The Art & Science of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy
with Mary Cosimano, Bill Richards & Brian Richards
For over two decades, Mary Cosimano, Bill Richards, and Brian Richards have been at the forefront of the clinical psilocybin-assisted therapy paradigm at Johns Hopkins University, helping spark the 21st century psychedelic renaissance and define the gold standard for therapeutic care.
Now, for the first time, these master clinicians invite you into their practice. Through cinematic roleplay vignettes and candid perspectives, witness their wisdom in action as they demonstrate how to hold space through terror, ego dissolution, paranoia, and transcendence.
The Art & Science of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy launches Sabba's educational anthology "Multiple Lenses, One Unified Field: Perspectives & Practices of Psychedelic Healing"—a series dedicated to honoring the diversity, nuance, and contradictions that enrich and evolve our field.
Meet Your Teachers
Mary Cosimano, LMSW
Dr. William Richards, PhD, MDiv
Dr. Brian Richards, Psy.D.
5:21
Meet Your Teachers
Introductions and background from Mary, Bill and Brian.
7:02
Words of Wisdom
Words of wisdom for new practitioners of psilocybin-assisted therapy from Mary, Bill and Brian.
Included in this course:
- •18 roleplay vignettes (45 minutes) of realistic psilocybin-assisted therapy scenarios and skilled, contextual responses
- •11 Perspective videos (40 minutes) of reflection and further context on vignette content and the clinical psilocybin-assisted therapy paradigm.
- •2 Praxis simulations (4 coming soon) and 20 session credits to practice what you learn in the videos
3:49
Starting the Day: Ingestion
4:31
Anxiety
5:49
Paranoia
3:56
Extreme Paranoia
5:09
Diffusing Paranoid Processes
Simulation
Defusing Paranoid Processes
4:37
Terror
1:33
Death Encounter
4:31
Encountering Ego Dissolution
4:31
Anxiety
2:55
Intellectualization
4:57
Stopping the World
3:49
Exhaustion
3:06
Working with Resistance & Intellectualization
Simulation
Working with Resistance & Intellectualization
4:37
Terror
1:47
Anger
3:56
Extreme Paranoia
5:25
Confrontation
1:44
Entity Hallucination
3:23
Holding Space for Extreme Emotions
Simulation
Holding Space for Extreme Emotions
4:37
Terror
5:25
Confrontation
1:33
Death Encounter
1:44
Entity Hallucination
5:21
Confronting Fear
Simulation
Confronting Fear
1:42
Allowing Experiences to Unfold
3:41
The Unfolding Rose
1:44
Gratitude & Awe Beyond Words
3:49
Exhaustion
1:33
Death Encounter
Simulation
Allowing Experiences to Unfold
1:49
Emesis
1:37
Responding to Nausea & Emesis
5:15
Disappointment
4:27
Engaging with Disappointment, Boredom or Placebo Experiences
1:34
Checking In
1:09
Checking In
2:19
Form & Formlessness
5:25
Confrontation
7:05
Supporting Somatic Expression
Simulation
Supporting Somatic Expression
The videos in this series are for educational and training purposes only. They are designed to briefly illustrate selected concepts and interactions in psychedelic-assisted therapy, as understood within a specific clinical paradigm of psilocybin-assisted therapy, and do not offer a comprehensive or definitive account of practice, nor do they capture the full range of experiences that may arise. The approaches and responses depicted reflect the personal experience and professional judgment of the practitioners involved. They represent just one of many possible ways to engage with the complex realities of psychedelic care and are intended to invite critical reflection, dialogue, and ongoing learning within our shared field.