CPACT Frequently Asked Questions

  • The total course fee is $7,500. $2,500 of $7,500 is budgeted for students to complete 100 hours of contemplative electives with external partners. Some electives incur additional student fees, such as those held overseas. 

  • Yes. At Anam Cara, we’re committed to making education accessible.

    Students may request a payment plan prior to the start of the course. A suitable plan will be discussed and formalised on a case-by-case basis.

    Scholarships reduce the total course fee from $7,500 to $4,500 (excluding additional fees for electives). Eligibility to apply includes:

    • First Nations Australians

    • Veterans

    • Individuals with an extensive volunteer history in the field of psychedelics

    • Individuals from underprivileged backgrounds with a demonstrated history of volunteer work

    Additionally, scholarship applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to community healing, ethical psychedelic practices, or related fields.

  • CPACT is designed for individuals already working in, or training toward, roles that support mental health and wellbeing, particularly in psychedelic-assisted therapy, preparation, and integration.

    This course is especially suited to those working in the preparation and integration phases of psychedelic support or those seeking to bring greater depth and ethical awareness to their current roles.

    Eligible participants may include:

    • Psychiatrists and medical professionals who are authorised prescribers under the AMAPP framework

    • Psychotherapists, psychologists, counsellors, and mental health nurses

    • Psychedelic facilitators working within legal or research frameworks

    • Students in the above fields who are actively pursuing qualifications

    • Coaches, yoga or meditation teachers, and wellbeing practitioners with relevant experience supporting individuals through mental health challenges.

    Pease note: CPACT is designed to complement your existing scope of practice and does not qualify you for clinical registration or independent clinical practice. However, it does offer pathways to accreditation through AMAPP for eligible practitioners. See AMAPP Accreditation Guidelines for more information. We strongly encourage all applicants to check with their relevant regulatory or professional body to understand how this training may align with their qualifications, scope of practice, and any additional requirements.

Logistics & Accessibility

  • CPACT is taught by a diverse team of clinical and contemplative practitioners, bringing extensive experience in areas such as trauma, psychotherapy, altered states of consciousness, nature-based wisdom, indigenous-informed practice, functional medicine, somatic therapies, and psychedelic-assisted best practice.

    Our team draws on both academic knowledge and lived experience, offering a rich, grounded, and embodied approach to teaching.

    Meet the full CPACT team on the Anam Cara website to learn more about their backgrounds and contributions to the field.

  • Yes. CPACT is deeply grounded in trauma-informed care and cultural inclusivity. The program is curated by directors with decades of lived experience working with trauma survivors, psychedelic therapy, and diverse client populations. 

    We actively partner with cultural advisors to ensure respectful integration of Indigenous wisdom and diverse perspectives. 

    The course incorporates Dr Lani Roy and Melissa Warner’s SWIM model, a unique framework designed to help practitioners cultivate their own personal, professional, and cultural identity while also supporting clients in doing the same. This approach ensures that this course not only equips you with clinical skills but also fosters deep cultural humility, ethical sensitivity, and trauma-aware practice.

  • We actively partner with cultural advisors to ensure respectful integration of Indigenous wisdom and diverse perspectives. 

    The course incorporates Dr Lani Roy and Melissa Warner’s SWIM model, a unique framework designed to help practitioners cultivate their own personal, professional, and cultural identity while also supporting clients in doing the same. This approach ensures that this course not only equips you with clinical skills but also fosters deep cultural humility, ethical sensitivity, and trauma-aware practice.

    Yes. The CPACT program integrates Indigenous wisdom, traditional plant medicine lineages, and lineage-based practices as foundational elements. We work closely with cultural partners to respectfully include these perspectives, honouring their origins and contemporary relevance in psychedelic healing.

Teachers, Lineage, & Ethics

  • Yes. CPACT includes two 4-day in-person intensive retreats in Venus Bay, Victoria, offering immersive, experiential learning in community. The 100 hours of contemplative electives are designed to be hands-on and experiential, supporting embodied learning through practices like breathwork, herbalism, yoga-based approaches, and retreat offerings.

