Practice Guidance for Registrants: Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
In response to increasing interest and public conversation about psychedelic-assisted interventions, the BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW) is issuing this statement and accompanying practice guidance to ensure registrants, educators, and the public have a clear understanding of what is and is not permitted within the scope of social work practice in British Columbia.
For the purpose of this Practice Guidance, PAPT means the provision of psychotherapy services in combination with the use of a psychedelic drug to treat or manage a client’s mental health condition or disorder, emotional difficulty or behavioral maladaptation and/or other problems that are assumed to be of an emotional nature, to promote, maintain or restore mental health.
As the regulatory body for the profession, the College is responsible for setting and communicating boundaries that uphold public protection and ethical practice. The provision of psychotherapy in conjunction with or facilitated by the administration of psychedelics outside of existing legal pathways, is not authorized currently within the current legal framework that social workers are obligated to adhere to, and is not within the scope of practice for any class of registrant.
Psychedelic substances, including but not limited to psilocybin and MDMA, are controlled substances under federal law. The prescribing, possession, administration, or facilitation of these substances is strictly regulated under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and requires explicit legal authorization through Health Canada. These acts fall outside the legislated scope of practice for social workers in British Columbia.
Accordingly, registrants must not:
- Administer, dispense or supervise the administration or ingestion of psychedelic substances;
- Possess, distribute, or facilitate access to controlled psychedelic substances (including referrals to unregulated or illegal providers);
- Represent, imply, or advertise that they provide psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy;
- Participate in any service model involving controlled psychedelic substances unless operating within a federally authorized clinical trial or Special Access Program (SAP) request led by a regulated prescriber with legal authority to obtain and administer the substance.
Engaging in any of the above activities constitutes unauthorized practice and may result in regulatory action, including investigation and discipline under the Social Workers Act.
Social workers may provide psychosocial services that fall clearly within the established scope of practice—such as preparation or integration counselling—provided these services do not involve the administration, handling, or facilitation of psychedelic substances and are delivered in full compliance with BCCSW Standards of Practice, the Code of Ethics, and applicable legislation.
Registrants are responsible for ensuring their practice remains within the legal and regulatory parameters governing the profession. The College will continue to monitor federal developments and will issue updated guidance should the regulatory environment change.
Activities Within Scope (If Competent and Ethical)
Registrants may engage in the following activities, provided they meet all professional obligations, including competence, informed consent, risk management, and compliance with law:
- Psychoeducation: providing information about evidence-based mental health interventions and general information about drug policy.
- Preparation counselling: supporting clients in exploring goals, mental health needs, and readiness for therapy (without advising or encouraging the use of illegal substances).
- Integration counselling: assisting clients to process experiences that occurred outside the registrant’s involvement and without the registrant facilitating, encouraging, or arranging those experiences.
- Support in legally sanctioned settings: providing psychosocial support as a member of an inter-professional team operating under an authorized clinical trial or SAP approval, within the limits of the registrant’s role.
Registrants offering these services must ensure they have the knowledge, skill, and judgment required, consistent with the BCCSW Standards of Practice.
Competence Requirements
Registrants must:
- Practice only within areas where they possess sufficient professional competence.
- Obtain specialized training before providing preparation or integration psychotherapy related to psychedelic experiences.
- Use appropriate supervision or consultation when entering new or emerging areas of practice.
- Maintain clear, accurate, and defensible documentation, particularly regarding informed consent and boundaries around illegal substance use.
Competence includes understanding the legal status and risks associated with psychedelic substances, as well as risks related to trauma, dissociation, mental-health crises, and vulnerable populations.
Professional Boundaries and Ethical Obligations
Registrants must not:
- Advise clients to obtain psychedelic substances illegally;
- Suggest or imply safer ways to use illegal substances;*
- Refer clients to illegal, underground, or unregulated psychedelic facilitators;
- Market or describe their services in ways that may be interpreted as endorsing illegal psychedelic use.
Registrants must avoid the promotion of illegal activity. Doing so violates the Standards of Practice and may undermine public trust.
*This means registrants must not, in any way, propose, encourage, or hint at methods for obtaining or using illegal substances that a registrant believes are safer. This restriction is not intended to limit or conflict with harm reduction principles. Harm reduction principles do allow registrants to meet clients where they are, offer non-judgmental support, and help reduce risks related to substance use. However, harm reduction support must not cross into giving advice that could be interpreted as guidance on how to use the illegal substance itself, where to obtain it, or how to enhance or optimize its effects. The intent is to uphold and maintain a harm reduction approach that prioritizes client safety and well-being without facilitating or enabling illegal activity.
Informed Consent and Risk Management
When providing preparation or integration services:
- Disclose the registrant’s scope and limitations clearly.
- Clarify that the social worker cannot recommend or facilitate illegal psychedelic use.
- Discuss potential psychological risks without providing instructions for illicit substance use.
- Document discussions explicitly and accurately.
Documentation Expectations
Registrants must document:
- The limits of the service, including that no psychedelic substances are provided, administered, or facilitated.
- Informed consent discussions.
- Assessment of suitability for psychosocial services.
- Any referrals (which must be legal, regulated services).
- Consultation or supervision received regarding complex cases.
Documentation must comply with BCCSW Standards of Practice.
Illustrative Examples
Below are examples of practices that would generally be considered appropriate or inappropriate for social workers in the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy. This list is illustrative and not exhaustive.
Permissible
- A client participated in a legal clinical trial and seeks post-experience counselling.
- A client asks for help processing a past experience from retreat or ceremony; the registrant offers integration counselling without endorsing illegal services.
- A registrant provides education about mental health treatments without advising on illegal drug use.
- A registrant works in a Health Canada-approved SAP or clinical trial under a regulated prescriber.
Not Permissible
- Supervising or attending a psychedelic session in any unregulated or unauthorized setting.
- Holding, administering, or assisting the client to ingest a controlled substance.
- Suggesting sources for illegal psychedelic substances.
- Advertising services as “psychedelic-assisted therapy.”
- Partnering with unregulated psychedelic facilitators.
Summary for Registrants
- Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is not permitted for BCCSW registrants unless within a federally authorized framework.
- Registrants may provide legal, ethical, within-scope psychosocial services such as preparation and integration counselling.
- Registrants must avoid any activity that involves illegal substances or exceeds their professional scope.
- All practice must comply with BCCSW Standards of Practice, the Code of Ethics, and applicable legislation.
- Registrants remain accountable for ensuring their practice is competent, lawful, and aligned with public protection.
