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Psychedelic Mentorship Training
An accredited program for training in psychedelic preparation and integration support, aimed at professionals working in therapeutic and coaching fields or anyone looking to broaden their education.
Elevate your practice with our 6-month online accredited training program. Learn to support others preparing for & processing altered states.
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Advocacy & access
Advocating and providing a legitimate access point for traditionally trained practitioners, which educational conventions currently do not cater for. Recognising an unmet need for indigenous and marginalised groups doing important work in psychedelic spaces.
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Multidisciplinary intersections
The coming together of scientific and evidence-based practices with indigenous and traditional wisdom in the field of psychedelic support. Bringing in experts from diverse disciplines to explore core and in-depth topics where interesting fields intersect.
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Path to board certification
Onaya prides itself on professionalism. Our program is a pathway towards being board certified by an International Organization. Upon completion of program requirements and assessments, mentors are pre-qualified for AANWP/ANWPB Board Certification, with options for Continuing Education Units (CEU) offered.
What’s Included
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Understanding Psychedelics: Equipping mentors with foundational scientific knowledge and managing client uncertainties.
Traditional Perspectives: Helping mentors navigate cultural intersections with clients and appreciation for tradition and culture.
Intersections & Bridging the Gap: Education on intersections between fields and interconnections of biology and consciousness.
Inner Work & Therapeutics: Provide mentors with foundational therapeutic skills. Highlighting the importance of inner work.
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Individual Preparation: Working at the individual level and psycho-physical readiness; setting intentions.
Collective Preparation: Working at the collective and environmental level; socio-spiritual readiness.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Knowledge and skills to integrate mindfulness, meditation into mentorship.
Safety Planning and Assessment: Helping a client establish safety for the journey and managing pre-post ceremony anxiety.
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Altered States: Understanding and supporting altered states of consciousness.
Exceptional Human Experiences: Understanding and navigating exceptional human experiences which may arise.
Setting the Container: How to ensure a safe and protected space. The physical/sonic/relational container
Facilitation: Basics of facilitation and managing psychedelic emergencies.
Managing Intense Emotions: Managing intense psychedelic experiences. Somatic & trauma-informed techniques.
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Integration – Getting Home:Fundamentals of integration and initial short term integration planning.
Integration – Staying Well: Maintenance guidance and ongoing monitoring.
Psychedelic Perspectivism: Navigating client’s perspective shifts after ceremony.
Nature Relatedness: Perspectives beyond self/other and connection with environment.
Working Systemically: Supporting clients systemically in their relationships and community.
Dreams and Symbolism: Understand the significance of dreams and support through symbolic aspects of the journey.
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IteTrauma Informed Care:Working trauma informed and professional boundaries.
IFS and Parts Work: To equip mentors with understanding of Internal Family Systems and parts work to support clients.
Legalities: Educate mentors on legal frameworks & considerations and ensure they guide clients responsibly within the law.
Business: Legal & business considerations for our mentor and client. Having a sustainable practice with a passion for profit - setting up a career and business.
Research: Learning about psychedelic research, methodologies and ethics.
Including embodied learning activities:
○ Guided breathwork ceremony
○ Experience of a wash-out period
○ Meditations and somatic work
○ Psychometric self-assessments
○ Ceremonial recipes
○ Dreamwork
Chacruna
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Video content per week
At least 1 hour of in-your-own-time
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18 hours of live teaching time
90mins, fortnightly, over 6 months
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Worksheets and exercises
Guided meditations, breathing exercises and practical preparatory and integrative practices
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Bespoke teaching developed
Especially for this Onaya course by each of our specialist contributors
The American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners (AANWP)
When you complete our 6-month Mentorship program, you become eligible for Board Certification with AANWP/ANWPB.
Graduates can choose from a variety of Board Certification titles and membership provides access to numerous benefits and resources.
Certification Requirements
Knowledge and skill-based competencies are assessed in three primary domains: psychedelic guidance and support, core therapeutic skills, and trauma-informed care.
Certification will be awarded upon successful completion of the following:
○ Multiple-choice tests
○ Panel vignette assessment
○ 30-minute recording of client interaction for competencies assessment
○ 2 x 15-minute recordings of client interactions for feedback
○ 80% minimum attendance of weekly 90-minute live teachings
○ Submit reflective log for live teaching and buddy sessions
○ Completion of all in-course exercises
○ 24 hours of peer-to-peer (buddy) calls
Testimonials
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Ashley Vadasz is a graduate of the Onaya’s Psychedelic Mentorship Training Programme and a former USMC intelligence analyst who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After attending a Heroic Hearts Project retreat and following the work of Simon Ruffell and WaiFung Tsang, Ashley was inspired to support fellow veterans through plant medicine preparation and integration. She especially recommends Onaya’s training for veterans hoping to help others with similar lived experiences.
