The Psychology of Plant Medicines: Understanding the Human Psyche and Altered Spaces
Led by Kat Courtney
LAUNCHING THURSDAY OCTOBER 8TH, 2026 at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET / 8 pm CET
8 Week Live Online Course
Meetings every Thursday through December 3rd, 2026
Course Summary
Plant medicines have become one of the fastest-growing healing movements in the world. Every day, more people are turning to Ayahuasca, Huachuma, Magic Mushrooms, Cannabis, 5-MeO-DMT, and other entheogens in search of healing from trauma, depression, addiction, anxiety, and countless other psychological challenges.
Working with the plants, however, creates a tangible tension between the modern world’s understanding of mental health and the shamanic view. Western medicine likes to diagnose, analyze, and medicate. The plants like to go all-in to feeling and subconscious illumination.
This inherent conflict has had many repercussions. Some people that need these medicines most - people diagnosed as bi-polar or borderline, as an example - are often turned away from retreats and treatments, in part because of misunderstandings and lack of a common language around what this really means. And others are given large doses of entheogens that actually can cause more trauma and destabilization.
The time has come to bridge the spiritual and clinical understandings of mental health, and to create safe and compassionate containers that actually help people heal. This is the mission of my new course. As a woman diagnosed bi-polar who later found profound healing and understanding of her psyche through Ayahuasca, this is Kat’s deepest passion.
Over eight weeks, we'll examine how different plant medicines affect the nervous system, consciousness, emotions, and behavior, while exploring the unique ways they interact with common psychological conditions. Each week we'll focus on a different area of mental health, discussing the clinical understanding of these challenges alongside the spiritual perspectives held by traditional plant medicine lineages.
We'll also explore one of the most important aspects of this work: harm reduction. We'll discuss when plant medicines may be supportive, when they may not be appropriate, and how thoughtful preparation, facilitation, and integration can dramatically influence outcomes.
Drawing from more than 22 years of shamanic training, 18 years of psychedelic integration coaching, thousands of client experiences, and her work as co-founder of Bassé Ibogaine Clinic, Kat brings together practical experience, indigenous teachings, and modern psychological understanding to create a balanced and compassionate approach to this rapidly evolving field.
Whether you're a facilitator, coach, therapist, healthcare professional, experienced participant, or simply fascinated by the relationship between psychology and plant consciousness, this course will deepen your understanding of what happens when these powerful medicines merge with the complexities of human consciousness.
COST $799
(Pay in full or in 4 installments below. Or reach out to us here to request any payment plan that works for you.)
Use code PSYCHE before August 15th to receive $150 off.
What You'll Learn
Over the course of eight weeks, we'll explore the fascinating intersection between psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and sacred plant medicines.
Throughout the course we'll discuss:
The psychological and neurological effects of Ayahuasca, Huachuma, Magic Mushrooms, 5-MeO-DMT, Cannabis, and other major entheogens.
How plant medicines influence the brain, nervous system, emotions, and patterns of consciousness.
The clinical understanding of common psychological conditions.
Spiritual and shamanic perspectives on these same experiences.
Practical harm reduction strategies before, during, and after ceremony.
Advice fro pre-screening individuals with various mental health challenges.
Which medicines may (or may not) be appropriate for different psychological presentations.
Integration approaches tailored to various mental health challenges.
The importance of discernment, ethics, and individualized care when working with these powerful medicines.
Course Outline
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We'll begin by creating a shared foundation for the course, exploring the major plant medicines through both scientific and shamanic lenses.
Topics include:
The psychology of the major entheogens
How plant medicines affect the nervous system and consciousness
Similarities and differences between Ayahuasca, Huachuma, Psilocybin, Cannabis, and 5-MeO-DMT
Clinical versus spiritual models of healing
Setting realistic expectations and understanding harm reduction
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Trauma changes the way we experience ourselves and the world. This week we'll explore why certain medicines can help unlock healing, while also understanding the risks involved.
Topics include:
Understanding trauma through psychology and neuroscience
Shamanic perspectives on trauma and soul fragmentation
PTSD and complex trauma
Appropriate medicine selection
Harm reduction considerations
Integration practices for trauma survivors
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We'll discuss some of the most common reasons people seek plant medicines and explore the complexities behind these conditions.
Topics include:
Depression through clinical and spiritual perspectives
Anxiety disorders and nervous system dysregulation
Working safely with suicidal ideation
Which medicines may be supportive—and when caution is essential
Practical integration strategies for emotional resilience
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This week explores rigid thinking patterns, compulsive behaviors, and our relationship with control.
Topics include:
OCD and compulsive behaviors
Perfectionism and intrusive thoughts
Impulse regulation
Spiritual lessons surrounding surrender and control
Medicine considerations and integration support
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Our bodies often carry stories the mind cannot explain. This class examines the deep relationship between the body, emotions, and plant medicines.
