Colorado's Premier Psilocybin Facilitator Training
WHERE SCIENCE MEETS SPIRIT IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE.
Led by the Nation's Pioneering Practitioners — Learn from the team who helped shape nationwide psychedelic policy and were among the first licensed facilitators in the country. AIS is a Colorado DORA-approved certification program that prepares you for the full spectrum of psychedelic facilitation.
Limited seats remaining in the February 2026 cohort
✓ Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Approved
✓ 150-Hour Comprehensive Curriculum
✓ Led by First Licensed Facilitators in the Nation
✓ Limited to 30 Students Per Cohort
The Problem with Choosing Sides in Psychedelic Training
MOST PROGRAMS FORCE YOU TO PICK A LANE:
Pure Science Programs give you clinical protocols but miss the profound spiritual dimensions that clients actually experience.
Pure Spirit Programs offer traditional wisdom but lack the safety frameworks and legal compliance you need to practice professionally.
Generic Programs claim to bridge both worlds but offer surface-level integration without real synthesis.
The result? Practitioners who feel unprepared for the complexity of psychedelic work, struggling with either spiritual emergencies they can't handle or clinical situations that require deeper wisdom.
There's a better way...
At AIS, we believe that the integration of scientific rigor and clinical safety with evidence-based spiritual wisdom is the way…
At AIS, you don't have to choose. Our pioneering faculty includes the nation's first licensed facilitators, policy advocates who shaped nationwide psychedelic regulations, and experts who bridge clinical research with traditional wisdom.
SESSION
PREPARATION
Science: Medical screening, contraindication assessment, evidence-based set/setting optimization
Spirit: Intention-setting ceremonies, energetic preparation, ancestral protocols
Synthesis: Comprehensive preparation that ensures both safety AND sacredness
DURING
SESSIONS
Science: standardized safety protocols, trauma-informed interventions
Spirit: Sacred space holding, energy work, ceremonial guidance, spiritual emergency protocols
Synthesis: Facilitators trained to respond to both psychological AND spiritual crises
POST-SESSION SUPPORT
Science: Structured integration therapy, outcome tracking, evidence-based processing techniques
Spirit: Ritual integration, community support, spiritual direction, ancestral wisdom
Synthesis: Comprehensive aftercare addressing all dimensions of the experience
Led by the Nation's Pioneering Practitioners
"We're not just teaching theory—we're sharing the real-world experience of being among the first to navigate this legal landscape. Every protocol we teach has been tested in actual practice."
— Dave Naftalin, Co-Founder & CEO, First Licensed Facilitator in the Nation
"As someone with a background in psychedelic advocacy and regulatory frameworks, I understand both the clinical requirements and the deeper wisdom this work requires. Our curriculum reflects that dual understanding."
— Kathleen Bruce, Co-Founder & CIO, Psychedelic Policy Pioneer
"This work requires cultural humility and deep respect for ancestral traditions. We teach practitioners to honor both evidence-based safety and traditional wisdom in their practice."
— Isét Estela, Cultural Integration & Equity Trainer, Ancestral Medicine Lineage
Program Authority:
Faculty were among the first licensed facilitators in the United States
Team members helped shape nationwide psychedelic policy and regulations
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies approved curriculum
Pioneering work in legal psychedelic facilitation and training
150 Hours of Holistically Guided Coursework
COLORADO-COMPLIANT FacILITaTOR CERTIFICATION (150 HOURS)
Why 150 Hours Works: our intensive curriculum focuses on what matters, practical container-holding skills that nurture real transformation.
91 hours Sync; 59 hours Asynchronous.
