An Accelerated Hybrid Training Program
Seven weeks online +
five days of hands-on training
The OPI Team: Sibin Stephen, Pharm.D., Brittany Alperin, Ph.D., Matthew Lowe, Ph.D., Zach Halpern, M.D., Jeff Johnson, M.Div., LCSW
A Science-Centric Curriculum
Taught by a passionate team of leaders in the field
In your training, you'll learn directly from OPI's team of researchers, clinicians, and educators over the course of 21 2-hour Zoom lectures.
Then, for the last week of training, you'll join us for a hands-on practicum. It's here you'll get to practice and refine the skills you learned in class before applying them in your own practice.
Application
Neuroscience
The science that
underlies the psychedelic experience
Instructor: Dr. Matthew X. Lowe
Facilitation
The psychology
of preparation,
administration
& integration
Instructor: Jeff Johnson
Medicine
Psychedelics and
healthcare
Instructor: Dr. Zach Halpern
Careers & Research
An integral
component of each
module & additional
two lectures
Learn More
Meet the Team
Meet OPI's Director of Education
Dr. Brittany Alperin is a cognitive neuroscientist with over 15 years of experience researching and teaching the inner workings of the mind
In addition to her work in course design, Dr. Alperin served as a professor and principal investigator in academic labs exploring the intersection of thought, emotion, and mental health.
At OPI, she brings her expertise in neuroscience and passion for scientific education to the design of our training curriculum—ensuring facilitators receive a rigorous, thoughtful, and inspiring educational experience grounded in both science and personal meaning.
After earning her Ph.D. in neuroscience from OHSU, Dr. Brittany Alperin has spent the majority of her career developing scientific educational materials. At OPI, she oversees the development of its Facilitator Training Program.
More About Brittany
Lead Educators
Our instructors share, first and foremost, a passionate dedication to the advancement of psychedelic medicine. Rigorous academic training, ongoing involvement with psychedelic research, clinical expertise, and graduate-level teaching experience make them the perfect liaisons for delivering top-tier psychedelic education.
Sibin Stephen (Pharm.D) | Zach Halpern (M.D.) | Matthew X. Lowe (Ph.D., Neuroscience)
Team Details
Curiosity, passion for science, and a drive for meaningful change have guided Zach’s journey into psychedelic science.
Studying human physiology and medicine left Zach deeply curious about the nature of the mind. Disillusioned by conventional psychiatry, he discovered psilocybin’s potential for transformative healing during medical school. This realization led to his completing Zachary Leary's Psychedelic Studies Intensive (PSI), leading grassroots policy work, and ultimately, founding OPI to pioneer psychedelic education.
Zach Halpern, M.D.
Program Director & Lead Educator
Before his career in psychedelic research, Dr. Lowe conducted neuroscience research at Harvard, Stanford, and MIT universities.
At OPI, Dr. Lowe oversees the development of scientific curriculum materials. He draws from his own research and the research of his colleagues to keep OPI's curriculum up-to-date with the rapidly growing body of scientific psychedelic knowledge. Outside of his roles at OPI, Dr. Lowe leads research for two organizations: Realm of Caring and his own nonprofit Unlimited Sciences. Through the latter, a psychedelics research non-profit, Dr. Lowe and his team use data-driven methods to inform public perception, education, policy, and practices for psychedelics use.
Matthew X. Lowe, Ph.D.
Co-Founder &
Director of Research
Dr. Sibin Stephen is a clinically-trained pharmacist and psychedelic scholar with over eight years of experience in neuropharmacology.
Motivated by findings from a Johns Hopkins study on psilocybin's effects on depression and anxiety in cancer patients, Dr. Stephen pursued a certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).
Dr. Stephen is a licensed psilocybin facilitator in the state of Oregon.
Sibin Stephen, Pharm.D
Lead Educator
Clinical Director: Jeff Johnson, M.Div., LCSW
Grounding OPI's evidence-based curriculum in practical, human-centered care.
With a background in hospice and end-of-life care, Jeff brings deep experience in preparation, administration, and integration—the essential clinical skills that guide psychedelic work. His path to psychedelic medicine began through his work with terminally ill patients, inspired by research on psilocybin’s impact on anxiety and depression in those facing death. A graduate of OPI’s first cohort, Jeff now leads the development of OPI’s clinical training materials with a focus on compassion, clarity, and real-world application.