Topics include:
Somatic symptom disorders
Eating disorders and body image
Nervous system regulation
Embodiment practices
Safe approaches to ceremonial work and recovery
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One of the most important—and nuanced—topics in the psychedelic world.
Topics include:
Bipolar spectrum disorders
Mania, hypomania, and emotional cycling
Differentiating spiritual emergence from psychiatric crisis
Contraindications and harm reduction
Supporting healthy integration
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This class explores some of the most misunderstood psychological presentations with curiosity, compassion, and discernment.
Topics include:
Borderline Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Attachment patterns
Identity and relationship dynamics
Working safely with plant medicines
Integration approaches that encourage accountability and growth
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We'll conclude the course by exploring one of the areas where plant medicines have generated tremendous hope—and also require tremendous responsibility.
Topics include:
The psychology of addiction
Spiritual perspectives on dependency
Ibogaine, Ayahuasca, Psilocybin and other medicines in addiction recovery
Relapse prevention
Integration beyond the ceremony
Creating sustainable, long-term healing
Who This Course Was Designed For
If these statements resonate with you, this course was created with you in mind:
You're fascinated by the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and plant medicine.
You want a balanced perspective that honors both modern clinical knowledge and indigenous wisdom.
You've worked with plant medicines and want a deeper understanding of your experiences.
You're preparing to sit with plant medicines and want to make informed decisions.
You're an integration coach, therapist, facilitator, healthcare professional, or student looking to deepen your knowledge.
You're passionate about harm reduction and ethical plant medicine practices.
You believe healing is most effective when approached with curiosity, humility, and compassion.
Schedule, Cost & Registration
Launches Thursday, October 8th, 2026 at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET via Zoom.
Classes are held weekly for 8 weeks, with one scheduling adjustment on Monday, November 2nd.
Class schedule – all on Zoom:
October 8th – Course Introduction + Getting to Know the Entheogens
October 15th – Trauma & PTSD
October 22nd – Depressive, Suicidal & Anxiety Disorders
October 29th – Obsessive-Compulsive & Impulse Control Disorders
Monday, November 2nd – Somatic & Eating Disorders
(No class the following week.)
November 19th – Bipolar & Other Mood Disorders
November 26th – Personality Disorders (Borderline, Narcissism, and more)
December 3rd – Addiction & Substance Abuse
The cost for the complete 8-week live course is $799
(You can pay in full or in 4 installments below. Or reach out to us here to request any payment plan that works for you.)
Register before August 15th and use coupon code PSYCHE to receive $150 off your registration.
If cost is the only reason you choose not to register, please email us here and name what you can afford. No one will be turned away because of a lack of resources. Feel free to reach out with any questions too.
This course is for informational and educational purposes only.
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Not at all. This course is designed for people at every stage of the journey. Whether you're simply curious about plant medicines or you've been working with them for years, you'll find practical insights that deepen your understanding of both psychology and consciousness.
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No. While facilitators, integration coaches, therapists, healthcare professionals, and wellness practitioners will certainly benefit, this course was created for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how plant medicines interact with the human psyche.
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Yes. Throughout the course we'll explore the psychological effects, strengths, challenges, and appropriate applications of several major entheogens, including Ayahuasca, Huachuma, Magic Mushrooms, 5-MeO-DMT, Cannabis, and others when relevant.
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No. This course is designed for educational purposes only. While it offers extensive information about psychology, harm reduction, and integration, it is not intended to certify anyone as a plant medicine facilitator or mental health practitioner.
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Yes. Every class is recorded, so if you miss a live session, or simply want to revisit the material, you'll have access to the recordings and can move through the course at your own pace.
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Yes. While the course is rooted in shamanic wisdom, it also explores modern psychology, neuroscience, trauma, and integration practices. Many clinicians appreciate the opportunity to better understand experiences their clients may already be having with plant medicines.
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Yes. Payment plans are available during registration. If finances are the only obstacle preventing you from attending, please reach out to us. We'll always do our best to make our educational offerings as accessible as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Course Leader Kat Courtney
Kat Courtney has spent more than 22 years studying and facilitating sacred plant medicines, with over a decade of apprenticeship in the Shipibo-Conibo and Quechua-Lamista traditions of the Peruvian Amazon. She has served medicines to thousands of people and has dedicated her life to helping others navigate healing through indigenous wisdom, deep reverence for the plants, and compassionate harm reduction.
For the past 18 years, Kat has specialized in psychedelic integration coaching, supporting thousands of clients through the psychological, emotional, and spiritual complexities that often arise before and after plant medicine experiences. Her work has given her a unique perspective on trauma, PTSD, addiction, anxiety, depression, and the many ways these conditions interact with expanded states of consciousness.
Kat is the co-founder of Bassé Ibogaine Clinic, where she continues to help individuals healing from addiction and PTSD, and the creator of the Plant Medicine Integration Coaching certification program, which has graduated more than 150 integration coaches worldwide. She is passionate about bridging indigenous wisdom with modern psychology, helping people build safer, more informed, and more meaningful relationships with these extraordinary medicines.