    This structure ensures you’re not only learning theory, but also integrating it through direct experience.

  • Within the CPACT program, depending on your qualifications and participation prerequisites, you may have opportunities to sit in ceremony in a supportive (non-facilitator) role, such as during a medicine-assisted retreat.

    Additional supervised practice can be accessed through the EISP (EMPATHS Integrative Somatic Psychotherapy) program, which is a separate offering that can be accessed as an elective. EISP offers supervised mentorship for practitioners interested in delivering an integrative somatic approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy with cannabis and/or ketamine, or without medicine. 

    We are also partnering with a clinical service in the ACT that offers a separate dosing pathway for MDMA and psilocybin for eligible practitioners.

  • Yes. Anam Cara Centre offers placement pathways for the CPACT program tailored to your background and scope of practice. Our team has over 15 years’ experience supervising students across a range of clinical, community, and integrative settings.

    If you’re seeking placement as part of your professional development or study requirements, please contact Dr Lani Roy at alana@anamcaracentre.com.au to discuss your individual needs and explore what pathways may be available to you.

Clinical & Practical Components

  • CPACT does not in itself qualify you for clinical practice or registration. However, it is an educational pathway to support you to pursue individual accreditation with AMAPP (Australasian Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Practitioners).

    Depending on your professional background and experience, AMAPP offers accreditation pathways for roles such as:

    • Psychedelic Prescriber (PP)

    • Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist (PAT)

    • Psychedelic Facilitator (PF)

    Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certification that will provide them with a pathway to apply for registration with AMAPP, showcasing their commitment to upholding the highest standards in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to AMAPP for any further questions about their background and experience. You can also review AMAPP accreditation guidelines for more information or discuss with Dr Lani Roy, co-founder of Anam Cara Centre and Chair of AMAPP, at alana@anamcaracentre.com.au. 

  • Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) is a new and rapidly evolving field. While the CPACT Certificate offers a robust foundation in ethical, trauma-informed, and contemplative psychedelic care, we cannot make promises or guarantees of employment or clinical placement. Opportunities in this field depend on a range of individual factors, including your professional qualifications, scope of practice, clinical experience, reputation, and existing networks.That being said, CPACT is designed to complement and deepen your current practice. Many students use this training to:

    • Integrate psychedelic preparation and integration support into their existing therapeutic or wellbeing work

    • Build a private practice focused on psychedelic integration or contemplative therapies

    • Work toward opportunities in clinics, retreat centres, or research projects

    For those who meet relevant eligibility, we offer supervised dosing mentorship programs and can connect students with clinics and teams offering PAT services. CPACT also provides a pathway for suitable graduates to undergo an individualised accreditation process with AMAPP, as outlined in in the above FAQ.

    Our commitment is to support you in cultivating your own professional ecosystem and finding pathways aligned with your unique qualifications, values, and goals.

  • Graduates may utilise their CPACT certification to apply for accreditation through AMAPP (Australian Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Practitioners), which assesses individuals based on their competencies, scope of practice, and professional background.

    Currently, there are no nationally agreed-upon training standards for psychedelic-assisted therapy in Australia or internationally. As such, training programs vary widely in their approach and depth. CPACT has been purposefully designed to integrate clinical science, contemplative wisdom, cultural perspectives, and ethical integrity, supporting you to become the most embodied, well-rounded practitioner possible.

    While CPACT is not formally accredited by a national regulatory body, it is built to meet emerging standards in this evolving field. If you'd like to discuss how this training might align with your path, please contact Dr Lani Roy at alana@anamcaracentre.com.au. 

  • CPACT is a professional training certificate designed for experiential, practice-based learning. While a professional qualification such as a master’s degree often focuses on theoretical frameworks and research, CPACT offers immersive, hands-on education through elements like holotropic breathwork, nature-based retreats, and elective contemplative therapies.

    This certificate is ideal for:

    • Those who want supplementary training without committing to an additional full degree

    • Established practitioners seeking to integrate psychedelic-assisted therapy into their existing scope of practice

    • Those looking for an affordable, flexible, and embodied training experience

    While CPACT is not a university qualification, it provides foundational and applied learning that supports real-world integration and meets the emerging needs of the psychedelic-assisted therapy field.

