Frequently asked questions

CPACT is the Certificate of Psychedelic and Contemplative Therapies, a 200-hour, 12-month hybrid certification program for professionals, students and therapists seeking a deeply integrative, evidence-based and experiential approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy. It is organised around the SWIM model, which holds the work in four interwoven dimensions: somatic, wisdom, interdependence and metacognition.

The 200 hours are made up of two streams completed within twelve months:

• 100 hours of core psychedelic-assisted therapy training, "Building Solid Foundations"
• 100 hours of contemplative or experiential electives you tailor to your own path

Delivery is primarily online, with self-paced modules, live study groups and guest webinars, plus two immersive four-day retreats in nature.

The core 100 hours combine contemporary psychedelic science, evidence-based clinical practice, contemplative practices and Indigenous wisdom traditions. Topics include the regulatory landscape, cultural foundations, nature-based therapy, theories of consciousness, specific psychedelics, client assessment, clinical skills, ethics, professional development and holotropic breathwork.

You complete 100 hours across six elective pathways, chosen to align with your interests:

• Yin Yoga Teacher Training
• Pranayama, yogic breathwork teacher training
• Herbalism for psychedelic preparation, integration and self-care
• ACER Integration with Dr Rosalind Watts
• Peru Cultural Immersion Dieta Retreat
• Medicine-assisted retreat with Beckley Retreats, in Jamaica or the Netherlands

All contemplative electives can be completed standalone and later recognised as Recognised Prior Learning when applying for CPACT. Around $2,500 of the program fee is budgeted for completing electives with external partners.

Assessment is through reflective essays, case discussions, skills demonstrations and an integrative project. Practical assessments are held during the intensive retreats. The comprehensive course manual is required reading throughout.

Our next cohort journeys from October 2026 to March 2027. Applications are open. Contact us to receive the syllabus and application form.

CPACT is aimed at people already working in, or training toward, mental-health and wellbeing roles: psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, nurses, GPs and allied health professionals, along with facilitators, students in these fields, and coaches or wellness practitioners with relevant experience.

Qualified health and mental-health professionals are expected to hold current registration and indemnity insurance. Final-year students in relevant fields are considered case by case.

No. Prior psychedelic experience is not required. A genuine interest in contemplative practice, however, is essential to the program.

The total fee is $7,500 AUD, of which around $2,500 is budgeted for students to complete 100 hours of contemplative electives with external partners.

Yes. Payment plans are available and considered case by case. Please raise this with our intake team.

Yes. A scholarship rate is available upon request for First Nations Australians, veterans, those with an extensive volunteer history in psychedelics, and underprivileged individuals with demonstrated volunteer work. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and community impact.

Deposits are non-refundable. Course fees are non-refundable but may transfer to a future cohort. Deferrals are considered case by case.

The 100 hours of foundational CPACT units are endorsed by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, PACFA, as a Category A CPD Activity. Whether it counts as continuing professional development for you depends on your specific professional association.

No. CPACT does not itself qualify you for clinical practice or registration, and there are no nationally agreed training standards for this work in Australia yet. It prepares practitioners to offer preparation, integration and therapeutic support within their existing scope of practice and their jurisdiction's regulatory framework.

Graduates receive a Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted and Contemplative Therapies. CPACT provides a pathway to accreditation with AMAPP, the Australian Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Practitioners, as a Psychedelic Prescriber, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist or Psychedelic Facilitator. You can read the AMAPP accreditation guidelines at amapp.org.

No. Anam Cara Centre does not supply, promote or facilitate access to illegal psychedelic substances, and does not administer any medicines to students or professionals. Scheduled substances remain controlled under Australian law. Any experiential medicine components take place overseas, under the jurisdiction of local laws and traditional cultural customs.

Our approach aligns with Australian law and AHPRA's Code of Conduct, and is harm-reduction informed. We advocate for compassionate, evidence-based drug policy, including decriminalisation approached as public-health and trauma-informed care. Ethics are embedded throughout the program via the SWIM model. You can read more on our ethical and legal approach page.

No. Anam Cara is an educational centre. We do not prescribe medication and we do not see mental-health clients, and we do not provide NDIS or Medicare services. If you need mental-health support, please seek it from your GP or psychiatrist.

The course is delivered primarily online through our LearnWorlds learning platform, combining self-paced modules, live study groups and monthly guest webinars, alongside two immersive four-day retreats in nature.

The two immersive four-day retreats are held in a forested, waterside sanctuary in nature. The optional Peru Cultural Immersion Dieta elective takes place in the Amazon, near Pucallpa, Peru.

Study groups and lectures require live attendance, with 80% attendance required across the program. Recordings support your learning but are not a substitute for the live, relational components.

No. The Peru Cultural Immersion Dieta Retreat is one of six optional electives within CPACT, led by First Nations Asháninka curanderos. You can read more on our Peru Dieta page.

Contact us to receive the CPACT syllabus and application form. Our intake team replies within one to two business days and will schedule a brief conversation with you. You can reach us by phone on 1300 027 228 or by email at enquiry@anamcaracentre.co.