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Cathy Trejos is a graduate of the Psychedelic Mentorship Training Programme. Here, she shares her appreciation of the importance of Indigenous Perspectives, and the emphasis Onaya places on embodied learning, especially in relation to long-term engagement with traditional practices, in our Psychedelic Mentorship Training Programme.
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Rafael Gondim is a graduate of the Onaya’s Psychedelic Mentorship Training Programme.
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I selected this course over others because it seemed to offer a greater sense of authenticity and transparency from the facilitators.
I'm happy to say my expectations have been fully met, with Simon and Waifung proving to be exceptional mentors. Both are highly knowledgeable, yet they have a way of making you feel equal to them, not at all above you.
There's a real sense of collaboration and openness in the learning environment, which is a refreshing change compared to other courses.
Jessica T.
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I was drawn to this mentorship program because of its holistic and experiential approach to psychedelic integration, but it has far surpassed my expectations.
The depth of wisdom shared with the practical tools has been transformational. An unexpected takeaway was how to hold deeply somatic experiences confidently and with care, a skill I know will profoundly shape my future work.
It is a course that enriched not only my understanding of western and traditionalapproaches, but also empowered me to step into this field with much clarity and purpose. Highly recommend!
Carolina S.
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I got so much out of this course. I especially loved the guest lecturers and our fortnightly calls. The way Simon and Waifung teach is real, honest, and grounded, and it created a space that felt really welcoming and easy to learn in. I learned practical skills and gained a much clearer understanding of the field.
The mix of perspectives, the somatic tools, and the focus on ethics and safety all made a huge difference. I’m leaving the course feeling confident, prepared, and excited to start supporting others. I’d recommend it to anyone considering this path.
Adam Moore
Meet Your Instructors
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Dr Simon Ruffell
Lead Instructor
Dr. Simon Ruffell, a psychiatrist with a PhD in ayahuasca and mental health, combines Western medicine, research psychology, and traditional plant medicine expertise.
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Dr WaiFung Tsang
Lead Instructor
Hailing from Hong Kong, Onaya's COO Dr WaiFung is a research psychologist with years of clinical experience.
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Doña Angela Lopez
Shipibo Curandera
Doña Angela is a Shipibo curandera working at the Ayahuasca Foundation.
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Don Miguel Lopez
Shipibo Curandero
Don Miguel was born into a long lineage of Shipibo healers and plant doctors.
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Dr Jeremy Narby
Author & Anthropologist
Jeremy Narby is a renowned anthropologist, author, and advocate for indigenous knowledge systems, particularly in the Amazon.
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Dr Isa Gucciardi
Applied Shamanic Counsellor
Isa Gucciardi holds degrees and certificates in transpersonal psychology, cultural and linguistic anthropology, comparative religion, hypnotherapy, and transformational healing.
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Dr Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes
Philosopher of Mind and Metaphysics
Dr Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes is a Philosopher of Mind and Metaphysics who specializes in the thought of Whitehead, Nietzsche, Bergson, and Spinoza.
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Dr David Luke
Associate Professor of Psychology
Dr David Luke has been teaching the Psychology of Exceptional Human Experience at the University of Greenwich for 15 years.
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Jem Stone
Indigenous Cultural Educator
Co-founder of IPAT (Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies), Jem is a First Nations Woman with mixed heritage, Cultural Educator, Wellness Practitioner and Trainer.
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Julie Bruton-Seal
Master Herbalist
Julie is a qualified naturopathic herbalist, craniosacral practitioner, iridologist and natural healer.
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Matthew Seal
Master Herbalist
Matthew Seal’s first recorded proper words (according to his mother, who wouldn’t exaggerate on such a matter) were ‘meadowsweet’, uttered on a nature walk in the River Trent marshes when he was nearly 3.
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Don Wilder Mahua
Shipibo Curandero
Wilder Etman Rojas Mahua is a traditional healer from the Shipibo community of Paoyhan on the Ucayali River.
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Dr Esme Dark
Somatic Therapist
Dr Esme Dark has over 15 years of experience working as a clinical psychologist with people experiencing psychological distress.
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Dr Bianca Sebben
Clinical Psychologist
Bianca is a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in complex trauma, dissociative disorders and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Dr Osiris G. Cerqueda
Indigenous Scholar
Dr Osiris García Cerqueda is an Indigenous Mazatec author, historian and sociologist from Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca, Mexico.