More About Jeff Johnson
Jeff Johnson earned his M.Div. at Princeton University before earning his LCSW at Portland State University. He strives to make psilocybin services accessible during end-of-life care.
Program
Overview
7 Weeks Online
5 Days In-Person
Tuition: $9,300
About Your Instructors
OPI's Accredited Accelerated Facilitator Training Program
An 8-Week, Science-Based Intensive
In addition to the requirements laid out by the Oregon Health Authority, OPI's curriculum offers additional modules focused on psychedelic business and neuroscience.
These unique offerings equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel in both clinical and entrepreneurial roles within the emerging field of psychedelics. By integrating evidence-based practices with real-world applications, we ensure our graduates are prepared to lead in this transformative space.
Sept. 2025 Schedule
Online
In-Person
Sept 2 Through October 29
Six weeks of online classes begin Tuesday, September 9 and end Sunday, October 29, 2025.
Classes are taught live on Zoom and are two hours in duration.
Times
Tuesdays: 5:30—7:30 PM PST
Thursdays: 5:30—7:30 PM PST
Sundays: 10:00 AM—Noon PST
Saturday, October 25 Through Wednesday, October 29
For practicum week, you will travel to Joseph, Oregon to meet your cohort in person, and participate in 5 days of practicum at the historic Jennings Hotel
Download Schedule
View Rooms
Where you'll stay
The Jennings Hotel
Part creative sanctuary, part cozy retreat, the Jennings Hotel offers the ideal atmosphere for immersive learning. Nestled in the heart of downtown Joseph, it puts you within easy walking distance of all the essentials for your week-long stay.
About The Jennings
Student Testimonials
"The OPI psilocybin-facilitation training program is absolutely exceptional in the way it thoroughly educates and trains future providers of Oregon psilocybin-based services. The expertise of the instructors, along with their varied professional backgrounds and perspectives on the field, has been invaluable as I’ve clarified my own future directions within the space of psychedelic medicine.
Most notably, the OPI instructors are a highly ethical, values-driven team that espouses a humanizing approach to serving clients (and the world!) through an in-depth education and training of the components of preparation, administration, and integration for Oregon psilocybin services.
My time with OPI has been personally transformative, and I intend to carry that forward by using my new skillset to help as many others grow and flourish from Oregon psilocybin-based services as I can."
Jane Ledbetter, Psy.D.
OPI Student, Cohort 1
"A program as scientifically rigorous as it is spiritually grounded. Having graduated from OPI's inaugural class, I feel prepared to facilitate with psilocybin and to develop a personalized practice that incorporates psychedelic medicine, indigenous wisdom, somatics, neuroscience, and the best of what Western medicine has to offer.
I appreciated the historical, sociocultural/political, and professional lenses through which we engaged material. It inspired me to advocate for policy that supports more effective clinical practice and holistic approaches to healing--and to engage in public outreach to destigmatize, educate, and open up the world of psychedelic healing to more diverse populations.
The instructors' professional and personal backgrounds with psychedelics enriched my learning. Their insights were actionable; informed by research, practice, and introspection. The instructors were as knowledgeable and skillful as they were generous with their experiences.
I love that OPI is localized. OPI situates psychedelic medicine in the natural world and honors its beauty, as evidenced by the hosting of the practicum in Joseph, OR. I promise you, the trip is worth it (pun intended).
The relationships I formed and practicum experiences my cohort shared were deeply meaningful. I am grateful for my time with OPI and hope to maintain our connection."
Ashely Karen Roy, CSWA
OPI Student, Cohort 1
Lecture Slides:
A Sneak Peek
Science
The mechanisms that underlie the psychedelic experience and the research that supports preparation, administration and integration protocols.
Business & Law
Gain insight into your role as a facilitator, with a focus on scope of practice, compliance with legal standards, and maintaining professional boundaries.
History
A comprehensive timeline entailing prehistory, indigenous use, and recent history.
Vignettes
Explore the requirements and challenges of facilitation through dozens of case studies incorporated into every lecture.
