The Role of Music in Psychedelic Facilitation
Where Sound Becomes Medicine
6-Week Certification Course | Starts 05/08/2025
Why Music Matters in Psychedelic Therapy
Music and sound are inseparable from the long history of ceremonial psychedelic use. In contemporary psychedelic facilitation, music often holds a crucial role in helping clients navigate emotional challenges and integrate the benefits of a psychedelic experience. The art of holding space in a safe and non-judgemental manner significantly depends on our musical choices, which are informed by our sensitivity and understanding of the arc of psychedelic experiences. In practice, facilitators and clients often find that music is just as important as the substance - music is the medicine. Research has shown that the extent to which clients are able to connect with the music greatly impacts the likelihood of therapeutic outcomes. This 6 week course, designed for both experienced facilitators and those in training, explores how deepening our relationship to music can empower our capacity to facilitate spaces of transformation and wellbeing.
What you will receive:
- Gain confidence in understanding how to appropriately select music for the entire arc of a journey
- Learn how to integrate music selection into the screening process, in order to co-create unique and effective playlists along with your client
- Broaden how you discover new music beyond Spotify algorithms
- Understand how music can widen our lens of equity and diversity in psychedelic spaces
- Develop a practice of deep listening
- Understand how and when to skillfully integrate live music into your sessions
- Understand how to ethically and creatively bring your own cultural and musical lineages into space holding
- Use music and sound to support clients with integration
- Deepen your connection to nature through music
Who Should Enroll?
Psychedelic Facilitators refining their musical intuition
Therapists & Coaches integrating sound into somatic work
Musicians & Sound Healers entering the psychedelic space
Retreat Leaders designing transformative auditory environments
Course Features
Live Virtual Sessions
Weekly 2-hour classes + Private Community Hub
Practical Tools
Playlist templates - Cultural lineage mapping guide - Integration sound kits
Expert-Led Training
John Z. Newton with 10+ years in psychedelic therapy and ethnomusicology
Certification
Earn a Music Integration certificate | meets CO & OR CE requirements
Program Details
Duration: 6 weeks (12 hours) Online: 05/08/25 - 06/12/25 Day: Thursdays 6-8 pm EST
Price: $1,600
Accreditation
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), have approved and certified the Changa Institute’s program
Weekly breakdown
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Overview of ceremonial music, its therapeutic qualities and power to inspire
Integrating music into screening and intake
Blending styles and genres in an engaging way
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The power of the voice
Acoustic instruments
Sonic texture and timbre
Icaros and plant medicine songs
Flexibility and reading the room
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Understanding what resonates with your client
Curating playlists with creativity and experimentation
Working with ambient and drone music
Discovering your own musical lineages and sonic roots
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Musical intimacy
Working with noise and dissonant sounds
Sound bath fundamentals
Silence and meditation
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Connecting to place
Diversity and equity in music
The meaning and intelligence of nature
Love, Beauty and Awe
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Supporting clients with creative expression
Contextualising experience through connecting to song and lyrics
Rooting through sound memory and imagination
Meet Your Facilitator
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Lead Instructor
John is a guitarist and producer who has worked as a psychedelic facilitator since 2019, and is both a former facilitator and graduate of the Synthesis Psychedelic Practitioner program. He has played live music for hundreds of clients internationally, and has extensive experience in providing psychedelic harm reduction services. John has trained as a meditation instructor in the Buddhist insight meditation tradition with senior Dharma teacher Christopher Titmuss, and has arduously explored the depths of contemplative traditions East and West for over a decade. Some of his music can be found here:
What students have to say about our program
“I had a challenging case that left me uncertain about my approach. In my one-on-one session with Samantha, her insightful guidance and compassionate support helped me reframe the situation and gain clarity. Her expert feedback gave me the confidence and tools to navigate the case effectively.”
Greg T. Licensed Psilocybin Facilitator
“The trainers at Changa Institute are what reaffirm my confidence in being in the right place. Their deep reverence and commitment to this work are evident. As a licensed professional counselor, I recognize the importance of safety and ethical integrity in training environments. Changa delivered a level of psychological safety and professionalism I had not encountered in other programs I had trained with or researched. The trainers' expertise, presence, and intentionality create this secure and supportive learning space.”
Lana Hurst, LPC Specialist in Psychedelic Integration
“My experience with Changa has been outstanding. The instructors are leaders in the field of psychedelic therapy, many of whom are actively engaged in clinical research and frequently published in scientific literature. Their expertise and contributions to the field make this program truly exceptional.”
Laura Johnson, LCSW Psilocybin Facilitator
FAQs
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No! This course focuses on curation and facilitation, not performance.
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Absolutely – techniques apply to meditation, trauma work, and holistic coaching.
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Yes! Complete all modules and a final project to receive your credential.
Elevate your practice through expert consultation, advanced training, and curated retreat experiences.
Experiences
Retreats
Consultation
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Colorado’s draft regulations indicate that 40 hours of consultation over a six month period will be a required component of training for psilocybin facilitators in the state of Colorado.
Changa Institute clinical supervision is specifically designed for individuals who fall into the following categories:
LPCCs seeking Colorado DORA-required supervision to fulfill licensure obligations.
Those in search of PDA hours to meet the LPC licensure renewal requirements.
*Professional Development Activity (PDA) hours are mandatory during the 2-year renewal cycle for LPCs in the state ofColorado.
Clinical supervision is $110 for 30 minutes, $165 for 45 minutes, or $200 for 60 minutes.
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Changa Institute provides professional consultation services to ensure you or your team remain well-informed about the latest developments in psychedelic therapy and client care. These services are offered alongside their psychedelic therapy training program.
Professional consultation is available to both licensed clinical professionals and non-licensed practitioners seeking:
Guidance with adding psychedelic-assisted therapy to your existing practice.
Best practices for helping clients process and integrate their psychedelic experiences.
Case consultation around ethics or safety.
Psychedelic education and harm reduction.
Discussion around the philosophies, approaches, and skills of psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Setting up your psychedelic-assisted therapy or support services practice.
Changa provides both one-on-one and group professional consultations. The cost of an individual consultation is $110 for a duration of 30 minutes, $165 for a duration of 45 minutes, or $200 for a duration of 1 hour.
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For practitioners and individuals seeking to stay updated on the latest developments in the mental health sector, specifically about psychedelic therapy and client care, Changa Institute offers coaching that can help you:
Set up an independent practice.
Grow your practice.
Practice your psychedelic work with authenticity and integrity.
Discover and develop your work style and inner talents.
Overcome the imposter syndrome.
Use entheogens and psychedelics for your own personal growth and healing, including integration into your business and career.
Individual coaching is $200 per hour. For group coaching, join our mailing list.
Changa provides both one-on-one and group professional consultations. The cost of an individual consultation is $110 for a duration of 30 minutes, $165 for a duration of 45 minutes, or $200 for a duration of 1 hour.
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Are you a new or experienced psilocybin facilitator? Are you looking for a casual and professional environment to connect with other providers who are doing the same? Do you have case consultation, best practice, or other questions you'd like to get input on? Join our Psilocybin Facilitator Virtual Consultation Group.
Our professional consultation group meets quarterly and all groups are drop-in style. Confirm your space each timeby registering here and paying a sliding scale drop-in rate (suggested $50-$75). A link to join the consultation group will be shared in the reminder email you receive on the day of the group.
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What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.
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