrangements with a prescribing medical program.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private practice psychotherapy (solo or group)
    • Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) clinics
    • Trauma-focused therapy practices
    • Integrative and psychedelic-assisted therapy practices
    • Telehealth-based psychotherapy practices
    • Collaborative care practices partnered with prescribing programs (e.g., Joyous)
    • Outpatient mental health clinics offering medicine-assisted therapy

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.