The New Mexico Counseling Association (NMCA) is excited to announce a new partnership with the Academy of Therapeutic Studies (ATS), expanding professional development opportunities and resources available to New Mexico's counseling community.
Through this partnership, NMCA and ATS will work together to increase awareness, education, and training opportunities related to Psychedelic Therapy in New Mexico, including opportunities for counselors to develop the knowledge and skills needed.
Meet The Academy of Therapeutic Studies
ATS is an accredited natural medicine facilitator training program with a state-approved curriculum in Colorado and Oregon. ATS is a higher-education–grade training institution built specifically for the natural medicine field. They exist to bring the rigor, student supports, and accreditation standards of accredited colleges into a space that is still maturing professionally.
Psychedelic Therapy in the USA
Regulated psychedelic therapy in the U.S. is still very new. As of August 2026, only a small handful of states have moved beyond decriminalization into actually building the legal access framework, and each of those states has taken a noticeably different path. Oregon kicked things off with Measure 109, and its program has been operational since 2023. Oregon licenses non-clinical psilocybin facilitators; no clinical degree is required. Colorado followed with the Natural Medicine Health Act (Prop 122), and facilitator licensing opened in December 2024. Colorado created two license tiers, Facilitator (non-clinical) and Clinical Facilitator.
New Mexico is taking a different route with SB 219, the Medical Psilocybin Act (signed April 2025). It's a medical-only program overseen by the New Mexico Department of Health. New Mexico is the first state in the country to build a clinician-forward psilocybin access program. Where Oregon and Colorado allow trained lay facilitators to run sessions, New Mexico is going to require an underlying professional license (physician, nurse practitioner, licensed therapist, or similar), plus a state-issued psilocybin permit. Licensed mental health professionals (LPCC, LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, and equivalents) are explicitly named as eligible practitioners.
New Mexico's program is being built around the license you already hold, with additional licensing in Natural Medicine. The DOH is finalizing what "state-approved training" is going to look like. NMCA and ATS will provide updates on this as they are made available.
Where the rules stand right now:
NMCA is excited to be an early leader among New Mexico professional associations in preparing counselors for this evolving landscape. Our partnership with AIS allows us to begin providing education, resources, and professional development now, helping counselors understand the ethical and professional considerations surrounding this work while the state's regulatory framework continues to take shape.
For NMCA, this partnership is about more than preparing for a new area of practice. It is about ensuring that New Mexico counselors have a voice, access to credible education, and opportunities to participate in conversations that may shape the future of behavioral health care in our state.
Read more about where things stand in New Mexico and DOH as of Oct. 2, 2026. They still need to finalize a few questions, which they state will be done before Dec. 31, 2026. Read more —> HERE
What Does the NMCA + ATS Partnership Mean?
This partnership brings together ATS's expertise in natural medicine and NMCA's statewide network of professional counselors, counselors-in-training, supervisors, educators, and behavioral health professionals.
Together, NMCA and ATS will provide opportunities for education, professional development, and increased awareness throughout the coming year.
Through the partnership, the counseling community can expect:
Educational opportunities focused on psychedelic therapy
Increased access to information and resources about ATS and its work in New Mexico
Opportunities to learn more about ATS Facilitator Training
Exclusive Discounts
Exclusive Benefits for NMCA Members
NMCA members will receive additional benefits through the partnership, including:
Free registration for the Nov 13, 2026 CE.
The last 10 minutes of the November CE will be spent reviewing what to expect from the Facilitator training.
A $2,000 discount for ATS Facilitator Training which begins in Spring 2027.
Additional introductory training offered at the Annual Counseling Conference in March
These opportunities are part of NMCA's continued commitment to bringing meaningful professional development, resources, and partnerships directly to our members.
Not an NMCA member? Join NMCA to access this training at no cost and take advantage of additional member benefits throughout the year.
Looking Ahead: ATS Facilitator Training
This CE is just the beginning. In March 2027, ATS is invited to facilitate a training on Psychedelic Assisted Therapy at our annual Counseling Conference at the Clyde Hotel.
In Spring 2027, NM counselors will have the opportunity to participate in ATS Facilitator Training.
ATS delivers a 150-hour Natural Medicine Facilitator (NMF) certificate that is built to Colorado DORA standards and designed to be application-ready as New Mexico's rules are finalized. Their approach bridges scientific rigor with spiritual and ancestral wisdom through our proprietary SERT framework (Spiritual, Existential, Religious, Theological).
The program at a glance
• 150 hours of didactic instruction, delivered online in a live-cohort model
• 40 hours of supervised practicum
• 40 hours of consultation, free and included in tuition (a $2,500 value on its own)
• Faculty includes two MDs on staff, six licensed facilitators, and instructors specialized in ethics, cultural humility, integration, and Indigenous origins
• Delivered by the Academy of Therapeutic Studies, a DORA-approved training provider
Tuition and payment options, including the NMCA member benefit
Standard tuition is $7,500. For NMCA members, we're offering:
• A $2,000 NMCA member discount, which brings tuition down to $5,500. They will verify active NMCA membership before applying the discount.
For payment, you've got a few options:
• Pay in full by card or bank transfer.
• 3- to 6-month installment plans with a $2,500 deposit, run through their Teachable checkout, interest-free.
• Afterpay and Klarna financing appear at checkout as options; approval and terms are set by each provider based on your profile.
If you want more information:
• Program page and application: coming soon to the member portal
• You are welcome to book a discovery call with the ATS founder, Kathleen Bruce, to explore whether ATS is the right fit before you apply.
Join the waitlist for NMCA members and receive updates on ATS’ first cohort, which they plan to launch in 2027. The exact timing depends on when DOH opens and processes educational-program applications. Joining the waitlist is free and doesn't commit anyone to enrolling. As a thank-you to members who join early, NMCA members who enroll from the waitlist will receive an additional $250 off tuition.
Waitlist link: Coming soon to the member portal
Stronger Counselors. Thriving New Mexico.
Strategic partnerships like this allow NMCA to connect New Mexico counselors with organizations, expertise, and opportunities that strengthen both the profession and the communities our members serve.
We are excited to welcome ATS as an NMCA partner and look forward to sharing more with our counseling community in the months ahead.
