Sergio R Perez

Implementing Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Germany: A Path to Official Certification

Choosing the Right Training Program:

The journey to integrate psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) in Germany is both challenging and full of potential.

The first curriculum for PAT I co-developed was designed around Outcome-Based Education—an effective approach, but not one that aligns with how medical education is structured in Germany.

While these programs offer valuable insights, they lack the official certification required for practitioners to deliver PAT.

To truly bring PAT into the mainstream of mental health care, we must align with Competency-Based Education (CBE)—the model that forms the backbone of medical training in Germany.
More importantly, make the programs accessible and time & cost-efficient.

By developing PAT training within this CBE framework, we can increase the likelihood of achieving official recognition. This would empower practitioners to deliver this innovative therapy to those who need it most, while meeting Germany's rigorous standards in medical education.

This shift could pave the way for certified PAT programs, ensuring that practitioners are not only well-prepared but also able to offer care that meets high professional standards. It’s a crucial step towards making these transformative therapies accessible to patients across the country.

Our recent publication in BMC Medical Education explores this topic in depth, addressing the complexities of compassionate use, the integration of psychedelics into the German healthcare system, the importance of cultural competency in therapy and the potential impact across Europe.

I want to extend my gratitude to my co-authors Sonya Faber, Monnica T Williams, Joseph La Torre, Ph.D., MTS, Susanne Birnkammer, and Olga Chernoloz, PhD 🇺🇦 for their invaluable expertise and collaboration on this important work.

Learn more about the approach with a full curriculum proposal here:

Expert recommendations for Germany’s integration of psychedelic-assisted therapy - BMC Medical Education As clinical trials for psychedelics move into phase III in the USA, Europe must address its lag in integrating professional education around psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) and supporting psychedelic drug research. This paper evaluates the necessary frameworks for implementing PAT in Germany, emp...