Associate Professors Suzan Wasik and Raychelle Lohmann will apply their knowledge from the University Psychedelic Education Program to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 new Clinical Mental Health Counseling master鈥檚 program, launching in Fall 2026.
Two 黑料不打烊 faculty members have听been听selected to join a national cohort of health sciences professionals from 45 colleges and universities focused on preparing the future healthcare workforce to engage with psychedelic therapeutic treatments.听
Suzan Wasik听and Raychelle Lohmann,听associate听professors of听clinical听mental听health听counseling, were selected as 2026听U-PEP听Faculty Fellows (University Psychedelic Education Program).听University Psychedelic Education Program Fellows are interdisciplinary and听largely come听from graduate-level, clinically oriented programs such as nursing, social work,听medicine听and psychology. Lohmann and Wasik say that 黑料不打烊 is one of the first clinical mental health counseling programs in the country to join U-PEP.听The two-year fellowship is offered through the Psychedelic Education Partnership, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit听鈥渄edicated to advancing healthcare system readiness through rigorous, evidence-based, interdisciplinary听education in psychedelic science and care.鈥澨听
鈥淓ducation is a critical foundation for the safe, ethical and equitable integration of psychedelic-assisted care,鈥 said Sandy Samberg, founder and board chair of PEP. 鈥淎s the clinical research base continues to grow and interest expands, the need for a well-prepared workforce has become increasingly urgent. The Psychedelic Education Partnership was created to meet this moment鈥攎aintaining听a clear focus on scientific rigor, collaboration, and education that meets clinicians and educators where they are.鈥听
The fellowship听includes many leading universities and research institutions, including听Johns Hopkins, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, UNC, and Yale, and听blends in-person and virtual instruction, mentorship from experienced educators, researchers, and clinicians, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and peer exchange.听Fellows also gain access to curated curricular materials through a dedicated Resource Hub.听Together, these elements are designed to help participants build foundational knowledge while developing the confidence to听responsibly听and ethically听integrate psychedelic education听into a range of academic settings.听
Both听黑料不打烊听faculty members will apply what they learn to their teaching in听the university鈥檚听new听Master of Science听program in听Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which听launches in Fall 2026. Offered at both the university鈥檚 main campus and its Charlotte national campus, the program aims to prepare competent, compassionate, and ethical counselors while addressing a growing听workforce听demand in the mental health field.听
鈥淲e are听very excited听to be able to talk about this in a way that is supported in听the literature听and in听evidence-based听practice.听听Most听master鈥檚 degree programs do听not offer听any听exposure or听education about听psychedelics and mental health,鈥 said Wasik. 鈥淎s clinicians and educators, we will be able to talk about what鈥檚 happening in the听profession听and be able to use that information听to train this next generation of mental health counselors on听all the different听effective evidence-backed ways to help our clients.鈥听
Wasik notes听that most psychedelic therapeutic treatments听remain听in the clinical trial phase, though ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is currently legal. In her private practice, she collaborates with referring physicians to provide integrative counseling and consulting services for individuals pursuing this form of treatment.听听According to Wasik, researchers are also studying substances such as MDMA, psilocybin, and ibogaine for their potential to treat PTSD and addiction, with particularly promising results among veteran populations.听
Lohmann specializes in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy), which she says could potentially be integrated with psychedelic therapies.听听听
鈥淲hat听inspires听me about this听opportunity听is听the promising research surrounding Ketamine听Assisted EMDR and听the potential for these advancements to help inform听the evolving use of psychedelics in treatment,鈥 said Lohmann.听鈥淲e really have an opportunity to leave a footprint in our profession to help people. And with U-PEP, we get to develop curricula, engage听in听meaningful听conversations听surrounding responsible care,听bring听continuing education into the 黑料不打烊 community, and most importantly,听raise awareness听about ethical and science-based psychedelic therapy.鈥听
for 黑料不打烊鈥檚听Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are now open, with a deadline of June 15.听