  • Yes, depending on the field of practice and CPD requirements of your professional association or regulatory body. We recommend checking with your specific governing body to confirm how CPACT may be applied toward your CPD obligations. If you need supporting documentation or a breakdown of hours, we are happy to assist.

  • Yes, you will receive a Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted and Contemplative Therapies, which makes you eligible to apply for AMAPP credentialing.

    Please note that the AMAPP credentialing process is independent of Anam Cara. Applications are assessed by the AMAPP credentialing team based on each student’s demonstrated competencies and professional background.

    Dr Lani Roy is not part of the credentialing team and remains separate from this process to ensure that all students are assessed independently and transparently.

Qualifications & Career Pathways

  • Core Curriculum (100 Hours)

    This foundational training provides 100 hours of clinical education in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Topics include:

    • The regulatory landscape of psychedelic therapies

    • Cultural and historical foundations of psychedelic use

    • Nature-based therapy and Indigenous philosophies

    • Theories of consciousness and links to Buddhist and yogic traditions

    • In-depth study of commonly used psychedelics

    • Client assessment and suitability for psychedelic-assisted therapy

    • Clinical skills and therapeutic frameworks for psychedelic sessions

    • Ethical considerations and legal frameworks

    • Professional development and integration into existing therapeutic modalities

    • Holotropic breathwork intensive for experiential learning in altered states without psychedelics

    Elective Pathways (100 Hours)

    Students tailor their learning journey through 100 hours of contemplative therapies. Options include:

    • Herbalism for psychedelic preparation, integration, and self-care

    • Integration training for post-journey support

    • Yin yoga teacher training

    • Pranayama (yogic breathwork) teacher training

    • Peru cultural immersion dieta retreat with dieta preparation and integration certificate

    • Advanced medicine-assisted Beckley retreat in Jamaica or the Netherlands

    Learning objectives and outcomes for core units and electives are included in the CPACT Syllabus.

    Contact alana@anamcaracentre.com.au to request the course syllabus.

  • CPACT is primarily delivered online, except for two in-person intensive retreats held in Venus Bay, Victoria, and 100 hours of elective units, which vary in location and attendance requirements. The CPACT Syllabus includes intensive retreat dates and elective dates and locations (where confirmed).

    Contact alana@anamcaracentre.com.au to request the course syllabus.

  • The CPACT certificate includes 100 hours of foundational training in psychedelic-assisted therapy and 100 hours of elective units in contemplative therapies, totalling 200 hours of training.

    The course is designed to be completed within 12 months, though timing may vary depending on elective schedules and individual needs. All contemplative electives can also be completed as standalone offerings, and later recognised as Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) if applying for CPACT.

    To discuss your individual circumstances and explore flexible study options, please contact Dr Lani Roy at alana@anamcaracentre.com.au. 

  • Yes. A comprehensive course manual is a required reading for the duration of the certificate. Together we journey through the manual over the year, supporting gradual, integrated learning within the course, and supporting you following graduation. Assessments take place in person during the intensive retreats and are designed to support reflection and practical integration.

    The course readings and assignments have been intentionally designed to accommodate people who are working or have families, offering ample space for personal, spiritual, and emotional growth without being overwhelming or all-consuming.

    Specific details about the manual, readings, and assignments will be provided once the course begins. If you'd like more information in the meantime, please contact alana@anamcaracentre.com.au

  • Study groups and lectures require live attendance. 80% attendance to study groups and lectures is required to honour the group container and contribute to an effective and consistent learning experience for all. 

  • We understand that life can be unpredictable. If something arises that affects your ability to attend or continue with the course, we encourage open communication as early as possible. We’ll work with you to find a solution that honours both your circumstances and the integrity of the learning experience.

    To graduate with the CPACT certification:

    • Students must attend both in-person intensives.

    • A minimum of 80% attendance is required for webinars, unless personal or health-related reasons prevent this (in which case, please notify us as soon as possible).

    • The 100 foundational hours must be completed within the first year.