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Charlotte Duerr James
Educator, Therapeutic Coach
Charlotte Duerr James is an educator, therapeutic coach, and initiated Medicine Woman of Afro-Caribbean and Germanic lineage.
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Julian Vayne
Esoteric Scholar
Julian’s journey into group ritual practice began within the Western Esoteric Tradition when he was 16.
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Prof Christine Hauskeller
Professor of Philosophy
Christine Hauskeller is a professor of philosophy at the University of Exeter.
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Dr Giorgia Caspani
Neuroscientist
After her PhD at Imperial College London, Giorgia researches for Onaya Science and at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver
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Dr Sam Gandy
Psychedelic Ecologist
Sam is a PhD ecologist with varied experience of working within the psychedelic field.
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Dr Mark Atkinson
Human Potential Expert
Dr Mark Atkinson is an internationally-renowned pioneer in the field of human potential development and optimal health medicine.
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Dr Nathan White
Biologist
Nathan is Onaya Science's resident biologist and a postdoctoral research fellow at University College London.
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Dr Holly Wilson
Neuroscientist
Holly is a postdoctoral researcher and head of neuroimaging for Onaya Science.
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Dr Jonah Teitelbaum
Clinical Psychologist
Jonah Teitelbaum is a clinical psychologist broadly interested in the intersection of spiritual practice, psychotherapy, and mental illness and health.
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Dr Vanessa Leon-Sulca
Holistic Medicine & Cultural Advisor
Dr. Vanessa Milagro Leon-Sulca is a Medical Doctor and Psychotherapist with expertise in Ayurvedic traditional medicine and psychedelic therapies.
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Maria Nazdravan
Dreamwork Facilitator
Maria is a dreamwork facilitator, writer, and integrative transpersonal and trauma psychotherapist.
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Dr Pascal Michael
Neuroscientist
Dr Pascal Michael is a neuroscientist and lecturer in psychology, specialising in DMT, (near-)death and extraordinary experiences.
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Matt Pennell
Clinical Psychologist
Matt is a clinical psychologist, psychedelic researcher, father of two, and lover of steel framed bicycles.
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Kirt Mallie
Indigenous Therapist
Kirt Mallie is a Mualgal man, an Indigenous Therapist, Cultural Educator and Spiritual Teacher.
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Nadia Violet Erlam
Neurodiversity Expert
Nadia is a disabled, non binary, autistic expert on diversity issues.
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Dr Matthew X. Lowe
Research Scientist and Educator
Dr Matthew X. Lowe, PhD, is a research scientist and educator with over 15 years of experience studying human behavior and brain function.
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Dr Leor Roseman
Psychedelic Researcher
Dr. Leor Roseman is an interdisciplinary psychedelic researcher and Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter.
Augmenting skillsets within your current scope of practice
While the Psychedelic Mentorship Training program is designed for professionals in the full range of therapeutic fields, we accept anybody interested in developing their skillset.
○ We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, military veterans and service members, and those serving under-resourced and under-represented populations.
○ International applicants are welcome, and professional board credentials are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
○ We offer scholarships for students and practitioners from indigenous heritage who would otherwise not be able to afford the course.
○ If you would like to extend the scope of your practice with this program, we offer a combined deal in partnership with the Human Potential Academy’s coaching qualification.
Please note: This course does not qualify graduates to manage high-risk or clinical populations. *If you are unclear whether your training and experiences meet eligibility for the training, please email us at support@onaya.io for clarification.FAQs
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The next 6 month mentorship training starts on the 22nd of September 2026.
Fortnightly 90-minute sessions will follow every other Tuesday at 5pm (UK time) until 23rd March 2027.
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The psychedelic mentorship program is accredited and certified by an international organization. However, each member must comply with their local state or country laws.
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This program is designed to enhance students’ skills within their current scope of practice, not to equip people with the training and expertise necessary to manage clinical and risky populations (e.g. PTSD, psychosis-spectrum disorders).
Mentors from a non-clinical background will be equipped with foundational competencies to work with non-clinical populations.
Those encountering clients who pose a risk to self/others/from others, are recommended to discuss in supervision regarding an onward referral plan.
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People with a background in a healing modality, including (but not limited to): medics, psychologists and psychotherapists, breathwork practitioners, life coaches, somatic healers and traditional practitioners.
Those with interest in Indigenous healing modalities and spiritual practices, looking to expand their practice to support individuals holistically in their psychedelic preparation and integration journeys.
Individuals seeking greater knowledge of modern science and spiritual traditions to advance their own personal development.