Learn from Nationwide Pioneering Faculty
LEADERSHIP
Dave Naftalin
Former First-Responder
+ First Licensed Facilitator in the Nation
Natural medicine advocate for EMS and veterans
First in the nation to receive psilocybin facilitator licensing
Pioneer in developing clinical protocols for emergency responders
Kathleen Bruce
Psychedelic Policy Pioneer
+ Educational Expert
15 years curriculum design as college professor
Psychedelic policy advocate shaping legal frameworks
Current PhD candidate in leadership studies
Frank McLaughlin
Instructional
+ Operational Leader
FACULTY
Cheri Plantenberg
Renowned Natural
Medicine Facilitator
Specializes in couple's therapy and relational healing
Over a decade of experience facilitating psilocybin-assisted therapy
Pioneer in applying psychedelic therapy to relationship healing
Isét Estela
Cultural Integration & Equity Trainer
Intercultural Educator
+ Ancestral Medicine Lineage
Intercultural educator in legal psychedelics
Direct lineage holder in ancestral medicine traditions
Expert in culturally responsive and equitable psychedelic access
Joshua Gage
Clinical Trauma
Specialist
U.S. Navy Veteran
+ Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapist
Navy veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom specializing in trauma recovery
Licensed in psilocybin- and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
Expert in EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, DBT, and IFS modalities
Jillian Kamely
RN, medical
safety instructor
Clinical Nurse
+ Safety Protocols Specialist
Evidence-based safety protocols and neuroscience specialist
Clinical expertise in medical monitoring and emergency response
Bridge between medical standards and psychedelic practice
Adrian Lozano
NATURAL MEDICINE
INSTRUCTOR
Plant Medicine Facilitator
+ Microdosing Coach
10+ years as psychedelic practitioner & 5+ years as psychedelic facilitator
Ceremonialist & integration coach
Bridge between ancestral wisdom with modern practice
Educator and advocate for the safe, intentional use of psychedelics for empowerment, growth, and healing
James Bunn
Instructor
Psychedelic Law
+ Regulations
Helps psychedelic and cannabis organizations with operations, communications, and everything in between.
Blends legal training with hands-on leadership, PR, and digital marketing to navigate complex regulations.
Focused on meaningful impact through harm reduction, efficient systems, and stronger team collaboration.
SPRING 2026 CoHoRT DeTaiLS
Start Date:
February 23rd, 2026
Application Deadline:
February 8th, 2026
Class Size:
30 students
(limited seats remaining)
Format:
Online Synchronous
Asynchronous
COMPLETE
TRAINING PACKAGE
✓ 150-hour DORA-approved curriculum
✓ 40 hours consultation and mentorship
✓ Lifetime alumni network access
✓ AIS Facilitator Directory placement
* 40-hour supervised practicum will be offered through our DORA-approved practicum sites (cost not included in standard tuition rate)
Standard tuition
$7,500
Tuition due in full 14 days after acceptance and prior to cohort start date
Limited seats remaining in the February 2026 cohort
The Growing Demand for Holistic Practitioners
The psychedelic therapy field is expanding rapidly, but there's a critical shortage of practitioners trained in BOTH domains:
Colorado's psilocybin program launches with limited qualified facilitators
Clients increasingly seek practitioners who understand both clinical safety AND spiritual depth
Treatment centers need staff who can work with the full spectrum of psychedelic experiences
Research institutions value practitioners who bridge different knowledge systems
Career Outcomes for Holistically Trained Practitioners:
Private practice psilocybin facilitation in Colorado
Treatment center positions requiring dual-domain expertise
Research collaborations bridging clinical and traditional knowledge
Training/education and consultation roles in the expanding field
Leadership positions in holistically-focused organizations
Your Path Forward
Not Sure If This Is Right for You?
Option 1: Download our free Curriculum Guide
See exactly how we synthesize science and spirit across all 150 hours of training. Includes lesson highlights, faculty backgrounds, and program details.
Option 2: Schedule a Call
30-minute call with our admissions team to discuss your background, goals, and whether our approach aligns with your vision.
Option 2: Apply with confidence
Learn from the team who pioneered this field and helped create the legal framework you'll be practicing within.
Mentorship from the nation's first licensed facilitators
Small cohort sizes for personalized attention
40 hours of consultation and mentorship
Lifetime access to alumni network and continuing education
Placement in AIS Facilitator Directory
Ready to Learn from the Pioneers?
Not Sure If This Is Right for You?
for clinical professionals
who want to add spiritual depth to your evidence-based practice while learning from those who are leading in the field.
for holistic healers
who want clinical training and legal compliance from the practitioners who pioneered the industry.
FOR CAREER CHANGERS
who want comprehensive preparation from the leaders who've been navigating this landscape since inception.
for MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
who understand that psychedelic healing requires more than pharmacological knowledge.
Still have questions about AIS?
Academy of Intrinsic Studies is approved by Colorado DORA to provide psilocybin facilitator training. Graduates are qualified to practice within Colorado's regulatory framework. This training complements but does not replace medical or mental health treatment. All applicants must meet eligibility requirements and complete background screening.
admissions@intrinsicstudies.com
+1 (541) 316-8846
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Approved
