March 12th, 2025 from 6:00pm-7:00pm
About the Event
Psychedelics have been part of human history for centuries, possibly as far back as ancient Greece. These substances have a remarkable ability to inspire profound and mystical experiences, offering a glimpse into altered states of consciousness. They achieve this by temporarily quieting the brain's "default mode network," the part of the brain associated with our sense of self, leading to an egoless state.
But psychedelics aren’t just about the "trip"—they also spark a fascinating process called neuroplasticity, where the brain becomes more capable of forming new connections. This has opened the door to exciting possibilities in the field of mental health and addiction treatment.
In this talk, Dr. Richard Friedman will explore the basics of psychedelics, their potential benefits, and how they are being studied as tools to help with conditions like depression, PTSD, and addiction. He will also discuss what the future might hold, including the development of psychedelics that enhance brain flexibility without the hallucinogenic experience. Whether you're curious or cautious, this talk will offer insights to help you better understand these intriguing substances and their potential role in healing.
Registration
Registration to the live online lecture is free. CE credit needs to be purchased separately. Click HERE to register for the event.
If you would like to purchase CE credit for the event, please purchase here:
CE Credit
1 CE credit is available for a $20 fee to Psychologists, Social Workers, and LMHCs who register for the lecture, sign in with their full name, attend the entire lecture, and complete a survey that will be emailed following the completion of the event. Note that the survey must be completed within 30 days of the lecture.
Live attendance is required for CE credit hours. No partial credit will be given. Refunds will not be provided to those not meeting the CE attendance requirements. CME credits are not available for this event.
Instructional Level: This event is appropriate for all audiences (introductory, intermediate and advanced).
Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) Department of Psychiatry, 525 E 68th St. New York, NY10065, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0192. WCM Department of Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0302. WCM is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. WCM maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The New York Presbyterian Hospital Department of Social Work is recognized by New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0155.
CE credits must be purchased ahead of the event by March 12th, 2025 at 6:00pm.
Please contact wcmpsychiatryce@med.cornell.edu for additional CE information.
Speaker
Richard Alan Friedman, M.D.
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College
Director of the Psychopharmacology Clinic, Department of Psychiatry
Dr. Friedman is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and Director of the Psychopharmacology Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Friedman has a particular interest and expertise in the psychopharmacology and neurobiology of mood disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and resilience. He has also done research in depressive disorders, including studies of new medications for depression and a large collaborative study of the genetics and neurobiology of bipolar disorder. He has done research in the military’s use of various psychotropic medications in active-duty troops during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and in the veteran population. At Cornell, he is actively involved in teaching and training psychiatric residents and is director of the biological psychiatry curriculum in the department. He was the director of the Cornell Student Mental Health Program from 1999-2020. Dr. Friedman writes for several medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, The American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of the American Medical Association, on psychiatric topics. He writes for the New York Times, the Washington Post and The Atlantic on mental health, addiction, human behavior, and neuroscience.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the mechanisms of action of psychedelics within the brain and body.
- Summarize current clinical research findings on the therapeutic use of psychedelics.
- Discuss the potential therapeutic implications of neuroplasticity compared to transcendental experiences in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
References
- De Vos, C. M. H., Mason, N. L., & Kuypers, K. P. C. (2021). Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic review unraveling the biological underpinnings of psychedelics. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.724606
- Friedman, R. A. (2023, November 30). What If Psychedelics' Hallucinations Are Just a Side Effect? The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/11/non-hallucinogenic-ps...
- Shao, L., Liao, C., Gregg, I., Davoudian, P. A., Savalia, N. K., Delagarza, K., & Kwan, A. C. (2021). Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo. Neuron, 109(16), 2535-2544.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.008
Financial Disclosures
Dr. Friedman has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of products or services.
