Helena Aicher, PhD
University Hospital Basel; Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich & Swiss Medical Association of Psycholytic Therapy
Speaker Bio
Helena’s main academic background is in Psychology. She has teaching and research experience at different departments at the University of Zurich, and clinical experience at the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich and in private group practice. At the Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Brain Imaging, she studied the effects of psychedelics and meditation. For her PhD, she investigated the effects of ayahuasca and ayahuasca-inspired DMT/harmine formulations on the relationship to oneself and others, psychotherapy-relevant processes, underlying mechanisms, and contextual modulators with interdisciplinary and multimethod approaches. Helena is currently involved in several trials investigating DMT/harmine and 5MeO-DMT formulations in group and retreat settings in the Psychedelic Research and Therapy Development research group at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich). Furthermore, she is study coordinator of a trial on the relevance of personal psychedelic experience for therapists at the University Hospital of Basel (Pharmacology and Toxicology Department). Helena is also working as a psychotherapist including the limited medical use of psychedelics, and an active member of the SÄPT involved in the training of therapists. Thereby, she finds herself at intersections, aims at bridging science and practice, contributing to the development and implementation of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
Advancements and challenges in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: Insights from Swiss practice and therapist training
Since the late 1990s, psychedelics have seen a resurgence in the Western world, including the research on the therapeutic use of these substances and the application of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). In Switzerland, this resurgence has been institutionalized since 2014 with the Swiss Federal Office for Public Health granting exceptional permits for the therapeutic use of LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin. Over the past nine years, this initiative has led to over 1,000 individual case permits and an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 treatments, marking a significant step towards clinical implementation. This talk will provide a comprehensive view of the current PAT practices in Switzerland, discussing the application procedures, treatment frameworks, and the integration of PAT into psychotherapy. It highlights the need for specialized training for therapists, as emphasized by the Swiss Medical Association for Psycholytic Therapy’s (SÄPT) training programs initiated in 2018. These programs address theoretical, practical, and ethical aspects crucial for PAT. Ongoing challenges, such as the need for systematic documentation, peer exchange, and networking for quality assurance in this evolving field are addressed. Given the increasing demand and limited options, the development of accessible, high-quality training programs is essential for sustainable quality in PAT. The Swiss experience offers valuable insights and potential frameworks for the international practice of PAT, emphasizing the importance of continued development in therapist training and ethical standards.