Illuminismo Psichedelico, the cultural project stemming from the homonymous podcast by journalist Federico di Vita, announces the launch of the first Italian training program for psychedelic-assisted therapies. This pioneering initiative brings Italy into the European debate regarding the integration of psychedelics into clinical practice.
The program, starting in January 2026, spans 18 months and includes more than 300 hours of training through twelve intensive weekends, online mentoring sessions, two residential summer retreats, and participation in the annual Illuminismo Psichedelico Conference. Qualified with ECM credits, the course is open to doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists, offering professionals an opportunity to deepen their knowledge in the rapidly evolving field of psychedelic medicine.
The academic program stands alongside Germany’s Mind Foundation as one of the most comprehensive initiatives of its kind in Europe. It is the first project of Illuminismo Psichedelico Academy, a newly founded educational institution led by Scientific Director Enrico Greco, associate researcher in environmental chemistry at the University of South Florida, and Academic Directors Sara Ballotti and Raffaello Caiano, both experienced psychotherapists.
The curriculum stars internationally renowned specialists from different disciplines. Among them: Giorgio Samorini, ethnobotanist and scholar of psychoactive plants; neuroscientist Tommaso Barba, researcher at Imperial College London; Nicola De Pisapia, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Trento; psychiatrist Giovanni Martinotti, Professor at the University of Chieti and pioneer of clinical trials with psilocybin in Italy; psychiatrist Fabio Villa, who administers psychedelic-assisted therapies in Switzerland; as well as psychiatrist and author Piero Cipriano, professor Bruno Neri from the University of Pisa, and transpersonal psychologist Michele Metelli, a reference point for Holotropic Breathwork in Italy.
“The paradigmatic shift implied by the medical use of psychedelics also requires a cultural transformation,” says Federico di Vita. “Beyond overcoming decades of stigma, the future therapeutic use of these substances depends on well-prepared clinicians who can safely accompany patients through these experiences.”
According to Scientific Director Enrico Greco, the program offers “a unique opportunity to integrate diverse perspectives, spanning from chemistry to anthropology, and from neuroscience to psychotherapy, into a truly innovative educational model. The breadth and international quality of the faculty make this school an unprecedented experience in Europe, aimed at training a new generation of professionals ready to embrace the complexity of psychedelic therapies.”
The course emphasizes not only theoretical and clinical aspects but also ethical and experiential training, with particular attention to the therapeutic relationship. For Academic Director Sara Ballotti, “ongoing research confirms the efficacy of psychedelics in treating a range of psychological disorders, especially when integrated with psychotherapy. But to ensure treatments are both safe and transformative, it is important to provide clinicians with a comprehensive kind of training which respects the complexity of human experience.”
By creating the first structured training path of its kind in Italy, Illuminismo Psichedelico Academy aims to anticipate a future in which psychedelic-assisted therapies will be legally recognized in the country, ensuring that professionals are prepared to meet the growing demand for innovative mental health treatments.
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