Spiritual Direction in the “Psychedelic Renaissance”
Guidance and preparations for accompanying those who have had transformative, or challenging, psychedelic experiences
Presenter
Nicholas Collura
Dates
October 22, 29, November 5, 12, 2025
Time
Duration
6 hours (total)
Webinar will be recorded.
Are spiritual directors and companions prepared to accompany clients who are considering, processing, or recovering from a psychedelic experience?
In Nicholas’ words, “The field of psychedelics is undergoing a “renaissance,” as the FDA has approved breakthrough psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat a range of conditions, and hallucinogenic plant medicines are becoming increasingly popular among spiritual seekers today. What impact might this new frontier have on our profession, and are we prepared to accompany those who have had transformative, or challenging, psychedelic experiences?”
Nicholas Collura has written on the topic of accompanying people who have used psychedelics in Presence Journal, as well has having given a highly-regarded presentation at the 2025 SDI Conference. Now, SDI offers you the opportunity for a deeper dive with Nicholas: digging into topics and concerns, bringing your questions, and participating in a supportive learning community.
This SDI webinar series is designed to support spiritual directors and companions – indeed all spiritual caregivers — as we discern together on how important psychedelic literacy is for us as spiritual directors, as more and more contemporary seekers are gravitating towards these medicines in search of spiritual healing—and in search of God.
Please join us on this contemplative journey to grow in our calling.
“Even if we never touch psychedelics ourselves, maintaining ethical standards will be as important as ever for us, because the broad milieu of professional spirituality will be impacted by these medicines as the dynamics of power and arcane knowledge that are associated with them ripple across the media ecosystem and, too, across our own field.”
― Nicholas Collura in Presence Journal, Volume 31, Issue 1.
- Participants from all religions, spiritual traditions, and vocational orientations are welcome in this webinar series.
- No experience is required to attend.
- Each session runs 90 minutes.
- All sessions will be recorded and be viewable for at least 12 months after the last session goes live.
Webinar topics will include:
- Understanding the Landscape – An overview of the major psychedelic substances, their cultural histories, and the current legal‑status landscape, so directors can speak knowledgeably when the topic arises.
- Dialoguing with Our Own Frameworks -- Consideration of where mystical-type psychedelic experiences may align with, or diverge from, our own traditions' prior understanding of non-ordinary states of consciousness
- Recognizing Common Themes – Insight into the typical spiritual motifs (e.g., ego dissolution, encounters with archetypal figures, instances of startling self-knowledge) that often surface during psychedelic experiences, helping directors to identify what a client may be processing.
- Appreciating Ethical Nuances – A discussion of the ethical tensions that can emerge when spiritual guidance meets altered‑state material—such as power imbalances, spiritual bypass, and the risk of unintentionally reinforcing harmful narratives.
- Cultivating a Listening Presence – Guidance on how to hold space, practice deep listening, and ask open‑ended questions that honor a client’s experience without steering or prescribing a particular interpretation.
- Connecting to Resources & Community – Reflecting on how and when to refer to other professional and communal support resources for clients who seek additional help, ensuring a responsible continuum of care.
Session Outline
Session 1: Situating Ourselves in this Field -
After a brief introduction to psychedelic theory and theories of consciousness (elements of which will continue throughout our series), we will consider our own positionality within the field as a means of identifying potential areas of counter-transference and ethical caution.
Session 2: Integration (and Other Metaphors for What Comes Next)
Session 3: Challenging Psychedelic Experiences
Session 4: What Comes Next For Us?
When
The webinar series will run 4 consecutive Wednesdays: October 22, 29, November 5, 12 2025: 1 PM Seattle/Los Angeles, 3 PM Chicago, 4 PM New York, 9 PM London; Thursdays October 23, 30, November 6, 13: 4 AM Hong Kong, 6 AM Melbourne, Australia.
Find your own local time here.
But if that timing doesn’t work, you can enjoy the webinar any time you like.
Each session is recorded so you can watch at your convenience.
Presenter
Nicholas Collura
is a board-certified healthcare chaplain and a visiting spiritual director and retreat director at St. Raphaela Center in Haverford, PA. He co-coordinates EcoPhilly, a faith-based organizing initiative dedicated to creation care in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. A former Jesuit, he has ministered at several colleges and universities, juvenile halls, and adult state prisons, and he is an instructor in the Narrative Enneagram tradition. His website is www.nicholascollura.com.
Additional Information
- Everyone is invited to participate in SDI Webinars.
- Each session will run 90 minutes. We understand that the timing of the seminar will not be convenient in every time zone on the planet. For those who have trouble making this time, a recorded copy of each session will be made available to all those who sign up.
- CEU credits are available for all those who participate. SDI will provide a certificate of completion for self-reporting to agencies. More information can be found here: continuing education units (CEUs).
- Cost: $99 or less for SDI members. Non-members please contact [email protected] for your pricing
- Scholarships are available for those facing financial hardship. Please apply here.
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