This November, in the midst of Fuertedélica Week, the island of Fuerteventura will witness an unprecedented training initiative in the Spanish-speaking world: an intensive workshop on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, organized by Clínica Synaptica, a pioneering team in psychedelic-assisted therapies in Spain.
The event will take place on Thursday, November 6, at Surfing Colors (Corralejo), and is aimed at mental health professionals who want to learn about the clinical and ethical use of this emerging tool.
A substance to transform the gaze
Ketamine has been in medical use as an anesthetic for more than half a century, but in recent years it has burst onto the mental health scene with a new face: that of a catalyst for profound psychotherapeutic processes. In carefully guided sessions, this molecule allows access to non-ordinary states of consciousness that can open paths to emotional healing and personal reconnection.
Far from the conventional pharmacological approach, this training offers an integrative perspective that combines science, clinical experience, and therapeutic sensitivity. “One of the most cutting-edge aspects of ketamine is that it does not interact with psychiatric drugs (beyond benzodiazepines), which opens up the possibility of doing deep work with psychedelics for people who, because of their medications, cannot approach other substances,” says Irene Pérez, anthropologist and psychotherapist at the Synaptica Clinic. “The fact that it has a short-term effect allows the therapy to be adjusted to people’s daily lives, which is very interesting for the integration process,” she adds.
From theory to practice
The conference will offer a complete immersion in the therapeutic approach with ketamine. From its history as a substance to its current applications in cases of resistant depression, anxiety, or trauma, including the different models of psychotherapeutic support that are being developed in Europe and America.
The teaching team is made up of four experienced professionals: José Carlos Bouso, psychologist and leading researcher in psychoactive substances; psychiatrist Joan Obiols, with experience in community mental health; Irene Pérez, who will share clinical tools from body psychotherapy and ACT; and Marta Martín, psychologist specializing in safety protocols and emotional integration.
During the training, real cases, ethical dilemmas, legal frameworks, and the different ways in which this practice can be integrated into therapeutic consultation will also be explored, always from a person-centered approach.
“It is no better or worse than other substances that require more preparation; it simply opens up a different way of working. Ketamine therapy can be seen as a ritual extended over time, as a rapprochement between the sacred and the mundane. The type of therapy proposed allows people who are not ready for a community setting to undergo this type of therapeutic process while experiencing safe intimate bonds,” says Irene.
Fuerteventura as a space for exploration and care
The island’s open, volcanic, and luminous landscape does not merely serve as a backdrop: it is part of the spirit of this proposal. As with any transformative experience, context matters. And at Fuertedélica, science coexists with community, psychotherapy with music, and activism with spirituality.
This training represents a commitment to the conscious professionalization of the therapeutic use of psychedelics. It is a space for learning through practice, sharing knowledge, and building networks of care around tools that, when used properly, can accompany real processes of transformation.
“From a substance perspective, I believe that ketamine offers very interesting therapeutic possibilities, as it allows us to work with different dosage levels, combining psycholytic and psychedelic approaches. It is a molecule with a very particular intelligence; personally, I feel that I am still getting to know it. However, its ability to offer new perspectives and a different emotional depth is truly remarkable,” concludes Irene.
Registration and information
The activity costs €85 and is mainly aimed at psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, and professionals in the psychosocial field. Places are limited and registration must be made before November 4 through the official Fuertedélica website.
More information:
https://psychedelicconference.org/en/ketamine-course/
PhD in Journalism from the Complutense University of Madrid. Director of Enteogenia magazine. Author, editor, and translator of numerous books on psychoactive substances. He has worked with Energy Control and Kosmicare, and has contributed to magazines such as Interzona, Cáñamo, Ulises, Infocannabis, and Cannabis Magazine. President of Alter Consciens, CEO of Dragon Fungi, and Communications Coordinator at ICEERS.