    • The 100 contemplative hours may be completed over the full two-year period, depending on when they are held. Please note: Contemplative electives are run by our external partners and have their own attendance requirements.

    If you need to pause your studies for personal or health reasons, deferrals are considered on a case-by-case basis. While course fees are non-refundable, they may be transferred to a future CPACT cohort where appropriate.

Course Content & Structure

  • Anam Cara Centre does not supply, promote, or facilitate access to illegal psychedelic substances. This stance complies with Australian law. Instead, Anam Cara offers education, integration, and support in a legally and ethically appropriate way.

  • We take a harm reduction-informed approach. While we do not endorse illegal use, we do support students and clients who independently choose to engage with psychedelics by offering education, preparation, risk awareness, and integration support in a non-directive, compassionate framework.

  • Anam Cara advocates for compassionate, evidence-based approaches to drug policy. We support the decriminalisation of psychedelic substances as part of a broader vision for public health, trauma-informed care, and the reduction of harm. We believe in safe, regulated access and in elevating dialogue that includes both scientific research and Indigenous wisdom.

  • We align with Australian law, AHPRA’s Code of Conduct, and best practices in global psychedelic and mental health work. Our programs are grounded in evidence, ethics, and a strong commitment to practitioner responsibility.

  • Ethics are central to CPACT, deeply embedded through the SWIM model. This framework blends philosophy, metacognition, and practical tools for discernment, helping practitioners navigate complex dynamics such as projection, transference, and relational challenges.

    The course emphasises ecological responsibility and personal empowerment—for both practitioner and client—drawing on decades of lived experience in the psychedelic field. Real-life case examples, alongside intentional guest contributions, enrich learning about ethical complexities.

    CPACT encourages practitioners to recognise that ethical errors can happen and uses the SWIM model to cultivate awareness, harm prevention, and insight into personal and organisational shadows. This approach helps illuminate the common pitfalls and perils unique to psychedelic work, supporting safer, more responsible practice.

Legal & Ethical Approach

  • This course offers and encourages the exploration of both. CPACT sits at the intersection of personal growth and professional development. We believe that deep, embodied learning comes from doing your inner work alongside developing the skills to support others.

  • CPACT offers a supportive environment for students who bring personal experiences with psychedelics. Our team draws from lived experience and fosters an open, respectful culture that encourages honest dialogue around preparation and integration.

    While we advocate for decriminalisation and are aligned with AMAPP’s evolving standards, we also prioritise creating a safe container that protects students’ professional registrations and legal boundaries. This means we support conversations around personal experiences, but always within a framework that respects legal, ethical, and professional obligations, ensuring no one’s credentials or safety are placed at risk.

  • Yes, you can. While prior psychedelic experience is not required, our intake process looks for evidence of your capacity to engage with non-ordinary states of consciousness, whether through breathwork, meditation, spiritual practice, personal transformation, or dark-night-of-the-soul experiences. We’re interested in your ability to understand and hold space for deep processes in others, and your personal insight into altered states–however that insight has been gained.

Integration & Personal Growth

  • Anam Cara offers a rich support structure for students, including university placements, peer learning groups, and tailored learning pathways designed to meet individual needs and professional goals.

  • Yes. Dr Lani Roy provides mentorship and supervision in alignment with the AMAPP credentialing framework. This can include psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy supervision, depending on the student’s training, insurance coverage, and readiness for practice.

  • Yes, and we encourage open and respectful communication throughout your learning journey so we can ensure you receive the most out of your education.

    • Dr Lani Roy is available for general course-related support, wellbeing concerns, credentialing, education, and career guidance. Contact alana@anamcaracentre.com.au.

    • Melissa Warner is available for content-specific questions, especially those relating to academic materials, frameworks, and manual-based learning. Contact melissa@anamcaracentre.com.au. 

    • Gianna Manzini is available for course administration support. Contact gianna@anamcaracentre.com.au. Queries to Gianna may be escalated to Lani or Melissa where appropriate. 

    If you experience any interpersonal challenges or concerns during the course, we have a conflict resolution policy in place to support safe, fair, and transparent communication. 

Student Support